Microsoft Word - Taimni - The Science of Yoga.doc

we are continually worrying when success will be ours, it shows lack of real interest
and is a danger signal.
To appreciate the requirement of not allowing any interruptions we have to re-
member that much of the work in Yoga involves bringing about very deep-seated and
fundamental changes in the various vehicles through which consciousness functions on
the different planes. And success in bringing about the desired changes depends upon
continuity of practice. Interruption means not only waste of so much time but a con-
siderable sliding back and retraversing the same ground which has already been cov-
ered. An example will make this clear. Suppose a Sadhaka is trying to purify his mind.
He has to exclude rigidly from his mind all impure thoughts and emotions and to make
his mental vehicle or Manomaya Kosa vibrate to the highest and purest thoughts until
the ordinary coarse material of the vehicle has been completely replaced by the finest
and subtlest matter which can respond to only pure and lofty thoughts and emotions. If
this is accomplished the very vibratory capacity of the vehicle is completely changed
and it becomes very difficult for the Sadhaka to entertain any impure thoughts in the
same way as it is difficult for a licentious person to entertain pure thoughts. But sup-
pose he gives up the effort after making some progress then the original conditions
tend to reassert themselves gradually, and if he resumes the practice after considerable
time the process of purification has to start ab initio.
Most of the required changes in our mind and character involve some changes
in various vehicles and these latter processes which are really material must be almost
completed if they are to be made practically irreversible. Even in ordinary life this
continuity of practice is of importance for most undertakings. A boy who wants to
make himself strong and muscular must take exercise regularly. If he does strenuous
exercise but gives it up from time to time he does not make much progress. Prolonged
and steady practice is the secret of success in all such undertakings. Even interrupted
practice gives some advantage and is better than no practice at all because it creates
favourable Samskaras and thus strengthens tendencies in the desired direction but
when Yoga is taken up seriously uninterrupted practice is essential and every new
technique which is initiated must be practised continuously until it is sufficiently mas-
tered.
The third condition requiring an attitude of devotion and earnestness is equally
important. Yoga is a serious business and requires intense and whole-hearted applica-
tion. It cannot be pursued as a hobby, one of a number of pursuits in which we are