Yoga - An Initiation To Raja Yoga

In India, the Candidates for Initiation into the
science of "Raja Yoga," when they apply to the
Yogi Masters for instruction, are given a series
of lessons designed to enlighten them regarding
the nature of the Real Self, and to instruct them
in the secret knowledge whereby they may
develop the consciousness and realization of the
real "I" within them.

They are shown how they may cast aside the
erroneous or imperfect knowledge regarding their
real identity.

Until the Candidate masters this instruction, or
at least until the truth becomes fixed in his
consciousness, further instruction is denied him,
for it is held that until he has awakened to a
conscious realization of his Actual Identity, he is
not able to understand the source of his power,
and, moreover, is not able to feel within him the
power of theWill, which power underlies the entire
teachings of "Raja Yoga."

The Yogi Masters are not satisfied if the Candidate
forms merely a clear intellectual conception of this
Actual Identity, but they insist that he "must feel
the truth of the same, must become aware of the
Real Self, must enter into a consciousness in which
the realization becomes a part of his everyday self",
in which the realizing consciousness becomes the
prevailing idea in his mind, around which his entire
thoughts and actions revolve.

To some Candidates, this realization comes like a
lightning flash the moment the attention is directed
toward it, while in other cases the Candidates find it
necessary to follow a rigorous course of training before
they acquire the realization in consciousness.

The Yogi Masters teach that there are two degrees of
this awakening consciousness of the Real Self.

The first, which they call "the Consciousness of the
'I'," is the full consciousness of real existence that
comes to the Candidate, and which causes him to
know that he is areal entity having a life not depending
upon the body, life that will go on in spite of the
destruction of the body. Real life, in fact.

The second degree, which they call "the Consciousness
of the 'I AM'," is the consciousness of one's identity
with the Universal Life, and his relationship to, and
"in-touchness" with all life, expressed and unexpressed.

These two degrees of consciousness come in time to
all whoseek "The Path." To some it comes suddenly;
to others it dawns gradually; to many it comes assisted
by the exercises and practical work of "Raja Yoga."



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