Source Text
“Realising that man’s body is like an electric battery, I reasoned that it could be recharged with energy through the direct agency of the human will. As no action, slight or large, is possible without willing, man can avail himself of his prime mover, will, to renew his bodily tissues without burdensome apparatus or mechanical exercises. I therefore taught the Ranchi students my simple Yogoda techniques by which the life force, centred in man’s medulla oblongata, can be consciously and instantly recharged from the unlimited supply of cosmic energy.”
The Energisation Exercises are to be practised twice a day every day. The 39 exercises are practised in a specific order and their practice takes between 12 to 15 minutes. The simplicity of these exercises is that they can all be practised from a standing position in a very small space. You do not need to use a Yoga mat or even wear Yoga clothes.
These techniques systematically purify and strengthen all the body parts with vital force (prāṇa), giving health, strength and vitality to the body.
Yogananda said, “Will power is what makes you divine. When you give up using that will, you become a mortal man… If you continuously use your will power, no matter what reverses come, it will produce success and health and power to help people, and above all, it will produce communion with God.”
Kriya Initiation and the Blessings of the Guru When Babaji gave Lahiri Mahasaya permission to initiate others into Kriyā Yoga, he also told him to advise each new initiate in the words of Krishna (Bhāgavad Gīta, 2:40): “Even a little of the practice of this dharma will save you from great fear.”
Regular daily practice of meditation will transform you from within. It will help you to perform all your worldly duties and attend to your responsibilities serenely, saturated with inner calmness and peace. Remember, true happiness and lasting fulfilment is not found outwardly in the world of the senses and restless desires, but in the silent depths of your being, the inner changeless Self.
Spiritually awakening to realisation of your pure essential nature (the indwelling Self) and knowledge of ultimate Reality, God, should be your highest aim in life, for the whole of the universe and human life is constructed on the reality of God. You hold within yourself that which you are seeking. The primary cause of lack of Self-awareness is a mistaken perception of self-identity.
Meditation brings an end to separation and unites you with that supreme bliss of the inner God-Self. Regular daily practice of meditation will purify and strengthen your mind and bring clarity to it. Once
We all want freedom in joy! Not the short-lived joys that we get from sensual pleasures, attachments, frustrated desires, fame and praise, but
the ever-lasting and perfect joy that is non-dependent and is free from likes and dislikes. A true joy and real happiness that is the very nature of your own inner Self and is the essence of every living being.
AI Summary
Willpower and Energy by Stephen Sturgess presents key insights from the Yoga tradition. The 10 passages above capture the essential teachings.
Core Themes:
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Key Passages: Highlights 1, 3, and 10 are particularly representative.
This entry was generated from Readwise highlights. Expand with additional context as appropriate.