Studying the Works of Yogi aka (1)

8/3/2019 Studying the Works of Yogi aka (1)

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A PRACTICAL COURSE OF STUDY FOR


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STUDYING THE WORKS OF YOGIRAMACHARAKA

A Practical Course in Oriental Occultism

Compiled and adapted from the writings of Yogi Ramacharaka byDesmond Meraz

O, let not the flame die out! Cherished age after age in itsdark caverns, in its holy temples cherished. Fed by pureministers of love let not the flame die out. EdwardCarpenter

INTRODUCTION

The works of Yogi Ramacharaka were published over the course ofnearly ten years beginning in 1903. Some were originally issued as aseries of correspondence courses at the frequency of one lesson permonth. Upon the completion of each year of coursework the lessonswere subsequently collected and published as individual volumes.Additional material was issued at each interval in the form ofsupplementary textbooks.

According to the traditional history propagated by the Yogi PublicationSociety, these books were written by an American pioneer of the NewThought movement named William Walker Atkinson, in collaborationwith an Indian disciple Baba Bharata and attributed authorship in honorof their source, Bharatas guru Yogi Ramacharaka. This situation ishighly unlikely, however. Atkinson wrote dozens of books under severalaliases and covering a variety of esoteric subjects including MentalScience, Alchemy, Rosicrucianism, and Yoga. Like the adoption of localreligions practiced by the Gnostics, who perpetuated a consistent innerteaching under a variety of external forms, so did Atkinson utilize thesevarious subjects as vehicles for a singular body of Occult Philosophy

that may be characterized as strongly Theosophical in nature andintention.

In the 12th Lesson of Gnani Yoga, Ramacharaka provides anilluminating explanation of this peculiar practice of taking pseudonyms.He writes, The Societies or Brotherhoods are engaged indisseminating Occult Knowledge, suited to the minds of the public,through various channels, and cloaked in various disguises of name,


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authority, and style. Their idea is to gradually open the mind of thepublic to the great truths underlying and back of all these variousfragmentary teachings. And they recognize the fact that one mind maybe reached in a certain way, and another mind in a second way, and soon. And, accordingly, they wrap their teachings in covers likely to

attract the attention of various people, and to cause them toinvestigate the contents. But, under and back of all of these teachingsis the great fundamental Truth.

The works attributed to Ramacharaka are among the mostcomprehensive of Atkinsons publication efforts. Containing over adozen volumes, they comprise a complete system of occult philosophyand spiritual discipline. He states that all of his publications dovetailone into the other, and as each one is read others become plainer. Ofnecessity, he continues, we must condense our information, and musttrust for a careful reading of all the lessons on the part of our students,

in order that they may obtain the best result. Viewed independent oftheir chronological order of publication, they may be divided into fourdistinct categories: Foundational Coursework, Treatises on Yoga, AnInterlude, and Traditional Sources. Taken in this order, they may beemployed as a progressive curriculum of study and practice.

FOUNDATIONAL COURSEWORK

Probably in early 1903, Ramacharaka began issuing advertisements fora correspondence course on Yogi Philosophy. According to him, theseannouncements were carefully worded in such a way as to attract the

attention of only those students who were genuinely interested in theoccult and accordingly the mere sensation-hunters and faddists werenot attracted by his call. It was in this manner that a harmonious bodyof students was fashioned and dedicated to the common ends of self-improvement, growth, development, and unfoldment. The two initialcourses of lessons distributed to these students constitute the initialexposition of the foundational elements of Yogi Philosophy.

Fourteen Lessons in Yogi Philosophy and Oriental Occultism

Yogi Ramacharaka advised interested beginners to first study the 14

Lessons. It is described as a unique work covering the entire field of Yogi Philosophy and Oriental Occultism, stating the most profoundtruths and hidden mysteries in the plainest, simplest, English style.

Lessons I to III outline the septenary constitution of the human being.Lessons IV to IX describe the esoteric faculties and properties which

characterize the seven vehicles.


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Lessons X to XI introduce the astral world and post mortem state of thesoul.

Lessons XII to XIV conclude with an examination of the process ofspiritual evolution,

the Law of Karma, and the three-fold path of attainment.

The Appendixcatalogues a mantram or affirmation to be employedas a daily meditation in conjunction with each lesson.

Beginning with the First Lesson, the The Science of Breath iscontinually referenced throughout the text and it is assumed that thereader is already acquainted with its contents. It may be desired toread this small book prior to or in conjunction with the lessonsalthough postponing it to a later time does not detract from thecomprehension of the course. In Lesson IV, Ramacharaka writes thatthe little book in question was written for the general public, who,while they will receive much benefit from it, cannot read from it the

meaning which becomes perfectly clear to the student as he passesfrom stage to stage of these lessons. Although simple andunpretentious, it has many things hidden away that may only be readby the one who is able to understand. The student is advised to re-readthe little book from time to time and notice how many things he findsin it which he never before discovered.

Advanced Course in Yogi Philosophy and Oriental Occultism

This book was intended as a continuation of and sequel to the 14Lessons. It treats upon the more advanced branches of the Yogi

Philosophy leading students to higher planes of thought as well asshowing the deeper phases of occult work.

Lessons I to IVconsist of an analysis and explanation of the little occultmanual known as Light on the Path by Mabel Collins.

Lessons V to VII treat of several branches of the Yogi Philosophyspecifically Karma, Gnani, and Bhakti Yoga.

Lessons VIII and IXtreat of Dharma, the Yogi Philosophy of ethics andright action.

Lessons X to XII form a trio of lessons upon the higher Yogimetaphysical and scientific teachings.

TREATISES ON YOGA

According to Ramacharaka, Yoga is divided into several branches,ranging from that which teaches the control of the body, to that whichteaches the highest spiritual development. Men are of varyingtemperaments, and the course of that which will best suit one will notbe adapted to the requirements of another. The majority prefer to gain


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a rounded knowledge, and acquaint themselves with the principles ofthe several branches, learning something of each, giving preference ofcourse to those branches that appeal to them more strongly, thisattraction being the indication of need, or requirement, and therefore,being the hand pointing out the Path. Accordingly, five primary

divisions are identified: Karma, Bhakti, Hatha, Raja, and Gnani Yoga.He issued separate courses and books on the last three, believing thatKarma Yoga, the practice of Right Action, and Bhakti Yoga, thecultivation of love of the divine, are pervasive throughout all of theteachings. Concerning the last three it is stated that it is well foreveryone to know something of Hatha Yoga in order that the body maybe purified and strengthened and kept in health in order to become amore fitting instrument of the Higher Self. It is well that each oneshould know something of Raja Yoga that he may understand thetraining and control of the mind, and the use of the Will. It is well thateveryone should learn the Wisdom of Gnani Yoga that he may realize

the truths underlying life. The man best calculated to make generaladvancement along occult lines, is one who avoids running intoextremes in any one of the branches of the subject, but who, while inthe main following his own inclinations toward certain forms of Yoga,keeps up a general acquaintance with the several phases of the greatphilosophy.

Hatha Yoga or The Yogi Philosophy of Physical Well-Being

This is a complete manual of the great oriental System of physical well-being, health, strength, and vigor. It teaches a sane, normal, and

simple theory of physical health, and tells how to put the theory intopractice. It teaches that the body is a temple of the soul, and should bekept clean and in good order. Its keynote is the healthy man andwoman and its purpose the instruction of mankind to conform to thisstandard. Hatha Yoga was originally intended as a supplement toThe Science of Breath but was later revised to include the relevantchapters of the latter making it a complete treatise on physical culture.

The Science of Psychic Healing

This book is intended to be a plain, simple, and practical presentation

of the various forms and phases of Mental, Psychic, and SpiritualHealing with full instructions and directions regarding treatment. Itemphasizes practice over theory but it does provide a general outlineof the underlying theories that the healer may understand the natureof the work he is doing. Psychic Healing builds upon the foundationof the teachings set forth in Hatha Yoga and was created specificallyas a further development and companion to this volume.


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A Series of Lessons on Raja Yoga

This course is devoted to the development of the latent powers of man,the control of the mental faculties by the Will, attainment of themastery of the lower self, and development of the mind to the end that

the soul may be aided in its unfoldment. Raja Yoga is designed toenlighten students regarding the nature of the Real Self, and instruct inthe secret knowledge whereby they may develop consciousness andrealization of the I within them. They are shown how they may castaside the erroneous or imperfect knowledge regarding their realidentity.

Lessons I to III bring into realization the consciousness of the I, itssuperiority over the mind and body, and ultimate identity with theAbsolute.

Lessons IV to VI assist the candidate in acquiring mastery of the

subordinate manifestations of Chitta (Mind-Substance), Prana(Energy), and Akasa (Matter).

Lessons VII to IXdescribe the unfoldment of consciousness and presenta clear statement regarding the states of mind, below and overconsciousness.

Lessons X to XII examine the region of sub-conscious mentation andprovide directions for working with this region to accomplishintellectual development, character building, and mental influence.

Lessons in Gnani Yoga

In the final lesson on Raja Yoga, Ramacharaka remarked thatimportant and interesting as that subject is, it was merely preparationof the soil of the mind for the higher teachings called Gnani Yoga orthe Yoga of Wisdom. These consist of the abstract metaphysicalteachings concerning the Absolute, its manifestations, and the variousprinciples attendant thereto, which are often obscured by popularmisconceptions occasioned by partial teaching. Fortified by theforegoing preliminary instruction and training the student will be in aposition to understand these lofty teachings.

Lessons I to IV teach the phenomenology of the Absolute and its

variety of characteristics and manifestationsLessons VII to XI are concerned with macrocosmic and microcosmic

evolution and the pendant subjects of Reincarnation and Karma.Lesson XII called an Occult Miscellany consists of a series of question

on a variety of subjects submitted by students of the previouslessons and Ramacharakas valuable answers.

AN INTERLUDE


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Ramacharaka stated that Gnani Yoga concluded the presentation ofthe mystic teachings underlying the Hindu Philosophies and hisintention was now to move on to an examination of their Westernmanifestations. At the end of the Lessons, he wrote, And now, dear

pupils, we must close this series of lessons on the Yogi Philosophy. Wemust rest ere we so soon engage upon our new and great work. Wemust each take a little rest, ere we meet again on the Path ofAttainment. Each of these temporary partings are milestones upon ourJourney of Spiritual Life. Let each find us farther advanced. Similarly,the next two books from a natural interlude to the continuity of theHindu Material proper which will conclude with a final series of lessons.

The Inner Teachings of Mystic Christianity

These lessons represent a new phase of the work. They consist of a

presentation of the great Mystic Principles underlying the gloriouscreed of the Western World the religion, teachings, and philosophy ofJesus the Christ. These teachings are essentially Eastern in their originand within them are to be found the same esoteric principles thatunderlie the other great systems of philosophies of the East. In LessonX, Ramacharaka speaks specifically to this point, bringing the materialin harmony with the previous coursework. He wrote that the innerteachings of the Christian Mystery were identical with the OccultPhilosophy and Mystic Lore which has been taught to the Elect in alltimes and ages, and which is embodied in the several series of lessonson The Yogi Philosophy and Oriental Occultism. The Truth is the same

no matter under what name it is taught, or who teaches it.

Lessons I to III are concerned with the birth, youth, and early trainingof Jesus.

Lessons IV to VI deal with his ministry, and organization of a core groupof disciples.

Lessons VII and VIII describe Jesus final actions up to and including hispassion.

Lessons IX to XII detail the inner teachings of the Christian Mysteryplacing it into harmonious relationship with the Ancient WisdomTradition and concluding with an interpretation of Jesus teachings.

The Life Beyond Death

This book is devoted to bringing the reader to the doors of theperception that there is no Death that what we call Death is but theother side of Life, and one with it. It discusses the phenomena of theAstral Plane and the progress of the soul behind the veil. Reincarnationis examined as the means whereby the soul repeatedly enters into


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incarnation in order to develop ever increasing levels of realization,ultimately achieving liberation and perfection. The Life Beyond Deathis an independent volume, the material of which has been introducedand referenced in the previous lessons, an acquaintance with whichwill make these esoteric teachings more readily apprehensible.

TRADITIONAL SOURCES

Ramacharaka originally intended Gnani Yoga to be the conclusion ofthe series in Yogi Philosophy and Oriental Occultism. Apparently aftermuch diligent and prolific personal examination and research, hedecided to bring the series full circle with a final course on thetraditional sources which form the well-spring from which all of theprevious instruction was ultimately drawn.

The Inner Teachings of the Philosophies and Religions of India

This is one of the most important of the several series of lessons byYogi Ramacharaka, and it constitutes a worthy Final Message from theGreat Teacher. It is wider and broader in scope and treatment than anyof his previous works, as it covers the entire field of Hindu Philosophyinstead of the conceptions and doctrine of but one of the manybranches of the Oriental Teachings. To take up the many forms of theHindu Philosophy and Religions, and to present them to the WesternReader in a plain, practical style, is quite an undertaking, but YogiRamacharaka pledged himself to make this work a success, and healways accomplishes that which he undertakes to do.

These lessons give you a plain, concise, but thorough synopsis of theFundamental Principles of the Hindu Philosophies, which underlie theentire field of Hindu thought, the understanding of which will enableany person of average intelligence to comprehend the various forms ofthe philosophical teachings of India, either in connection with thevarious religious denominations of that land, or else considered bythemselves without reference to the religious creeds or divisions.Inasmuch as the Hindu Philosophies go to the very heart of humanthought and speculation regarding the nature, origin, destiny, and lifeof the universe, and what lies behind the universe, it follows that the

principles of such philosophy must be universal in their application andmay be used in the consideration and examination of the philosophicalor religious conception of any people, time, or land. A correctunderstanding of these principles will give you a Touch-Stonewhereby the various speculations of the human mind, on thosesubjects, may be tested and tried, and their degree of soundnessdiscovered.


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In the last lesson, the student is furnished with a Dictionary of theSanskrit terms used in the lessons, which will aid in the study of otherworks on the subject.

The Spirit of the Upanishads

This book consists of a collection of texts (aphorisms, sayings,proverbs, etc.) from the sacred writings of India. It was compiled andadapted from over fifty authorities and represents the greatestelements of Hindu philosophical thought. The primary teachingunderlying the entire book is that of One Self, the only Reality. Thepersonal self is a thing of the moment, being born, growing old, anddying. But the Real Self endureth forever. It is the Spirit in each of uswhich is at One with the Father. Nearly every aphorism in the Bookemphasizes this teaching, in various words and forms of expression,and many of them are intended to lead the reader to a Realization of

the Truth.

The Bhagavad Gita

The Bhagavad Gita is an episode of the great Hindu epic, theMahabarata. It enjoys the highest esteem among the Hindu people,and is constantly quoted there as a great authority regarding doctrine.Its philosophy embodies the prevailing Hindu beliefs, as expounded bythe Brahamanas, and in its teaching it subtly blends into a harmoniouswhole the varying points of doctrine of Patanjali, Kapila and of theVedas. This edition is a compilation from the best of the various

translations wherein the complier endeavored to give the spirit of theteachings in a plain, practical, understandable form, adapted to therequirements and needs of the English speaking reader.

ADDITIONAL STUDY

Two Final Works

There are two final works by Ramacharaka that have not beenmentioned in the above outline. They are Hindu Yogi BreathingExercises and Hindu Yogi Practical Water Cure. The first is not

included in the list of Ramacharakas works at the end of each volume.It consists of a digest of breathing exercises and is somewhat of ananomaly considering the fact that this material was given much morethorough treatment in The Science of Breath. The primary value ofthis book seems to be as a historical curiosity. Nearly a third of thework contains a series of old advertisements for the Yogi Philosophybooks. This material was instrumental in compiling the present courseof study. The Hindu Yogi Practical Water Cure serves as a useful


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supplement to Hatha yoga describing the manifold uses of water inthe maintenance of health and the treatment of various ailments.

Completing the Course

Throughout the numerous lessons, Ramacharaka describes five mainpaths of Yoga, three of which were the subject of individual books andcourses. Concerning the omissions, he states that he has writtensomething of Bhakti Yoga in the Advanced Course and also that it istaught through all of the other lessons, for he fails to see how one canteach or study any of the branches of Yoga without being filled with asense of Love and Union with the Source of all Life. Similarly, althoughKarma Yoga is indicated as one of the three primary paths ofattainment, itself worthy of an entire treatise, none was put forth.Instead the instruction was limited to a few lessons.

Nearly two decades later an anonymous author writing under the nameof Bhikshu, took it upon himself to complete the course of YogiPhilosophy by filling in the gaps left by these omissions. He issued twoseries of lessons on the subjects of Karma Yoga and Bhakti Yogathrough The Latent Light Culture, an organization which served asagents of the Yogi Publication Society in Tinnevelley, South India. Theywere written to harmonize with the composite scheme of the YogiPhilosophy. As such, they serve as a valuable adjunct to andcompletion of the delineated course of study.

The Works of Swami Vivekananda

Swami Vivekananda was the greatest disciple of the Indian saint SriRamakrishna. He began his ministry in 1893 when he traveled toAmerica to participate in the World Parliament of Religions held inChicago. His message of strength, love, and universal religiondelivered with eloquent speech and keen intellectual prowess coupledwith strong personal magnetism was welcomed by an appreciativeaudience and made him the most memorable speaker at the event. Agroup of followers was formed and his numerous lectures werefrequently reviewed and printed in local newspapers. Many of theselectures were collated, edited, and published in book form.

Ramacharakas divisions of Yoga and many of the traditional elementsof his teaching can be traced directly to these books. All ofVivekanandas writings may be studied with great benefit. Particularlyrecommended are Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Raja Yoga, andGnana Yoga which may be employed as useful supplements andexpansions of the material contained in Ramacharakas respectivetreatises.


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Additonal works by other monks of the Ramakrishna Order that aresuggested to the student of the present course include The SpiritualHeritage of India by Swami Prabhavananda which is similar in contentto the Philosophies and Religions of India and Meditation andSpiritual Life, a collection of lectures by Swami Yatiswarananda which

consist of a comprehensive exposition of inestimable value to those onthe Path.

Three Theosophical Manuals

Three principle manuals of practical instruction are generallyacknowledged as classics of the Theosophical Tradition. They consist ofAt the Feet of the Master, Light on the Path, and The Voice of theSilence. They were delivered by Jiddu Krishnamurti, Mabel Collins, andH.P. Blavatsky respectively but none of these individuals acceptauthorship of the teachings, instead attributing them to a

transpersonal or historical source.

According to John Algeo, the editor of a modern collection of thesewritings entitled Inspirations from Ancient Wisdom, these three bookscomplement each other in providing instruction for various levels ofspiritual development.

At the Feet of the Masteris preparatory, dealing with what comes first.It answers the question How do I prepare to walk the Path?

Light on the Path is progressive, being concerned with what the Pathitself is like. It answers the question What will I find as I walk the

Path?The Voice of the Silence is cumulative, leading up to what comes at the

end of the Path. It answers the question Where does the Pathlead?

At the Feet of the Master (1910), describes four preliminaryqualifications necessary for anyone desirous of pursuing the occultsciences, specifically discrimination, desirelessness, good conduct, andlove. Thus, this book serves as a brief overview of the four traditionalqualifications of the student of Vedanta. These are Viveka ordiscrimination between the real and the unreal, Vairagya or

renunciation, Shatsampatti or the Six treasures forming the ethicalfoundation of spiritual life, and Mumkshutvam or longing for liberationas a manifestation of Bhakti, the single minded zeal and unswervingpassion for the realization of Truth.

Light on the Path (1885), was originally described as a treatisewritten for the personal use of those who are ignorant of the EasternWisdom and who desire to enter within its influence. Ramacharaka


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referred often to this work throughout the course of lessons and wasapparently deeply inspired by it, so much so that he devoted the firstfour lessons of the Advanced Course to an extensive exposition andcommentary upon it. According to him, it provides a description of theWay of Attainment the Path and was written down by Mabel Collins

at the request of some advanced mind who inspired it. It is so carefullyworded that it is capable of a variety of interpretations adaptable tothe varying requirements of the several planes and stages of life. Hisinterpretation is designed to apply to the life of the student enteringupon the Path. His lessons endeavor to explain the first severalprecepts in the light of Karma Yoga and then to point out their plainmeaning pertaining to the higher desires. He then passes on to anexplanation relating to the unfoldment of Spiritual Consciousness,which is indeed the key-note of the little manual.

The Voice of the Silence (1889) is the most difficult of the three. It

consists of extracts from a larger work called The Book of the GoldenPrecepts and is divided into three fragments entitlted The Voice of theSilence, The Two Paths, and The Seven Portals, which describe theentire Path of spiritual progress. In his commentary called TheCreative Silence, Rohit Mehta writes that The Voice of the Silenceindicates that the greatest obstacle on the spiritual path is the Mindwith its tendency to slay the Real. It is true that the Real cannot beslain, but it can be covered with the innumerable projections of theMind. The journey of the neophyte through the Three Halls described inthe book is a process whereby these projections, even the subtlest areput aside. These two books, The Voice of the Silence and The

Creative Silence are suitable for advanced study as a naturalprogression from Light on the Path.

FINAL THOUGHTS

The series of works on Yogi Philosophy and Oriental Occultism providea complete system of occult philosophy and spiritual discipline inharmony with the Theosophical ideal of presenting eastern esotericteachings in a manner that is palatable to western understanding. Theintention is not to replace western concepts but rather to open themup to the revitalizing influence of the spirituality of the east. The

discriminating student will discover that in reality there is nocontradiction between the two. Both reveal, under differing forms, thesame eternal truths passed down through the ages as a unifiedtradition of Ancient Wisdom.

In the present guide we have endeavored to indicate a systematiccourse of study leading from the simplest to the most advancedteachings in a logically consistent manner forming a natural


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progression of subjects and disciplines. The zealous student may feelsome trepidation when faced with the great volume of materialoutlined herein. It is important to keep in mind that the series wasoriginally issued and studied during a period of nearly ten years andwas intended to be assimilated and applied throughout the course of a

lifetime.

Furthermore, do not fret over any potential limitations toapprehension. Through persistent effort, you will derive as muchwisdom as you are capable of receiving at the present time. Even thesmallest cup drawn through the great ocean of divinity departs with aportion of the water of life. May the wisdom of these magnificentteachings assist you in living according to a high standard of personalintegrity so that in the end you may declare with Arjuna,

By Thy Divine Power, O Immutable One, my Blessed Lord and

Master, my mind hath been cleared of its confusion, and I seenow with clear understanding, and by the Light of the Spirit. Inow stand firmly fixed upon principles, and my doubts havevanished into air. From this time on, shall I act according to theLight of thy Teachings. In the Radiance of Thy Wisdom, so will IAct!

PEACE BE WITH YOU

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Studying the Works of Yogi aka (1)