course, who has not attained Kaivalya can really understand what this condition is ac-
tually like.
After taking a bird's-eye view of the Section let us now deal with the different
topics one by one. In the first Sutra Patanjali gives an exhaustive list of methods
whereby occult powers may be acquired. Some people are born with certain occult
powers such as clairvoyance etc. The appearance of such occult powers is not quite
accidental but is generally the result of having practised Yoga, in some form or an-
other, in a previous life. All special faculties which we bring over in any life are the
result of efforts which we have made in these particular directions in previous lives
and Siddhis are no exception to this rule. But the fact that a person has practised Yoga
and developed these powers in previous lives does not mean necessarily that he shall
be born with those powers in this life. These powers have generally to be developed
afresh in eacl successive incarnation unless the individual is very highly advanced in
this line and brings over from previous lives very powerful Samskaras. It is also nec-
essary to remember in this connection that some people whose moral and intellectual
development is not very highly advanced are sometimes born with certain spurious
occult powers. This is due to their dabbling in Yogic practices in their previous lives as
explained in I-19.
Psychic powers of a low grade can often be developed by the use of certain
drugs. Many Fakirs in India use certain herbs like Ganja for developing clairvoyance
of a low order. Others can bring about very remarkable chemical changes by the use of
certain drugs or herbs, but those who know these secrets do not generally impart them
to others. Needless to say that the powers obtained in this manner are not of much con-
sequence and should be classed with the innumerable powers which modern Science
has placed at our disposal.
The use of Mantras is an important and potent means of developing Siddhis and
the Siddhis developed in this manner may be of the highest order. For, some of the
Mantras like Pranava or Gayatri bring about the unfoldment of consciousness and
there is no limit to such unfoldment. When the higher levels of consciousness are
reached as a result of such practices the powers which are inherent in those states of
consciousness begin to appear naturally, though they may not be used by the devotee.
Besides the natural development of Siddhis in this manner, there are specific Mantras
for the attainment of particular kinds of objectives and when used with knowledge in