Microsoft Word - Taimni - The Science of Yoga.doc

This Sutra and the next are meant to differentiate between two kinds of Yogis.
The first kind of Yogis referred to in II-19 are called Videhas and Prakrtilayas and
their trance is not the result of the regular self-discipline outlined in the Yoga-Sutras.
It depends upon their ‘birth’, that is, they possess the capacity to pass into trance natu-
rally without any effort as a result of their peculiar physical and mental constitution. In
the case of the second kind of Yogis their Samadhi is the result of regular practice of
Yoga which requires certain high traits of character like faith, energy, etc. mentioned
in I-20. While the meaning of I-20 is quite clear and obvious the interpretation of I-19
has become involved in confusion on account of the different meanings associated
with the words Bhava, Videha and Prakrtilaya by different commentators. Let us,
therefore, see whether it is not possible to find a reasonable interpretation of this Sutra
based on experience and commonsense rather than on far-fetched meanings which
merely cause confusion.
The first point to note in the interpretation of this Sutra is that it points out a
class of Yogis in contra-distinction to the class of Yogis referred to in I-20. What are
the characteristics of the Yogis described in I-20? In their case the state of Samadhi or
enlightenment is preceded by faith, energy, memory, high intelligence, in other words,
it is the result of the possession by the Yogi of those essential traits of character which
are needed in any high endeavour. The true Yogis of this class achieve their objective
in the normal manner by adopting the usual means outlined in the Yoga-Sutras. It fol-
lows therefore that the Yogis of the other class mentioned in I-19 do not owe their
Yogic faculties and powers, whatever they may be, to the adoption of the usual means.
Their faculties and powers come to them in an abnormal manner. This is the important
point which gives a clue to the meaning of the Sutra.
Who are the Yogis who happen to possess Yogic faculties and powers without
adopting the usual means? Anyone who moves among people possessing these facul-
ties or powers is likely to come across some cases in which these powers and faculties
are not at all the result of Yogic practice in this life but appear during the course of
their life naturally without any considerable effort on their part. Such people are born
with such faculties or powers, a fact which is also corroborated by IV-1, ‘birth’ being
mentioned in that Sutra as one of the means of acquiring Siddhis. The Samskrta word
Bhava has also the connotation of ‘to happen’ which further strengthens the idea of the
accidental nature of the presence of these faculties. Of course, there is nothing really
accidental in the Universe which is governed by natural laws in every sphere. Every-