WHAT ARE THE MYSTERIOUS FIVE YOGIC MANIFESTATIONS/BHUMIKAS OF MIND?HOW TO ACHIEVE NIRUDDHA STATE?-

FIVE YOGIC BHUMIKAS OF MIND( Chitta);-

05 FACTS;-

1-According to Swami Vivekananda "The Chitta is always trying to get back to its natural pure state, but the sense organs draw it out. To restrain it, to check this outward tendency, and to start it on the return journey to the essence of intelligence is the first step in Yoga, because only in this way can the Chitta get into its proper course.”

2-There are three substances Satva Rajas and Tamas; the combination of which makes Chitta. The more or less of each of these three decides the state of Chitta. There are five states - Bhumikas (manifestations) of Chitta.

1-MOODHA (Darkening);-

When Tamas is maximum the Chitta is totally in delusion and dullness. In this state it is prone to injury to others or also gives in to inertia(a tendency to do nothing) .In the Mudha state, the mind is dull and forgetful.

2-KSHIPTA (Scattering);-

When Rajoguna predominates along with Tamas the Chitta is as if thrown towards the objects of enjoyments. In the Kshipta state, the rays of the mind are scattered on various objects. It is restless and jumps from one object to another.

3-VIKSHIPTA (Gathering);-

Over the lives as the Jeeva passes through various experiences of enjoyments and then accompanying pains, gradually Satva develops and then Chitta dwells on certain subjects with all intensity, certain siddhis are also acquired. But this happens without systemic efforts. Thus this bhumika is also not of Yoga.Vikshipta is the gathering mind. It is occasionally steady and at other times distracted. By practice of concentration the mind struggles to gather itself.

4-EKAGRATA (One-pointed);-

The joy that was experienced in Vikshipta bhumika the Jeeva wants it again and again. It wants to center itself, know itself, know what is eternal and thus he takes to systematic practice of Yoga. The sense-enjoyment becomes secondary. Rajas and Tamas decline, chitta becomes purified and is able to concentrate on one object of Dhyana for longer. This is Samprajnata Samadhi. But even in this Vrittis for sense objects are in subtler form. In the Ekagra state, it is one-pointed. There is only one idea present in the mind.

5-NIRUDDHA (Restraining or concentrating); –

When all Vrittis are completely restrained then it is Niruddha bhumika of Chitta. This ultimately takes one to Nirbija Samadhi destroying the cause for the next birth.The mind is under control in the Niruddha state.

THE KEY POINT;-

A-The first and second bhumikas are supposed to be of Asuras (of people of Asuric Vrittis) Third one is natural to Devas. And fourth and fifth are of Yogis.

If we understand these five bhumikas of Chitta we know that till one attains to Chitta Vritti Nirodha there is always a possibility of fall. And thus just because someone can meditate well or has some experiences or had even some experience of deep meditation, he should not conclude that he or she is above all.

B-Till one reaches the Nirodha state one has to be alert also and perform one’s duty to the Samashti.Only when one reaches the Nirodha state of Chitta then one can say that his/her practice of Yoga is complete.

Only after Nirodha, the seer rests in own state, in that Oneness. Otherwise the Sadhaka is identified with Vrittis-modifications, and so the result is misery.Concentration(Dharana )is practised for stopping the modifications of the mind;It is holding the mind to one form or object steadily for a long time.

HOW TO ACHIEVE NIRUDDHA STATE?-

17 FACTS;-

1-There is externalising or objectifying power in the mind. This leads to Bahirmukha-Vritti. The mind is drawn towards objects. Through constant Sadhana (spiritual practice) the mind must be checked from externalising. It must be made to move towards Brahman, its original home.

2-There is no limit to the power of the human mind. The more concentrated it is, the more power is brought to bear on one point. You are born to concentrate the mind on God after collecting the mental rays that are dissipated on various objects. That is our important duty. You forget the duty on account of Moha for family, children, money, power, position, name and fame.

3-Mind is compared to quicksilver(Para), because its rays are scattered over various objects. It is compared to a monkey, because it jumps from one object to another. It is compared to moving air, because it is 'inconstant'/ 'moveable'/ 'flickering. It is compared to a rutting( relating to the period of Animal reproduction) , furious elephant, because of its passionate impetuosity( violent).

4-Mind is known by the name 'Great Bird,' because it jumps from one object to another just as a bird jumps from one twig to another, from one tree to another. Raja Yoga teaches us how to concentrate the mind and then how to ransack the innermost recesses of our minds.

5-Concentration is opposed to sensuous desires, bliss to flurry and worry, sustained thinking to perplexity, applied thinking to sloth and torpor, rapture to ill-

will.To remove this (tossing and various other obstacles which stand in the way of one-pointedness of mind), the practice of concentration on one thing alone should be made.

6- According to Dhyanabindu Upanishad "Having made Atman as the lower Arani (sacrificial wood) and the Pranava as the upper Arani, one should see God in secret through the practice of churning which is Dhyana (meditation)."-.

6-1-Place a picture of Lord Shiva in front of you. Sit in your favourite meditative pose. Concentrate gently with open eyes on the picture till tears trickle down your cheeks. Rotate the mind on the OM on the chest, long hair, beautiful beard, round eyes, and the various other limbs of His body and fine spiritual aura emanating from His head, and so on. Think of His divine attributes such as love, magnanimity, mercy and forbearance.

7-It is easy to concentrate the mind on external objects. The mind has a natural tendency to go outwards. Desire is a mode of the emotive mind. It has got a power of externalising the mind.Fix the mind on Atman. Fix the mind on the

All-pervading pure Intelligence and Self-luminous effulgence (Svayamjyotis). Stand firm in Brahman. Then you will become "Brahma- Sanstha" (established in Brahman).

8-Practise concentration of mind. Fix the mind on one object, on one idea. Withdraw the mind again and again when it runs away from the Lakshya and fix it there. Do not allow the mind to create hundreds of thought-forms. Introspect and watch the mind carefully. Live alone. Avoid company. Do not mix. This is important.

9-Do not allow the mind to dissipate its energy in vain on vain thoughts, vain worry, vain imagination and vain fear and forebodings. Make it hold on to one thought-form for half an hour by incessant practice. Make the mind to shape itself into one shape and try to keep the shape for hours together through constant and incessant practice.

10-In trying to concentrate your mind or project a thought even, you will find that you require naturally to form images in your mind. You cannot help it.

Do not wrestle with the mind during meditation. It is a serious mistake. Many neophytes commit this grave error. That is the reason why they get easily tired soon. They get headache and they have to get up very often to pass urine during the course of meditation owing to the irritation set up in the micturition(to excrete urine) centre in the spinal cord.

11-Sit comfortably in Padma, Siddha, Sukha or Svastika Asana. Keep the head, neck and trunk in one straight line. Relax the muscles, nerves and brain. Calm the objective mind. Close the eyes. Do not struggle with the mind. Keep it calm

and relaxed.By manipulating the mind you will be able to bring it under your control, make it work as you like and compel it to concentrate its powers as you desire.

12-In trained Yogis you cannot say where;-

A-Pratyahara (abstraction) ends and Dharana (concentration) begins,

B-Where Dharana ends and Dhyana (meditation) begins,

C-Where Dhyana ends and Samadhi (superconscious state) begins.

The moment they sit in the Asana, all the processes occur simultaneously with electric or lightning speed, and they enter Samadhi at their conscious will. In the neophytes, Pratyahara first takes place. Then Dharana begins. Then Dhyana slowly commences. Before Samadhi manifests, their minds, getting impatient and tired, drop down. Constant and intense Sadhana with light but nutritious food will bring about sanguine(optimistic or positive )success in getting Samadhi.

13-Just as a very skilful archer in shooting at a bird is aware of the way in which he takes his steps, holds the bow, the bow-string and the arrow at the time when he pierces the bird, thus "standing in this position, holding thus the bow, thus the bow-string, and thus the arrow, I pierce the bird" and ever afterwards would not fail to fulfil these conditions that he might pierce the bird, even so the aspirant should note the conditions such as suitable food, thus "eating this kind of food, following such a person in such a dwelling in this mode, at this time, I attain to this meditation and Samadhi."

14-As a clever cook in serving his master, notes the kind of food that his master relishes and henceforward serves it and gets gain, so the aspirant too notes the condition such as nourishment, etc., at the moment of attaining meditation and Samadhi and in fulfilling them gets ecstasy again and again.

15-A Hatha Yogi tries to concentrate his mind by having his breath controlled through Pranayama, while the Raja Yogi tries to concentrate his mind by Chitta-Vritti-Nirodha (restraining the various modifications of the Chitta) by not allowing the mind to assume various shapes of objects. He does not care for control of breath. But his breath becomes necessarily controlled when his mind is controlled. Hatha Yoga is a branch of Raja Yoga.

16- The powers of the mind are like rays of light dissipated. The rays of the mind are drawn towards various objects. You will have to gather them patiently through Vairagya and Abhyasa, through Tyaga (renunciation) and Tapas and then march boldly with indefatigable energy towards God or Brahman.

17-When the mental rays are concentrated, illumination begins.Remove the Rajas and Tamas that envelop the Sattva of the mind by Pranayama, Japa, Vichara and Bhakti. Then the mind becomes fit for concentration.

Know that We are progressing in Yoga and that the Sattva is increasing when We are always cheerful, Then the mind is even and concentrated.....SHIVOHAM