Microsoft Word - Taimni - The Science of Yoga.doc

small nucleus of fundamental and genuine teachings of Yoga has grown up during the
course of thousands of years a volume of spurious literature composed of commentar-
ies, expositions of minor systems of Yogic culture and Tantric practices. Any inexperi-
enced student who enters this jungle is likely to feel bewildered and to come out of it
with a feeling that his pursuit of the Yogic ideal might prove a waste of time. The stu-
dent would, therefore, do well to confine himself to the basic literature to avoid confu-
sion and frustration.
In this basic literature of Yoga, the Yoga-Sutras of Patanjali stand out as the
most authoritative and useful book. In its 196 Sutras the author has condensed the es-
sential philosophy and technique of Yoga in a manner which is a marvel of condensed
and systematic exposition. The student who studies the book for the first time or super-
ficially may find the treatment rather strange and haphazard, but a more careful and
deeper study will reveal the rational basis of the treatment. The following synopsis
will show how rational the whole treatment is.
The first Section deals with the general nature of Yoga and its technique. It is
meant really to answer the question ‘What is Yoga?’ Since Samadhi is the essential
technique of Yoga, naturally, it occupies the most important position among the vari-
ous topics dealt with in the Section. This Section is, therefore, called Samadhi Pada.
The first part of the second Section deals with the philosophy of Klesas and is
meant to provide an answer to the question ‘Why should anyone practise Yoga?’ It
gives a masterly analysis of the conditions of human life and the misery and suffering
which are inherent in these conditions. The philosophy of Klesas must be thoroughly
understood by any person who is to take to the path of Yoga with the unalterable de-
termination to persevere, life after life, until he has reached the End. The second part
of Section II deals with the first five practices of Yogic technique which are referred to
as Bahiranga or external. These practices are of a preparatory nature and are meant to
make the Sadhaka fit for the practice of Samadhi. As this Section is meant to fit the
aspirant physically, mentally, emotionally and morally for the practice of Higher Yoga
it is called Sadhana Pada.
The first part of the third Section deals with the three remaining practices of
Yogic technique which are referred to as Antaranga or internal. It is through these
practices which culminate in Samadhi that all the mysteries of Yogic life are unrav-
elled and the powers or Siddhis are acquired. In the second part of this Section these