Book Title: Harmony of All Religions
Author(s): Parmahans Maharaj, Veena Rani Howard
Publisher: USA Santmat Society of North America

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Page 351
________________ Lord Rama instructed Hanuman Ji on this method when he said: There are two seeds of the tree of the mind. The first is prana spandana (breathing; movement of energy) and the second is vasana (desire; subconscious inclinations; tendencies and impulses). Indeed with the destruction (restraining) of one of these two, the other is also destroyed (subdued). Some spiritual aspirants try to destroy these seeds through exercises that control the movement of the breath. These breathing exercises are called pranayama, and they are part of Hatha Yoga. Other aspirants seek to eliminate the desires (vasanas) using the techniques and practices of Raja Yoga (the path of meditation), which is also known as Drišti yoga, the Yoga of the Focus of the Vision. Dristi yoga is deemed superior to Hatha Yoga because it can be easily practiced by householders as well as by ascetics. For this reason Lord Ram instructed Hanuman to practice Dristi yoga: Oh Hanuman, until the mind is controlled, one must meditate on a single element. And what is this one element? The one element is not found in the practice of Japa, because the mantra by itself is not simply one element because there can be more than one syllable in a mantra. Neither is this one element found in Mānas Dhyāna because the physical form of the deity or Guru is comprised of many elements. This one element is that which is indivisible 342

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