A far greater part of Yoga is taken up by meditation than by the physical exercise program of Hatha Yoga. However, the latter is a very important and necessary step up the ladder of self-realization. A person interested in Yoga, as a whole, is most concerned with communing with a higher consciousness, with self-knowledge, or ultimately, with Peace of Mind. There are several paths to this goal. As explained in "WHAT YOGA IS ALL ABOUT" at the beginning of the book, there are enough different meditative techniques to suit each temperament. The meditational Yoga most closely associated with Hatha Yoga, however, is Raja Yoga, or the "Royal Path to Self-Realization".
Yoga aims at a controlling of the mind to where its activities and movements are stilled, so that there may be no distraction from a complete awareness of and contact with the Supreme Person within yourself. Just as you cannot see through a windowpane when pouring rain beats against it, it is impossible to find deep within yourself an image of universal consciousness, if thought obscures it. As the rain slackens and finally stops, you are able to look through the shiny glass at the glorious colours of a rainbow. With patient practice, that is what you can achieve with Yoga. The rainbow can be regarded as a Higher Consciousness, the Supreme Person, the Absolute, or God; the raindrops are your thoughts. The rewards of such thought control are peace of mind, a youthful outlook and denial of the ego, all of which makes you a better person.
In this book there is no place for the description of a meditational technique, but I can give you an idea of the general workings of meditation. Mainly, it follows these steps:
1. A comfortable but upright posture which one can assume for a length of time without movement, usually the Lotus position, in a quiet place.
2. A turning inward of one's senses and thoughts, so that no distraction from the outer world is experienced.
3. A concentration upon an object, such as a candle, an apple, a beautiful picture, until one can see the object in the mind's eye with eyes closed.
4. A contemplation of the object to the exclusion of everything else. This last step is a kind of passive sitting back and watching the thoughts go by, until one is beyond thought.
5. Meditation. It can only be described as an exultation, a moment of intense happiness, a great joy. Most of us have had a momentary contact with meditation, without realizing it. It may have occurred on listening to a piece of music. Or one may have found oneself profoundly stirred by looking at a picture. Sexual love sometimes produces such a moment.
The conditions of meditation are essentially met by following the Ten Commandments. It is not only necessary to commit no immoral acts but also to harbor no negative feelings or emotions, such as fear, anger, jealousy. And even if one does not come to it pure, meditation will help one to achieve the goal. Raja Yoga cleans house in one's mind and thereby strengthens it, makes it more alert and active; Hatha Yoga teaches control over body; the two of them are a powerfully good combination.
