SIDDHIS AND YOGIC POWERS

SIDDHIS, POWERS AND
MYSTICAL EXPERIENCES

www.indiadivine.org - It has become quite popular nowadays to speak about mystical experiences and "siddhis". Most yoga and meditation groups speak of them, along with other esoteric blabber such as the raising of kundalini, opening of chakras, and other things which no one has actually experienced. On one side we have new age gurus speaking of siddhis very cheaply as though they are as common as sand on a beach, and on the other hand we have "rationalists" who discount siddhis all together as mere fantasy. Siddhis are a reality, and the science behind them has been passed down from time immemorial by the rishis and preserved in the Vedic texts. 
In actuality nothing is mystic. Everything functions according to natural laws. The rishis (sages), by virtue of their expanded consciousness, understood the functioning of matter on the subtle levels of sound and mind, (however) they did not give much importance to material powers and perfections.

The  rishis were not interested in acquiring wealth, power, fame, etc. Their aim was much higher. How else can we explain the countless yogis, jnanis, tapasvis, siddhas, and rishis who dwell in the sacred realm of the Himalayas. High in the mountains, surrounded by a forest covered in snow. The rishis are there even today meditating on the banks of the Ganges. What keeps them there, living in apparent poverty? Are they fools, are they mad? No, on the contrary, the world is mad and we are all fools. For we are chasing after the broken glass of sense enjoyment, while they are offering us the diamonds of spiritual bliss. 
The rishis (sages) are calling to us. We must heed their call. Whether we are in the city or in the forest, it makes no difference. Internally we must all become rishis and sadhus - transcendentalists of the concrete jungle. "Be situated in your place and attain the goal of life," this is the message of the rishis and the Upanishads - sthane sthitah shruti gatam tanu-van-manobhih.

The Indian learned sages, or Rishis, performed austerities, contemplated, and meditated, seeking solutions for the eternal problems of mankind. "True transcendentalists have no interest in mundane material life," points Prabhu Jahnava Nitai Das, author of the article. "The aim of those following spiritual discipline is to become free from the desire to lord over material nature. Those seeking mystic perfections are motivated by their desire to control matter, subtle and gross." Srila Prabhupada has explained in Bg 6.20-23 that even those yogis who are attracted by the siddhis are not perfectly situated.

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US? 

There is much rejectable element in the books on enjoyment-hunting, karma, jnaana, yoga or devotion mixed with these. ... If you read other books than the Bhagavatam you come under the influence of the processes of karma and jnaana, pleasure and pain, birth and death. You may get dharma (punya), artha (wealth) and kaama (fulfillment of desire). One, desirous of emancipation (moksha), may renounce the worldly life, but one such does not serve God. It is only the devotees that do it. God is not served even by the practice of astaanga-yoga which gives you siddhis or vidbhutis like animaa (power to be infinitesimal), laghimaa (power to be as light as hydrogen), etc. not to speak of the salvationist who may want to get rid of the weal and woe of the worldly life and to be the recipient of enjoyment in the negative form.

Śrīla Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thākura Prabhupāda :
The Pathway to Highest Blessedness
http://www.bvml.org/SBSST/tpthb.html
http://www.harekrsna.com/philosophy/bmgs/acaryas/bhaktisiddhanta/writings/pathway1.htm

Published by dasavatara das - "Vedic Views on World News"
http://www.vedicviews-worldnews.blogspot.com.ar/