Experiencing the Yoga Aphorisms

The Light of Life is Expanded by

A Sense of Loyalty to One’s Soul

Carlos Cardoso Aveline

Few books could be as effective as the classic “Yoga Aphorisms of Patanjali” in stimulating a sense of duty to one’s own understanding of right living, and to one’s feeling that it is possible to live according to a high ideal of ethics and wisdom.

As the student considers a good version of Patanjali’s book - the main treatise on Raja Yoga  [1] - he sees there are many different measures to take and improvements to make at the physical, emotional and mental levels.

The mere act of contemplating its unequal axioms once and again is enough to silently strengthen his will.

There is no need to pay too much attention to those axioms with which his natural interaction is weaker. The reader may dwell in those aphorisms that speak to his soul. Their “order” or sequence in the text is not necessarily the order of his needs with regard to self-training. It is right to follow one’s natural process of affinity.

The light of life is expanded by the sense of duty to one’s soul, and by the sense of purpose coming from it.

The perception of one’s failings must be compensated by a degree of detachment regarding mistakes, a “taming” of one’s dispersed will, and the concentration of the mind in the adopted goal and ideal.  

In a sacred sort of silence, we start to understand Yoga.

A relaxed, contemplative view of those aphorisms that most resonate with us shows the meeting place between our next steps and the unlimited possibilities present in each moment of open-minded thought.  

NOTE:

[1] See “The Yoga Aphorisms of Patanjali”, an interpretation by William Q. Judge, Theosophy Company, 74 pp. The book is available online in our associated websites. One of the best among the many other versions of the work is “The Yoga-Sutra of Patanjali”, Translation, Introduction, Appendix and Notes by Manilal Nabhubhai Dvivedi, published by Tookaram Tatya, Bombay Theosophical Publication Fund, 1890. Classical versions include “The Yoga Philosophy: Being the Text of Patanjali, with Bhoja Raja’s Commentary”, Tookaram Tatya and Dr. Ballantyne, Bombay Theosophical Publication Fund, India, 1885. There are useful versions by Swami Vivekananda, Rohit Mehta and I. K. Taimni, among others.

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The above article was published on 11 August 2018. An initial version of it, with no indication as to the name of the author, appeared in the August 2015 edition of “The Aquarian Theosophist”, pp. 8-9.

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New Year

On the Hills of the Morning I Saw Him

Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Ella Wheeler Wilcox (1850-1919)

I saw on the hills of the morning,

The form of the New Year arise,

He stood like a statue adorning

The world with a background of skies.

There were courage and grace in his beautiful face,

And hope in his glorious eyes.

“I come from Time’s boundless forever”,

He said, with a voice like a song,

“I come as a friend to endeavour,

I come as a foe to all wrong.

To the sad and afraid I bring promise of aid,

And the weak I will gird and make strong.”

“I bring you more blessings than terrors,

I bring you more sunlight than gloom,

I tear out your page of old errors,

And hide them away in Time’s tomb.

I reach you clean hands, and lead on to the lands

Where the lilies of peace are in bloom.”

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Ella Wheeler Wilcox wrote several poems with the same title “New Year”. The above one was reproduced from the book “Poetical Works of Ella Wheeler Wilcox”, W.P. Nimmo, Hay, & Mitchell, Edinburgh, undated, probably 1917, 527 pages, see p. 434. It was published in our associated websites on 06 August 2018.

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Life

He Who is Altruistic and Does

His Best May Attain the Highest Goal

Ella Wheeler Wilcox

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In the following poem Ella Wheeler

Wilcox uses the theosophical concept of

Adepts, Initiates, or Masters of the Wisdom.

(CCA)

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All in the dark we grope along,

And if we go amiss

We learn at least which path is wrong,

And there is gain in this.

We do not always win the race

By only running right;

We have to tread the mountain’s base

Before we reach its height.

The Christs alone no errors made;

So often had they trod

The paths that lead through light and shade,

They had become as God. [1]

As Krishna, Buddha, Christ again,

They passed along the way,

And left those mighty truths which men

But dimly grasp to-day.

But he who loves himself the last

And knows the use of pain,

Though strewn with errors all his past,

He surely shall attain.

Some souls there are that needs must taste

Of wrong, ere choosing right;

We should not call those years a waste

Which led us to the light.

NOTE:

[1] In esoteric philosophy, the word “God” means the higher self, the spiritual soul, the universal and sacred Law impersonally present in everyone’s heart. (CCA)

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The above poem was published in our associated websites on 03 August 2018. It was reproduced from the book “Poems of Power”, by Ella Wheeler Wilcox, Gay and Hancock, Ltd., London, 1912, 164 pp., see pp. 79-80.

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E-Theosophy e-group offers a regular study of the classic, intercultural theosophy taught by Helena P. Blavatsky (photo).

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Resolve

Building the Structure of One’s Future

Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Build on resolve, and not upon regret,

The structure of thy future. Do not grope

Among the shadows of old sins, but let

Thine own soul’s light shine on the path of hope

And dissipate the darkness. Moist no tears

Upon the blotted record of lost years,

But turn the leaf, and smile, oh, smile, to see

The fair white pages that remain for thee.

Prate not of thy repentance. But believe

The spark divine dwells in thee: let it grow.

That which the unpreaching spirit can achieve,

The grand and all creative forces know;

They will assist and strengthen as the light

Lifts up the acorn to the oak-tree’s height.

Thou hast but to resolve, and lo! God’s [1] whole

Great universe shall fortify thy soul.

NOTE:

[1] In esoteric philosophy, the word “God” means the higher self, the spiritual soul, and the universal Law impersonally present in everyone’s heart. (CCA)

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The above poem was published in our associated websites on 01 August 2018. It was reproduced from the book “Poetical Works of Ella Wheeler Wilcox”, by Ella Wheeler Wilcox, Edinburgh, UK, W. P. Nimmo, Hay, & Mitchell, undated edition, probably 1917, see pp. 456-457.

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E-Theosophy e-group offers a regular study of the classic, intercultural theosophy taught by Helena P. Blavatsky (photo).

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Limitless

Assessing One’s Possibilities When

the Motive is Noble and the Will is Strong

Ella Wheeler Wilcox

There is nothing, I hold, in the way of work

That a human being may not achieve

If he does not falter, or shrink or shirk,

And more than all, if he will believe.

Believe in himself and the power behind

That stands like an aid on a dual ground,

With hope for the spirit and oil for the wound,

Ready to strengthen the arm or mind.

When the motive is right and the will is strong

There are no limits to human power;

For that great force back of us moves along

And takes us with it, in trial’s hour.

And whatever the height you yearn to climb,

Tho’ it never was trod by the foot of man,

And no matter how steep - I say you can,

If you will be patient - and use your time.

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The poem “Limitless” was published in our associated websites on 27 July 2018. It was reproduced from the book “Poetical Works of Ella Wheeler Wilcox”, by Ella Wheeler Wilcox, Edinburgh, UK, W. P. Nimmo, Hay, & Mitchell, undated edition, probably 1917, 527 pp., see p. 121.

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E-Theosophy e-group offers a regular study of the classic, intercultural theosophy taught by Helena P. Blavatsky (photo).

Those who want to join E-Theosophy e-group at YahooGroups can do that by visiting https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/E-Theosophy/info.

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