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In this book, we analyze the psycho-social consequences faced by Indian American children after exposure to the school textbook discourse on Hinduism and ancient India. We demonstrate that there is an intimate connection—an almost exact correspondence—between James Mill’s colonial-racist discourse (Mill was the head of the British East India Company) and the current school textbook discourse. This racist discourse, camouflaged under the cover of political correctness, produces the same psychological impacts on Indian American children that racism typically causes: shame, inferiority, embarrassment, identity confusion, assimilation, and a phenomenon akin to racelessness, where children dissociate from the traditions and culture of their ancestors.


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Yogasiddhis

From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia

By Swami Harshananda

The belief that one can attain super-natural powers by tapas and by the grace of God is very ancient. Patañjali describes quite a few of such powers in the second and the third chapters in order to generate faith in the minds of the ordinary seekers of truth. For instance, he declares that while in the company of a person who is well-established in the virtue of ahiṅsā, even animals inimical to one another like a tiger and a cow will live in peace and mutual harmony. The words of a person rooted in satya will be infallible. One who observes aparigraha very strictly can get a knowledge of his past and future lives.[1]

Saiñyama on different objects will endow the yogi with several occult powers. For instance, by saiñyama on the five elements like pṛthvī[2] and ap,[3] the yogi can get aṣṭasiddhis or the eight-fold powers like:[4]

  1. Aṇimā - power to become atomic in size
  2. Mahimā - power to grow to any large size
  3. Etc.

Some of the other powers given in the work are:

  • Thought-reading
  • Disappearance from view
  • Getting enormous strength
  • Understanding the language of animals and other creatures
  • Etc.

However, Patañjali, who as a scientist of mind, describes these powers since they are part of the science, also cautions the aspirant of yoga not to seek them. The temptation for these powers can lead him away from the goal of his life, viz., kaivalya or liberation. But, after the attainment of kaivalya since he may continue to live for some more time due to prārabdha-karma[5] he will have those powers and can safely use them for the good of mankind.


References[edit]

  1. ↑ Yogasiddhi 2.35, 36 and 39
  2. ↑ Pṛthvī means earth.
  3. ↑ Ap means water.
  4. ↑ Yogasiddhi 3.44, 45
  5. ↑ Prārabdha-karma is the karma that has started this life.
  • The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore

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