Efficacy of Raja Yoga

By Ram Chandra

For the first time in written history we find precise and scientific explanations of the three aspects of human existence: the Heart Region, which relates to life in this physical plane; the Mind Region, which relates to our subtle existence, especially the process of transcending ego; and the Central Region, which goes beyond the mind to the realm of the soul.

Efficacy of Raja Yoga is a book to re-read along with one’s spiritual practice, as with each reading it as if another layer of ignorance has been peeled off, revealing more of our potential.

• Language: English
• Publisher: TheHeartfulnessStore
• Release date: Apr 29, 2020
• ISBN: 9789388095594

Book preview

My Master

Great men are not accidentally born, but when the time needs them most they come, they do their job and go – such is the phenomenon of Nature.

India, which has always been the home of spirituality, was groping in darkness and had totally forgotten the age-old system of Yoga. Solid materialism had taken the place of fine spirituality. Dark clouds of ignorance were hovering all over, and Yogic Transmission had become quite foreign to the Hindus. At this stage, when spirituality was tottering helplessly, some great Personality was urgently needed to set things right for the uplift of mankind.

At such a time, the power of Nature descended in human form as Samarth Guru Mahatma Shri Ram Chandraji Maharaj, at Farrukhabad, U.P. This spiritual genius was born on Basant Panchami, the second of February 1873, in a respectable kayastha family. His childhood was influenced by his mother, a noble-minded simple lady who spent most of her time in devotion and worship. It was due to her influence that he received inspiration at a very early age. The incident goes that one day while he was playing with his mates, some divine force aroused in him the feeling that he had not come for the purpose he was engaged in. He had to realise himself and to equip himself for the greater task ahead. The soul was awakened, and he set to it in right earnest. He attained perfection in only seven months – really an unparalleled example. Since then, he devoted the whole of his life to the cause of spirituality.

He was an embodiment of moderation, toleration and devotion, devoid of egoism altogether. With him dawned the new era of yogic training through Transmission, of which he was the master. He could bring a person to perfection simply at a glance. It was he who made it possible that one could attain perfection in one life only, even while leading a family life in grihastha ashram [the householder life]. He used to say that the troubles and miseries of grihastha life are the penances and sacrifices for spiritual attainment. He had simplified the methods of spiritual training to a great extent and adjusted them to suit the requirements of the time. Among his innumerable researches in the spiritual field, one is given in the chapter entitled ‘Central Region’ in this book.

With such a high calibre and spiritual dignity, he devoted every moment of his life to the uplift of humanity, and after serving the masses for about thirty-six years, he left his material form at the age of fifty-eight on the fourteenth of August 1931. He was really a Nature’s Prodigy. The work which he did during his lifetime is beyond conception. Posterity will know his merits in due course.

Raja Yoga

Raja Yoga is the old system or science followed by the great rishis and saints to help them in realising Self or God. It was prevalent in India long before the time of the Ramayana. It was first introduced by a great rishi who lived seventy-two generations prior to Raja Dasharath of the Suryavamsh ( Surya , or Sun dynasty). He devoted much of his time pondering a good deal to find the real method of achieving freedom by which problems of life could easily be solved. He was swimming in the Central Region (as described in this book), being mostly attached to the Centre itself. His state was akin to that of the present Personality now working for the Change, as required by nature. After pondering long over the subject, the great sage at last discovered the method which ultimately developed into what is known as Raja Yoga.

When he was in close touch with the Centre, he discovered the reality of the world with its cause or force in existence. He found out that the motion or stir of some power from beneath the Centre brought the present world into existence. That stirring thought is in other words called upadan karana, or kshobh. At last he arrived at the conclusion that it is the outcome of the power which is similar to, or identical with, the thought power of man¹. Naturally he deduced that thought could bring out such results and that its power is unlimited. He then took work from the thought power which fell to our lot, and with it he started training. That is the basis of Raja Yoga, or the king of Yogas.

The kingly thing in us is thought, which ultimately develops, steering us to our goal. Sages after sages have improved and developed it as their practical experience increased. Thought ultimately takes the form of reality, and appears in a naked form, so to say. This can all be verified by those persons having clairvoyant vision of a high merit. There may be different methods of teaching through this science, but the governing principle remains the same. With this power or force we establish a