Raja Yoga
Intensive
Steps 5 & 6
Reading & Discussion Questions
Name __________________
Date __________________
The Art and Science of Raja Yoga - Steps 5 & 6
Section I – Philosophy
Take a moment of reflection. Please list some common qualities to all of the niyamas.
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What does Patanjali say arises from perfect “cleanliness”? Identify and please comment on
these siddhis (qualities or powers)
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The first four niyamas are generally speaking easy to understand. But why devotion?
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Is the effort in yoga to achieve Oneness simply an “opposite” of some other impulse? If so
won’t our efforts be forced by the principle of duality to reverse themselves? Please explain
this dilemma.1 ___________________________________________________
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Section III – Breathing (both Step 5 AND 6!)
Please identify the meaning and movements of breath indicated by these Sanskrit names:
a. Purak_________________________________________________
b. Rechak________________________________________________
c. Kumbhak_______________________________________________
In Step 6, Swami Kriyananda describes the yogic terms for the subtle currents. Please
identify their respective names and when during a 24-hr cycle is each predominant?
Ida_________________________________________________________
Pingala _____________________________________________________
1
This topic is not addressed in the assigned reading but see in Step 5, section II – Yoga Postures for comment in re this.
1
Yogis say that the secret of longevity is what? ___________________________
A dull person is said to breathe in what way? ___________________________
Give one technique for changing the flow of subtle currents in the spine:
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Section VII – Meditation
Where in the region of the brain (including astral brain) is the ego said to be located?
_______________________
What (or where) is its positive pole located? ___________________.
The consciousness of a master is centered where? _______________________.2
Yogananda said that divine enlightenment can come very quickly if we concentrate where
(during both meditation and daily activity)? _______________________________
The eyes reveal mental states. When the mind slips toward subconsciousness, the eyes tend
to look _____________ .
When active and focused on one’s surroundings, the energy of the eyes is centered in what
part of the brain: __________, and in what part, therefore, of the eyes: ___________.
In the state of superconsciousness the eyes are drawn naturally in what direction?
_______________________ .
If discouraged, one’s eyes tend to look ____________.
If pondering an answer, the eyes might look down and slightly
________________________.
Eyes pressed inward from the sides suggest _______________.
Eyes relaxed at the sides are characteristic of people who are
_______________________.
Sagging lower lids indicates a _________________ pull and might be due to
_____________ ______________________________.
The left eye represent’s one’s ___________ nature and the right eye one’s
_________________ nature.
Superconsciousness is a fine line of awareness between the conscious and the
____________ conscious minds.
What is the ideal position of the eyelids during meditation and why?
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2
These terms were not originally used in the raja text but later clarified such that ajna refers to the medulla, the negative
pole of the 6th chakra, and kutastha chaitanya refers to the spiritual eye, the positive pole of the 6 th chakra.
2