3

The Royal Path

to Union

In the attitude of silence the soul finds the path in a

clearer light, and what is elusive and deceptive

resolves itself into crystal clearness.

—Mahatma Gandhi

Y

our body is a field of molecules. Your mind is a field of
thoughts. Underlying and giving rise to your body
and your mind is a field of consciousness—the domain of
spirit. To know yourself as an unbounded spirit disguised as
a body/mind frees you to live with confidence and com-
passion, with love and enthusiasm. To remove the veils
that hide the deepest layers of your being, Maharishi
Patanjali elaborated the eight branches of yoga—Yama,
Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana,
andSamadhi. They are sometimes referred to as the eight

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