THE AMAZING SECRETS OF THE YOGI (cid:1) (cid:1) (cid:1) (cid:1) (cid:1) (cid:1) (cid:1) (cid:1) (cid:1) (cid:1) (cid:1) Charles Haanel & V.S. Perera (cid:1) (cid:1) 1 THE AMAZING SECRETS OF THE YOGI By CHARLES F. HAANEL of University City, U.S.A. in collaboration with V. S. PERERA of Ceylon TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTORY REMARKS..............................3 INTRODUCTION......................................5 Chapter 1 - IDA, PlNGALA AND SUSHUMANA............7 Chapter 2 - LEVITATING THE ASTRAL BODY...........14 Chapter 3 - KUNDALINI, THE SERPENT POWER.........22 Chapter 4 - BREATH, THE ELIXIR OF LIFE...........29 Chapter 5 - CONTROL OF LIFE......................36 Chapter 6 - THE EIGHT STEPS TO MASTERY...........42 Chapter 7 - SUBLIMATION OF REPRODUCTIVE ENERGY...49 Chapter 8 - UTILIZATION OF INFINITE POWER........55 Chapter 9 - THE BREATH OF LIFE...................61 Chapter 10 - REVIVING THE DEAD...................67 Chapter 11 - THE INNER LIGHT.....................72 Chapter 12 - PERFECT HARMONY.....................78 Originally Published in 1937. This ebook version Copyright ©2006 www.Self-Improvement-eBooks.com All Rights Reserved 2 INTRODUCTORY REMARKS by THE PUBLISHERS ENCOURAGED by the reception which has been given by British readers to his great work The Master Key, the gifted author, Charles F. Haanel, now permits us to reveal to readers through the present volume, The Amazing Secrets of the Yogi. This work comes from the pen that wrote The Master Key and conveys secret knowledge communicated to Charles F. Haanel by V. S. Perera of Ceylon, who is the leading Asiatic authority on the teachings of the Yogi. The information conveyed by this collaboration may, therefore, be deemed to be as reliable as the text is eloquent and clear. Those students of The Master Key who peruse the present work will recognise some of the Eastern elements that enter into The Master Key guidance. Also they will note those elements which have been omitted from that major and companion volume as being too theoretical or too recondite to act as practical guidance for other than those mystics who are able to extract subjective guidance from any preferred phase of the occultism that has been taught by practising or speculative metaphysicians throughout the ages. It is because of this subjective influence that mystical theories and doctrines have a positive virtue whether they happen to be true or not from the absolute viewpoint. While the revelations here given have been absolute "secrets" to most inhabitants of Europe and of countries peopled from Europe, millions of Indians know that these secrets exist, and this knowledge is an accepted factor which more or less strongly influences their normal mental life, according to the exact knowledge or the imaginative surmise of each individual. It is well, therefore, for Western people to know what thoughts and practices influence the daily lives of so many millions of Asiatics. If nations who think dissimilarly understand better what are the thoughts which guide the counterpart of each individual in another Continent, we may gradually work to a better understanding of, and to a greater degree of harmony between, the thoughts of the East and those of the West. Hence this Volume is a definite step towards the freer exchange of European and Asiatic ideas and the establishment of a basis upon which the intrinsically best ideas of each Continent can establish themselves by their own inherent virtues, instead of being opposed or shunned as being weird or incomprehensible. It here becomes evident that so-called occult practices have a rational basis and we can all now view them with more understanding whether we want to use them or not. We may certainly benefit from the use of those we are able to practise. We are not ourselves mystics, nor are we fond of the occult or the merely theoretical. 3 We publish this work because it conveys knowledge that the Wise Men of the East believe; and which, to most men of the West, will come as something new, curious and of gripping interest. We furthermore publish it because it will awaken most readers to realize how greatly the practice of scientific breathing can improve the quality of human life. And, last but not least, we issue it because many of those who have put its teachings into practice report that, whether the Yoga doctrines are based on scientific fact or not, the truth is that empirically they do work and produce the results claimed for them. The Amazing Secrets of the Yogi is not an exhaustive treatise on all aspects of Yoga philosophy, but it is sufficiently comprehensive to satisfy those who desire a knowledge of the main trend of Yogi thinking. The knowledge here given is sufficient for all who desire to become adepts. It is therefore an adequate groundwork upon which those may build who desire further to advance to the stage of seership. Most readers will decide to add to the knowledge they cull from this Volume the more easily assimilable teachings of its more fundamental companion Volume, The Master Key, which is in constant demand today and is steadily finding its way into more and more British homes to the consequent benefit of those who inhabit them. This Master Key is the key to the understanding and operation by psychological means of the Law of Causation, i.e., The Law of Cause and Effect. Every thing that can be thought or done is the effect of all prior cause and becomes in its turn the cause of all subsequent effect. Hence a familiarity with this Natural Law of Causation and power to use it consciously for the benefit of one's own self and of others is supremely valuable knowledge to add to an understanding of the more intriguing ways which the Yogi use to co-operate with the spiritual laws of the natural world. The Master Key does not claim to be a new religion, nor is it antagonistic, or contrary, to any creed. Its realm is the realm of secular life where it stands supreme as a practical guide to the art and science of getting life's advantages by conscious collaboration with the Law of Causation along definite lines which the inspired author elaborates. We close by reminding the reader that pure learning is of no use whatever, even to the possessor, unless it is backed by action. Therefore the exercises set must be actually practised, otherwise the new knowledge would tend to create dreamers rather than men and women of purposeful achievement, useful alike to themselves and to all those with whom they come into contact. FREDERICK H. BURGESS for THE MASTER KEY PUBLISHING COMPANY London, August, 1937. 4 INTRODUCTION by the Joint Author CHARLES F. HAANEL, D.Psy. In this volume I have embodied many valuable secrets, which have been collected with great care from the treasured wisdom of Ancient India. These secrets if put into daily practice will bring you added health, greater success and unbounded happiness. They will prove to be a "guide, philosopher and friend " and will serve you well in times of trouble, difficulty or disease. In fact you will soon come to regard them as the greatest boon that has ever come into your life. They will invest you with courage, hope, health, success, power, length of days, a radiant countenance and a magnetic personality. You will now probably want to know something concerning Victor S. Perera who has collaborated with me in penning this work. He was born February 21st, 1897, at Matara, on the Island of Ceylon, India. He was born of Cingalese parents, and was brought up as a Christian. His early education was in Cingalese, his mother-tongue, but he was later educated in English and attended an English College. His health was delicate, which made him quiet and reserved, but he had a marvellous memory, which soon placed him at the head of his classmates in every subject. Because of continued ill-health, he left college in 1915, passing out as an undergraduate of Cambridge University. He had intended to study medicine, but ill-health prevented and in 1917 he became a teacher. He contributed articles to the Indian Recorder (1923—1924) on "The Operation of the Law of Karma," which gave the highest teachings which have been long lost to the world, concerning the operation of the Law of Cause and Effect on the mental plane. The article received the highest appreciation. The important facts contained in this volume, will place a sceptre of power in your hands with which you can open a pathway to health, success and the life abundant. You will find that they contain a priceless message which will bring solace to your mental wounds in times of distress. You will come to feel that you have realized a 5 lifelong dream, and will often regret that this information did not come to you much earlier. And, what is best of all, you will find nothing in these lessons which will in any way conflict with any religious principles which you may hold. On the other hand your spiritual convictions will be strengthened because you will find that Truth is the same, in all lands, and in all times, regardless of the name it may take or the manner of its presentation. May the message which has been penned for you by myself and by my collaborator in Ceylon, the "Pearl upon the brow of India," the "Eden on the Western Wave," linger long with you and bring you a world of light and life, and beauty, radiant with joy and youth. CHARLES F. HAANEL, University City, U.S.A. 6 PART ONE IDA, PlNGALA AND SUSHUMANA THIS part tells you of a strange discovery made by the Hindu Scientists—how and why certain practices make one positive, courageous, daring and passionate, while others make one timid, humble, obedient and spiritual. This is one of the amazing secrets of the Yogi and is worth many times the price of the entire course. 1. If we divide a human body into two halves along the median line, we should observe that most of the organs which are intended to carry out some function of the body, consist of two symmetrical parts, one located on the right half of the body, the other on the left half. 2. Thus, the brain, the eyes, the ears, the nose, the arms, the lungs, the kidneys, the testicles or ovaries, and the legs are all double organs or parts, one of which is situated on the right side of the body and the other on the left. 3. This is because man is a magnet having two poles, the same as all other bodies which manifest magnetic properties. 4. The right side of his body represents the positive pole, while the left side represents the negative pole. 5. Spirit, Mind Substance, Astral Substance, Ether and Matter, all manifest two poles—the positive and the negative. This is an inherent law of the Cosmos. Male, and female, heat and cold, north and south, east and west, light and darkness, day and night, represent the two poles of each continuous whole. 6. The positive pole manifests characteristics diametrically opposed to those of the negative. The functions of one similarly differ from the other. 7. Each pole of a body having magnetic properties, is so constituted that it absorbs (inhales) stores up (retains) and radiates (exhales), a subtle form of energy, from and to the surrounding space. 8. The energy absorbed and radiated by the positive pole differs from the energy absorbed and radiated by the negative pole. But at the spot which divides the positive pole from the negative pole, the body possesses the characteristics of neither the positive nor the negative, but a combination of both. 9. Now this is true of the human organism. The right side of the body forms the 7 positive pole and the left side the negative pole of the human magnet. 10. As energy is fluidic and kinetic, it has control over matter. 11. Ether is static energy, it fills all space and interpenetrates all solids, all gases. 12. Ether consists of positive and negative electrons. 13. When any body having magnetic properties ceases to absorb and radiate energy, from and to the surrounding space, its magnetic properties cease. 14. It is then dead. 15. Each human being from birth to death performs the act of breathing, inhaling, retaining and exhaling. 16. With each inhalation he absorbs not only air, but also ether or Pranic energy, which interpenetrates the air. 17. Air is inhaled through the nostrils—the right nostril and the left nostril. 18. The air inhaled passes through the interior of the nose, the pharynx, the larynx, the windpipe and the bronchial tubes and enters the lungs. 19. The lungs receive the air inhaled and absorb the oxygen in the air, which mixes with the blood. 20. When the oxygen comes in contact with the blood, a form of combustion takes place and the blood takes up the oxygen and releases the carbonic acid gas which is ejected from the lungs at each exhalation. 21. The Hindu Scientists discovered that the breath does not always flow at the same time from both nostrils. They found that the breath flows through one nostril at a time, and from time to time during each day it flows for short intervals from both nostrils. 22. Instead of finding irregularity or want of uniformity in the flow of breath in human beings—nay in all breathing things—they found law, order and rhythm which governs all manifestations of the Universe—from the most insignificant or trivial to the most stupendous. 23. They discovered that in persons of normal health, the breath flows for nearly sixty minutes or one hour through one nostril and then changes to the other to flow for a period of the same duration, i.e., one hour. 8 24. Every hour the breath-flow changes from one nostril to the other, thus for each day of twenty-four hours, the breath flows for twelve alternate hours through the left nostril and the other twelve alternate hours through the right nostril. 25. When one nostril is in flow there will be no flow from the other, till the time comes for the breath flow to change to the other. 26. There are two nerve currents in the spinal column called Pangala and Ida. There is a hollow canal called Sushumana running through the spinal cord. 27. Every time we breathe, air as well as ether travels along either Ida nerve or Pingala Nerve and after circulating up and down passes out through the nostrils. 28. The Ida nerve begins in the left nostril, at the root of the nose just where the left nostril converges into the right, passes through the cerebellum and medulla oblongata, runs along the left side of the spinal cord, and ends at the lower end of the spine. 29. Similarly the Pingala nerve begins from the right nostril, passes through the cerebellum and medulla oblongata, runs through the right side of the spine and ends at its base. 30. The Sushumana nerve or canal, though not directly connected with either of the nostrils, begins from the base of the brain or the medulla oblongata, runs down the central cavity of the spinal column and ends at the coccyx, where Pingala, Ida, and Sushumana are connected. 31. Within the root of the nose, where the two nostrils converge and where Ida and Pingala nerves begin, is one of the most vital spots in the body. This spot is very sensitive and manifests a peculiar kind of intelligence. 32. The roots of the Ida and Pingala nerves are located here. Their sensitiveness and intelligence are displayed in selecting etheric electrons from each breath of air, which passes through the nostrils. 33. Within the interior chamber of each nostril there is a gate or shutter of cartilaginous formation. These gates are controlled from this vital centre. When the breath flows through one nostril, its gates stand open, while that of the other remains closed. This spot is a vital centre, because health or disease, success or failure, gain or loss, life or death are the results which accrue from the way this centre acts. 34. The planetary rays also converge at this spot and control its functions, and at this spot is located the Helm which controls human life. Therefore a Yogi must learn to control this vital centre and change the flow of breath as required for securing desired results. 9 35. When the Pingala nerve or the right nostril is in flow, the Ida nerve lies inactive or dormant, and the gate of the left nostril remains obstructed. Similarly, when the Ida nerve or the left nostril is in flow, the Pingala nerve lies dormant, and the gate of the right nostril remains shut. But when the Sushumana nerve or both nostrils are in flow, the gates of both of them lie ajar and both Pingala and Ida nerves are fully active. 36. When the right nostril is in flow, from each inhalation of air, the Pingala Nerve selects the positive electrons contained in the ether which interpenetrates the air, and carries a current of positive electro-magnetism down the right side of the spine. 37. Because the right side is positive, people in whom the right nostril flow is predominant, evince positive characteristics, such as martial spirit and sometimes unusual aggressiveness. 38. In certain males, unbridled sexual passion is the result of an excessive flow of the right nostril. 39. Similarly, when the left nostril is in flow, the Ida nerve carries currents of negative electrons down the left side of the spine. 40. When the left nostril flow is predominant in man, he manifests negative characteristics, such as fear, timidity, submission, humbleness, obedience, etc., and also virtues such as truthfulness, kindness, benevolence, reverence, and spirituality. 41. The positive electro-magnetic currents and the negative electro-magnetic currents which run alternately down Pingala and Ida nerves respectively, meet at the Solar Plexus and other Plexi of the Sympathetic Nervous System, which lie along the spinal column, and supply PRANA, for the conduct of the human machine. 42. As the numerous branches which Pingala and Ida nerves send out connect all of the Plexi of the Sympathetic System with the Cerebro-Spinal System, much of the etheric energy which is conveyed along Pingala and Ida is stored up in the different plexi, the chief of which is the Solar Plexus. 43. When Sushumana or both nostrils are equally in flow, both Pingafa and Ida nerves carry their respective currents down the spine at the same time, and these currents as they go down the spine distributing their wealth among the different plexi, carry what remains to the base of the spine, where they meet and supply Prana to the Sushumana Canal. 44. The Sympathetic Nervous System has its centre in the Solar Plexus, and is the channel of that mental action which unconsciously supports the vital functions of the body. 10