A talk delivered by renowned philosopher and teacher of Raja Yoga, Gerrit Janssen at the Naturopathic Convention 1967 Sydney NSW
I have been asked to say a few things about the training of the mind or Raja Yoga. It is known as the Royal Path because for its noble purpose in seeking to develop human excellence and apply self control in the most difficult area of self discipline- the personality.
Yoga is well known to involve personal undertakings regarding self culture of body, emotions and mind. In concert these represents our whole outer personality. The purpose aims at excellence – a concept determined by the individual’s perception of the ideal.
Once we understand and can govern the personality we are better able to demonstrate the deeper expressions of our soul. As we further aspire to spiritual understanding we open our consciousness to the limitless spheres beyond – the Universal Consciousness or God.
When the mind is peaceful there is no room for negative thoughts.
Depression melts away when our mental waves and restless thought is stilled.
We learn to take pleasure in making no conscious effort.
We find that we enjoy periods of just Being.
And find that it is Good.
To lead the instinctive life of the animal would be to live in the true innocence of what is referred to in the story before the Fall of Man.
It would seem that with the gift of free will and spiritual intelligence come the trials, difficulties, queries, disturbances and the responsibilities of human life. We are banished from the purely instinctive life experienced by other creatures, to become an adventurer along a seemingly endless pathway of human experience as we develop our intelligence and seek to understand life. We are inspired to cultivate the refinement that comes to advancing human nature as we aspire to know our Creator and in turn become creative.
Yama, the first stage in Ashtanga Yoga, represents the end of the old ways and the first positive stage in the practice of self discipline by the elimination of bad habits relating both to health and character. The practices are to clear the way and demand the application of physical methods for inner body hygiene as well as the eradication of any layers of emotional and mental stress that may inhibit one’s progress to health and happiness.
For eliminating stress we have the practice of relaxation which releases strain from the whole psyche. There are many and various methods used in teaching relaxation but in Yoga, traditional preparation for practising what is known as Yoga Nidra remains constant.
Raja Yoga assists us in all these areas offering a sound system of self culture of our mind.
To improve and maintain our mental health we need to follow the natural principles that we keenly observe in relation to physical health. They equally apply to our whole psychological nature.
The Yamas/Niyamas represent the basic ethical commencement of Yoga – where we begin our symbolic climb from the lowest levels to the summit of human excellence.
From here, we begin to follow the further 6 classical steps of the eight-fold method established by Patanjali.
Raja Yoga is the royal Yoga explaining higher development and discovery of our hidden powers resulting in complete inner harmony, concentration and meditation.
The eight-fold Path of Patanjali’s is a strong basis for one’s commencement of study and is common to all yoga margas or paths. Known as Ashtanga Yoga this 8-fold teaching has 7 stages of disciplines requiring effort from the individual. The eighth stage is known as Samadhi and is the result of spiritual grace following personal effort and aspiration towards God. It is the reward of personal discipline and intensity of aspiration and devotion but it is also a mysterious factor beyond our conscious control that results in our spiritual enlightenment and with it, a state of ineffable bliss.
