Do you think enlightenment is possible? If so, mastering the TM Yoga Siddhis Sutras of Patanjali is the path to self-realization. Does the practice of these extraordinary tools interest you? Discover the path that makes it possible.
In the long line of Eastern teachers, Patanjali stands out from the rest. Patanjali’s path to self-realization revolutionized the practice of spirituality. Some say his formulas are the most powerful spiritual tools ever devised. This spiritual technology was once reserved for a select group, but today it is available to the public. Let’s examine these methods in more detail.
What are sutras and the siddhis?
Sutras are short, wise sayings that guide people in yoga, meditation, and life—for example, “Calm the mind, and the heart will be at peace.”
Siddhis are special abilities gained from specific sutras. For instance, they can help you sense when something important is about to happen.
The Spiritual Wisdom of Vedic Traditions
Many of the terms used in these traditions are similar, yet they have significantly different meanings. We will begin by outlining the eight limbs of yoga, the classical translation of the Siddhis, and Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s version of the Siddhis. Let’s start with the eight limbs.
The Classic Eight Limbs of Yoga
The Eight Limbs of Yoga refer to the classical progression of yoga. It includes:
1. Ethics
2. Spiritual observances
3. Physical postures of yoga
4. Breathing exercises
5. Focusing and expanding awareness
6. Outward concentration
7. Contemplation
8. Union with the transcendent
The classical eight limbs are a system of personal development of both physical and spiritual aspects. They encapsulate the spiritual wisdom of Vedic tradition.
In the West, the focus is on physical postures, the yoga asanas. It turns the practice of yoga into a form of exercise. By emphasizing the physical aspect, we neglect the elements that make yoga holistic. On the positive side, yoga asanas have sparked interest in deeper aspects of yoga, leading some to explore the Siddhis.
The Siddhis Sutras of Patanjali
Patanjali, also called Gonardiya or Gonikaputra, lived from the 2nd to the 5th century CE. He is credited with developing the Siddhis. Legend has it that he divided and gave his work among eight students, leading historians to suspect that he was not the sole author of the final piece.
The word Siddhis translates as extraordinary powers, which causes more confusion. Some people are interested in learning these sutras because they want supernatural powers. Levitation and invisibility are among the exceptional abilities on the list. So, they spark broad interest. Mastering the TM Yoga Siddhis Sutras of Patanjali is a significant investment of time and resources.
Many of India’s most famous teachers have written books on their interpretations of Patanjali’s Siddhis. Most books on the sutras discuss idealistic supernatural goals and potential results. They fail to explain how to accomplish them. It’s like telling someone what it’s like to fly an airplane without explaining how it’s done.
Others argue that the sutras represent internal experiences rather than external events. In other words, you manifest a unique phenomenon in the mind that makes you feel like you are flying or becoming transparent. Those who practice the Siddhis say it is a bit of both. You begin with the internal experience, and it moves to the external.
The eight Siddhis use the traditional eight limbs. However, they go beyond the traditional practice of Yoga onto the vertical path of knowledge.
The Importance of Grounding in the 4th State
To master these sutras requires a foundation in the 4th transcendent state of consciousness. This foundation is cultivated through practicing the proper form of meditation.
The technique used for reaching this state is Japa Meditation. Maharishi popularized this under the name Transcendental Meditation (TM). He is credited with making meditation an accepted practice in Western culture.
The Analogy of Dying Cloth
Maharishi uses the analogy of dying cloth to explain the spiritual wisdom of grounding.
To make color-fast cloth, that is a color that will not fade, you dip the cloth in the color and then place it in the sun. The sun will bleach out most of the color, but the remaining color won’t wash out. You keep dipping the cloth and placing it in the sun until you get a cloth with a deep, rich color that will remain.
The process of grounding is similar to meditating using the Japa or TM technique and bathing in the transcendent. Then you come out, and daily activities bleach the transcendent from your awareness. The more you meditate, the more you retain the transcendent.
The Classical Translation of the Siddhis
Depending on your source, there are different ways to translate these sutras or formulas. There are eight classical Siddhis, or eight great perfections, that are translated generally as follows:
1. Aṇimā: the ability to become small, perhaps even reducing one’s body to the size of an atom. It is this sutra that is the source of the legend of invisibility.
2. Mahimā: the opposite of Aṇimā. It’s the ability to become large, expanding one’s body to any size. Here, we have the legend of giant warriors.
3. Laghimā: the ability to become weightless or lighter than air. From this sutra, the TM movement gets its practice of levitation.
4. Prāpti: to instantaneously travel or be anywhere at will. Here is the power of astral projection.
5. Prākāmya: to achieve or realize whatever one desires. Some teachers say this sutra is the ingredient that makes the other Siddhis work as advertised.
6. Īśiṭva: the ability to control everything in nature, including people and animals. It is total supremacy over nature and the ability to force your influence upon anyone.
7. Vaśiṭva: control all material elements or natural forces. It is similar to Īśiṭva but applies to non-living things.
The eighth is either of the two following options:
8. a. Kāma-avasayitva: satisfaction, suppression of desire, or as wishes come true.
8. b. Garimā: is the ability to become infinitely heavy and so immovable.
We will use the Maharishi’s version rather than the classical form as our point of reference. Other teachers have different approaches.
Maharishi’s Siddhis Sutras of Patanjali
According to his inner circle, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi began working on his version of the Siddhis in the 1950s. This system of spiritual wisdom was first made available to the public in 1976 in Switzerland. I was introduced to the techniques in 1978. The process for teaching and the Sutras themselves have evolved since they were first introduced.
His organization has two primary methods for teaching these Siddhis. The first way is in eight two—to three-week segments. Obtaining all the sutras takes approximately a year with this schedule. The second way is to learn them all in one six-month-long residence course.
Patanjali’s Path to Self-Realization
The primary goal of kaivalya in the classical eight limbs is the same as that of the TM Yoga Siddhis Sutras of Patanjali. This goal is reaching cosmic consciousness, the fifth state of witnessing. The goal is the same; they use somewhat different paths to get there. In the fifth state, one recognizes that the observer is distinct from the physical body.
Here’s a chart of this progression of personal development. We are born with the first three default states.
| Consciousness Level | Name |
|---|---|
| 1st State | Waking |
| 2nd State | Sleeping |
| 3rd State | Dreaming |
| 4th State | Transcendental Consciousness |
| 5th State | Shamanic State of Consciousness |
| 6th State | Cosmic Consciousness — Witnessing |
| 7th State | Lucid Dreaming |
Components of Siddhis Practice
Each of the eight siddhis sets has multiple sutras. Each set is taught in a progression. Each word follows a progression using an expression of three or sometimes four other words. Word formulas are prominent concepts found in the spiritual wisdom of Vedic traditions.
One learns the sutras while in the transcendent state. Learning them in this way ensures they are recalled while in the transcendent state.
You do not verbalize or chant the sutras. They are stored in the subconscious, allowing them to be recalled at the transcendental level of awareness.
Reciting these formulas on the surface level has no effect. The recipe only works when they are introduced and used while in the 4th state. Repeating these words on the conscious level of the mind is ineffectual. It’s like trying to pick up a pebble from the bottom of a deep lake by placing your hand on the surface of the water. It will not work.
It is important to use the Sutras in the progression in order that they are learned. You don’t pick one Sutra and try to make it work.
If the goal is mastering the TM Yoga Siddhis Sutras of Patanjali, you may be tempted to try them out to see what happens. This approach can’t taint your learning them in a way that makes them effective.
The Spiritual Wisdom of Holistic Practice
The practice of the Siddhis is a combination of methods known as a “round.” The round is a series of activities to prepare for, engage in, and normalize the experience. It starts with gentle yoga postures and breathing exercises. Then, you practice Japa or TM for 20 minutes. After that, you do sutra practice for about 20 minutes. Afterwards, one normalizes the experience by listening to a part of the Sama Veda.
The round is sometimes referred to as the path. Many people practice this routine twice a day. Some recommend a “vacation round” where you do four rounds a day.
Facilitators of the Siddhis employ a vetting and preparation process to ensure the student is prepared to learn. They are present during the process to answer questions or address any issues that may arise. Then, they will debrief afterward. It’s important not to set expectations that taint your practice. Walking the path of life is a significant time commitment for the teacher and student.
Understanding The Experience of The TM Yoga Siddhis Sutras
Explaining the experience of the Siddhis is like explaining what sleep is like to someone who has never fallen asleep.
Let’s imagine you met someone who has never fallen asleep, so they have never had a dream. How could we explain how to fall asleep? If they asked you, how do you know you are asleep?
You’d have to tell them you don’t know you are asleep. That’s because when you are sleeping, you are unaware of the passage of time. Several hours pass, and you have no experience of time passing.
After you sleep, you awaken refreshed and rested. The only thing that could happen while you are asleep is to have dreams. Okay, now you have to explain what about dreaming. But this leads to more trouble because some dreams become intense hallucinations known as nightmares. Yes, the most frightening things you could imagine. And they seem real.
At this point in our discussion, the other person is becoming more hesitant. They are not sure they want to attempt sleeping. Not only is it a waste of time, but it also causes them to lose awareness of their body. And they don’t like the possibility of having a frightening nightmare. So, the answer to the sleep experience is no.
These are the excuses people use for not exploring other states of consciousness. They don’t have any similar experiences to compare. So, it is scary. The same applies to the practice of this technology.
Mastering The TM Yoga Siddhis Sutras
You will notice there are several differences between the eight siddhis of the classical form and the TM version:
1. The Sutras are given in your native language rather than Sanskrit.
2. They can be phrases or single words.
3. There isn’t a direct correlation between the TM and classical forms. However, the words or terms used in the TM form often invoke the meaning or functions you see in the classical Sutra forms.
4. The experiences of the sutras are internal expressions, except for the eighth. The eighth Sutra, known as the Flying Sutra or first-stage levitation, is a physical practice. Yogic bouncing is replicated in other forms of Yoga, not as a method for energizing Kundalini.
| Learning Order | TM Sutra |
|---|---|
| 1st Set | Friendliness, Happiness, Compassion, Bliss |
| 2nd Set | Strength of an Elephant, Bronchial Tube |
| 3rd Set | Inner Light, Finding Things Hidden from View |
| 4th Set | Sun, Moon, Polestar |
| 5th Set | Trachea, Navel |
| 6th Set | Distinction Between Intellect and Transcendent, Distinction Between Heart and Mind |
| 7th Set | Transcendent (combined with) Intuition, Hearing, Sight, Taste, Touch, and Smell |
| 8th Set | Relationship of Body and Akasha Lightness of Cotton Fiber, Light as a Feather |
Questions About Mastering the Siddhis
I recall someone asking Maharishi if it was possible to master the TM Yoga Siddhis Sutras. As I remember, Maharishi replied, “Is it possible to master consciousness?”
So, these formulas are expressions of pure consciousness. It’s like swimming. You can become a great swimmer, but do you master the ocean? No.
Some people experience intense emotional or physical sensations when they first learn them. Others take some time before they experience results. Each Sutra’s embodiment returns a unique energetic response. The more attuned you become to its subtleties, the more distinct it becomes.
These Sutras, like any other spiritual practice, will ebb and flow. You will have plateaus, peaks, and valleys.
Not Everyone Plays Basketball Like Michael Jordan
Here’s something else you probably don’t want to hear: These sutras are like skills. To some extent, everyone can play basketball, but not everyone can play like Michael Jordan. So, your practice may stall out at any level. You may find it takes months to get consistent results with just the first set. Maybe that’s as far as you can go, and that’s alright. You aren’t the Michael Jordan of the Siddhis. You are still growing and developing.
If you are an experienced Siddha, you understand the need to remove expectations and ensure people are prepared. The actual practice, like most powerful spiritual practices, is simple.
After the practice, you write about what happened and debrief with your teacher. It is the only way to be sure you are on the right path with the sutra. The teacher can provide further guidance to correct your course.
In Conclusion
If you are a Siddha, please refrain from emailing to inform us that this list is incomplete or incorrect. Some differences or omissions in the above set of sutras are intentional. Additionally, we have omitted the effects of these sutras to avoid raising expectations.
This list comes (for the most part) from the earlier short version. The short version was taught to the public after twelve weeks of in-residence preparation. The sutras of the six-month in-residence course included others not listed. However, they can be found with a bit of research.
Remember, if you really want to learn these sutras correctly, you will need personal instruction and coaching. It will require a significant investment of time and resources. One final point: mastering the TM Yoga Siddhis Sutras of Patanjali is worthwhile.
References
- Comparison of coherence, amplitude, and eLORETA patterns during Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi practice. NCBI, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
- Long-term endocrinologic changes in subjects practicing the Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi program. NCBI, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
- Transcendence and psychological health: studies with long-term participants of the Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi program. NCBI, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
- Improved auditory thresholds and reduced biological age in TM-Sidhi practitioners. NCBI, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
- Empirical evaluation of group TM-Sidhi practice on drug-related mortality. NCBI, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
- Time-series analysis: TM and TM-Sidhi group practice correlated with reduced societal stress. NCBI, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
- Meditation and Psi: Experimental links between meditation and psi (including siddhis). Psi Encyclopedia, Society for Psychical Research.
- Patanjali Yoga and Siddhis: Their Relevance to Parapsychological Theory and Research. Cambridge University Press.