Chapter 3 Vibhuti Pada (31-40)

Vibhuti Pada 31

Samyama on the hollow in the throat brings control over hunger and thirst.

By the practice of the threefold discipline at the pit of the throat (or, the psychic center known as the Vishuddha chakra) freedom from hunger and thirst is gained.

Vibhuti Pada 32

Samyama on the tortoise energy line at the base of the skull gives firmness and steadiness.

By the practice of the threefold discipline on the kurma-nadi, steadiness of the body and the mind is gained.

Vibhuti Pada 33

Samyama on the light in the head brings the ability to perceive evolved beings.

By the practice of the threefold discipline on the light that appears in the crown of the head during meditation, one has the vision of sages who have attained perfection.

Vibhuti Pada 34

Pure illuminated spiritual perception leads to knowledge of all there is to be known.

All these can also be gained by direct intuitive perception or, by the practice of the threefold discipline on the inner light, all knowledge is gained.

Vibhuti Pada 35

Samyama on the heart leads to knowledge of consciousness.

By the practice of the threefold discipline on the spiritual heart (or the psychic heart center Anahata) there arises knowledge concerning the mind-stuff or the undivided intelligence.

Vibhuti Pada 36

Understanding of soul in its pure luminosity becomes distinct and apart from the awareness and experience of pain and pleasure and our interest in it. Restraint must once again be exercised to gain this knowledge of soul.

The external object is totally distinct and different from what the experiencing personality thinks it is. When, in a state of ignorance, the personality forgets this, and as the object is imagined to be external for the enjoyment of another (which is the enjoyer), he experiences pain and pleasure. When the threefold discipline is directed towards the substance of this self or personality (or, towards the Selfishness), there arises the knowledge of the indwelling intelligence, with its conditioning which is the ignorance.

Vibhuti Pada 37

Then spiritual perception in hearing and sound, touch, sight, taste and smell become enhanced.

Thereupon (since knowledge of ignorance is the dispelling of ignorance, and the intelligence that comprehends the mental conditioning is unconditioned) there come into being enlightened hearing, feeling, seeing, tasting and smelling - free from the perversions, limitations and distortions born of ignorance.

Vibhuti Pada 38

Powers that rise can be followed but will only act as obstacles in breaking down seperation and becoming completely absorbed in the source of life.

But, even such excellent sensations and feelings and the psychic powers described thus far, which on the surface appear to be desirable and encouraging aspects of perfection are in fact impediments to enlightenment as they, too, distract the attention.

Vibhuti Pada 39

Relaxing the forces that bond one to the body will allow the consciousness to enter the body of others.

When there is loosening of the bondage of the consciousness to the body, as also an understanding of the proper channel of the consciousness ' s entry into and its withdrawal from the body, the mind acquires the ability to enter another body.

Vibhuti Pada 40

Mastery of one of the five pranas (udana) moves energy from the lower body upward creating a lightness and ascension that allows one to move over water, mud, thorns and more without contact.

When the anti-gravitational vital force that has an ascending flow is directly understood there follow powers of levitation, and passage over water, mud, thorny bush, etc., without coming into contact with them.