.octobe~ 8,1973, The Retriever, Page 9 Viewpoint:

In the article on psychedelics (Sept. most direct paths to the expanded, or 24) the vast energy reserves residing in higher , and its life of the body were mentioned. It was said service. It embodies several forms, that these reserves constitute our vital and in thIs article we will consider energy, and it is their energy which we three of those forms. use up during our waking hours" and The first form, , is the one recover (to a greater or lesser degree) best known in our culture so far. It is during sleep. Further, the effect of this form that people often think of psychedelics is such that during a trip, when the work yoga is mentioned - the vital energy is used in great "making yourself like a -pretzel and quantities, making it difficult, if not standing on your head." And yet, yoga impossible to replenish. Yoga; thru a is much more than this, for, as series of prescribed actions, makes the has said, "If yoga were nothing vital energy available safely and in more than great physical feats, the harmony with the body's rhythm. circus performers are the best ." The vital energy exists, whether it is And, though the tight rope walker has used or not. developed a grea t balance and con­ People commonly live the whole of centration, she would not be said to be a their lives having used little more of yogi. Essentially, the purpose of hatha this vast supply than is necessary for yoga is to perfect the body Imind for the daily living. Under situations of stress, powerful effects of ' . Ha however, the dormant energy is means sun and tha means moon, and available, and there are many cases of thus a balance of energies is sought. hatha yoga is that it can lead to an loving. people who, during a car accident, for Studying under a reliable teacher, and overpreoccupation with one's body and The third station is at the navel and example, perform apparently practiced daily, hatha- yoga 'can give physical well-being, thus missing the solar plexus, and this is the stop of remarkable acts which they are not positive, life-affirming benefits to point. Nevertheless, hatha yoga is a power and greed. It is also the con­ aware of consciously. This is because anyone. It takes us through a series of wonderful path, and many have found a nection with the world, and "Grand the overpowering nature of the vital very specific , or sitting new awareness through its practice. Central" for the lower two centers. energy ,is too much for the waking 'postures, and , or breathing yoga is the path of from The begins at consciousness to bear. By expanding exercises, to a state of calm awareness the heart and devotion to a chosen the fourth center, in the heart. Walking the consciousness, we are able to bear very conducive to meditation. Slowly ideal. Pronounced BAHK-TEE, it is the off at this point, you might very well be more of the dormant energy, until the and in rhythm with the body, the vital path of most of the world's great greeted by beatific faces and lovers in conscious and dormant energies are energy which is blocked is released and . is a , , ecstasy, for this is the center of love one, and our full potential is realized. channeled properly. Anyone who has having Christ as its ideal, and love as and , and a very beautiful This is the state toward which yoga met an older hatha yogi will im­ its basic premise. The practice of place to stop. The fifth center resides in strives. mediately see his or her young, smooth Bhakti yoga includes the repetition of the throat, and stopping here will teach Yoga is at once one _of the safest and skin, and bright eyes. The danger of one or more Names of the Universal, or you many things, for this is the center . By chanting a chosen Name, such of truth, and nothing but the truth. The as "Ram" or ' "Sat Nam", the con­ sixth center is in the pituitary gland, centration is easily focu~ed and the known as the "". It is between effect is a calming one. The hypnotic the eyebrows. Stopping here- will effect of constant repetition is not ena ble you to see many things which -/, el beauty pageant sought, but rather the awakening one of are beyond our normal awareness. It is devotion. Thus, by the use of a the center of intuitive and vibration and the loving attitude of the last connection with the outer devotion, a direct, personal relation­ world. The seventh center is the ship of worshipper and worshipped is highest and corresponding to the cultivated. Focused on his or her ideal, pineal gland. A person \yhose con­ a Bhakti yogi's energy is channeled, sciousness resides here is one with the often producing states of ecstasy and Universal. His ego is neither non­ bliss. The main difference between existent or barely so. Bhakti yoga and many other paths of To reach the higher levels, Kunda Consciousness is that there remains a yoga uses postures, breathing exer­ separation between the worshipper and cises, and chanting. This is a powerful God, or Lover and Beloved in Bhakti and intense yoga, making use of the yoga, which is absent in other paths, will, and being one of the fastest ways where a merging of the two is sought. to Yoga. Meher Baba, Christianity and Hare Yoga is an immense subject, and to and Mohammedanism are all cover it in one article is impossible. For Bhakti paths, leading towards Union of those interested enough, there are the individual with the Cosmic Self, or many good books to hang out with. God. How To Know God, The Yoga The third yoga we will explore is Aphorism of , is a Yoga, as taught by Yogi classic, and should be read by anyone Bhajan. In the understanding of this who wants to find out from the source. path it is important to know the yogic Any work_by, _S_wami Vivekanada centers of energy. There are is well worth reading. There is no other traditionally seven centers, called yogic writing as concise and intense as chabras (shahkras), which extend the his. He has written on Bhakti, Kun­ length of the spine and into the head. dalini, and many related areas. A third You might imagine a sub- way tunnel source is Autobiography of a with various stations along the way. Yogi. by Paramahansa Yogananda. It The subway car itself is the vital gives a wonderful view of an energy, known in this system as enlightened man's and a Kundalini energy. beautiful glimpse of . Be Here Kundalini means "coil of the Now is a modern classic, and should Beloved" , and this vast energy is coiled be read by anyone at all interested in at the base of the spine, which is the the spiritual path. It is the story of first subway stop. If you were to walk Baba Ram Das, formerly Richard off the subway at this stop, you would Alpert, and so much more. There are see people running around with no many other books on yoga, and many other purpose than to survive. Thus, good ones. But best of all is the ex­ according to the Kundalini system, perience. There are classes in Hatha - survival is the basic urge. The second and Kundalini available in the­ stop would take you to the genitals and Baltimore area,. and those desiring walking off at this "top. vou wt)uld lw information 1m these or anything greeted by a scene ot sex anO lUst - In happening spiritually should contact short, a model of Freud's subconscious. Savitria, at 2405 Ruscome La. , Balto.) A person whose consciousness is at Md. this center is lustful and not at all In the One --