Category:Achieving Mystic Powers
Theme Analysis
The compiled instructions illuminate the distinct difference between the arduous pursuit of material perfections through yoga and the spontaneous perfection found in pure devotion. Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that while mystic powers (siddhis) such as becoming incredibly small or light are coveted by yogis and even demons, they ultimately remain within the material sphere and do not grant peace of mind. In contrast, a pure devotee of the Lord, having abandoned the desire for such powers, often attains them automatically through their intimate relationship with the Supreme, yet they attach no value to them, considering remembrance of the Lord to be the only true perfection of life.
- The Nature of Mystic Perfections: The acquisition of mystic powers, such as anima (becoming small) and laghima (becoming light), requires the rigorous practice of hatha-yoga or birth in specific high planetary systems like Siddhaloka.
- Material and Temporary Status: Despite their wondrous nature, these powers are material opulences that can be possessed even by demons like Aghasura, and they are subject to being vanquished, unlike the eternal mercy of the Lord.
- The Lack of Peace: Those who strive for liberation or mystic perfection often fail to find peace of mind because their desires are still anchored in personal achievement rather than service to the Supreme.
- Automatic Achievement for Devotees: Pure devotees, such as the parents and relatives of the Lord, achieve all mystic opulences automatically due to their intimate connection with Him, without separate endeavor.
- The Ultimate Perfection: The highest success in human life is not the display of magic or control over material nature, but the ability to remember the Personality of Godhead at the end of life.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: Achieving Mystic Powers Versus Pure Devotional Service.
Pages in category "Achieving Mystic Powers"
The following 23 pages are in this category, out of 23 total.
A
- A devotee does not need to practice the mystic yoga system to achieve power
- Aghasura, thus deciding to kill all the inhabitants of Vrndavana, expanded himself by the yogic siddhi called mahima. The demons are generally expert in achieving almost all kinds of mystic powers
- As a great follower and devotee of the sage Narada, Maharaja Priyavrata considered hellish the opulences he had achieved by dint of fruitive activities and mystic power, whether in the lower or heavenly planetary systems or in human society
E
- Even after obtaining such achievements (pure devotional service and all details of material enjoyment, salvation and mystic powers), one should be on guard against the pitfall of offenses at the feet of the devotees
- Even those trying for liberation, or merging into the Brahman effulgence, and the yogis who try to achieve perfection in mystic power cannot have peace of mind
P
- Paramatma realization is but partial realization of Vasudeva, and if one is successful in that attempt, one realizes Vasudeva in full. But by ill luck most yogis are stranded by the powers of mysticism achieved through the bodily process
- Parents and other relatives of the Lord achieve all mystic opulences automatically because of their intimate relationship with the Lord. Such opulences include all details of material enjoyment, salvation and mystic powers
S
- Sri Devahuti said: My dear husband, O best of brahmanas, I know that you have achieved perfection and are the master of all the infallible mystic powers because you are under the protection of yogamaya, the transcendental nature
- Success in yoga is not acquisition of mystic power, which is condemned in the previous chapter, but, rather, freedom from all material designations and situation in one's constitutional position. That is the ultimate achievement in yoga practice
T
- The desired result of yoga is not to achieve some wonderful mystic power
- The highest perfection of human life, achieved either by complete knowledge of matter & spirit, by acquirement of mystic powers, or by perfect discharge of one's occupational duty, is to remember the Personality of Godhead at the end of life
- The highest perfection of human life, achieved either by complete knowledge of matter and spirit, by practice of mystic powers, or by perfect discharge of occupational duty, is to remember the Personality of Godhead at the end of life
- The inhabitants of Siddhaloka prayed: O Lord Nrsimhadeva, because we belong to Siddhaloka, we automatically achieve perfection in all eight kinds of mystic power
- The Nagapatnis said, "Nor do such persons desire to rule the planets above this earth, such as Siddhaloka; nor do they aspire for the mystic powers achieved by the yoga process
- The ordinary powers achieved by mystic yoga, austerities and other processes are sometimes vanquished, but the powers obtained by the mercy of the Lord are never vanquished. Hiranyakasipu, therefore, wanted a benediction that would never be vanquished
- The topmost planetary systems consist of planets like Brahmaloka and Dhruvaloka (the polestar), and all of them are situated beyond Maharloka. The inhabitants of those planets are empowered with eightfold achievements of mystic perfection
- There are other opulences which the yogis can achieve by their mystic power. They are also material. A devotee does not aspire for all these material pleasures, although they are available to him simply by wishing
- They (the inhabitants of the topmost planetary systems) do not have to learn and practice the mystic processes of yoga perfection and achieve the power of becoming small like a particle -anima-siddhi-, or lighter than a soft feather -laghima-siddhi
- To attain such (mystic) perfection, one must undergo a certain process - hatha-yoga - and through this yoga system the practitioner achieves some uncommon mystic power