One of the most intriguing methods of consciousness exploration is the TM Yoga Siddhis sutras. It’s a modern adaptation of the Siddhis sutras of Patanjali. This article explores the origins of the Yoga Siddhis sutras, how they are practiced, and how they fit within the traditional system of Yoga.
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.
Regulation Gate Notice:
This practice is for stabilizing attention, cultivating meditative states, and supporting consciousness exploration. It is not intended to change beliefs or resolve psychological patterns.
What are sutras and the Yoga 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.”
The Yoga Siddhis are traditionally described as abilities or experiences that arise from expanded states of consciousness. Different teachers interpret them differently. Some view them as extraordinary powers, while others see them as inner experiences that reflect deeper awareness.
The TM Yoga Siddhis sutras are Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s adaptation of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras.
The Vedic traditions of the Yoga Siddhis sutras
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 and the classical translation of the Yoga Siddhis sutras. Then we will delve more deeply into Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s adaptation of these techniques. 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 the Vedic tradition.
In the West, the focus is on physical postures, the Yoga asanas. Unfortunately, this focus has turned the practice of Yoga into a form of exercise. By emphasizing the physical aspect, the consciousness exploration aspect is neglected. The physical postures are preparation for the inner work. On the positive side, Yoga asanas have sparked interest in deeper aspects of Yoga, leading some to explore the Yoga Siddhis.
The Yoga Siddhis sutras of Patanjali
Patanjali, also called Gonardiya or Gonikaputra, lived from the 2nd to the 5th century CE. Patanjali is traditionally credited with compiling the Yoga Sutras, one of the foundational texts of classical Yoga. Although historians debate aspects of its authorship and dating, the text remains one of the most influential works in Yoga philosophy.
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. The goal of the TM Yoga Siddhis sutras of Patanjali is consciousness expansion, not developing super-human powers.
Many of India’s most famous teachers have written books on the Yoga Sutras. Several have their own interpretations of Patanjali’s Yoga Siddhis. Most books on the sutras discuss idealistic or supernatural goals and even potential results. They fail to explain how to use the Yoga Siddhis sutras to accomplish them. It’s like telling someone what it feels like to fly an airplane without explaining how it’s done. That’s why Mahrishi’s TM Yoga Siddhis sutras are special. His system provides the how-to part missing from Patanjali’s work.
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 the Siddhis 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 through the TM technique an accepted practice in Western culture.
The analogy of dying cloth
Maharishi uses the analogy of “dying cloth” to explain the importance of grounding as a foundation for learning the TM Yoga Siddhis sutras.
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 dying cloth 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.
So, it is the consistent practice of the Japa or TM meditation that grounds one in the 4th state of transcendence. This is the key to the use of the sutras. In order for the sutra to work, it must be introduced while in the 4th transcendent state of consciousness. This is why trying now while in the normal waking state—nothing happens. These sutras are engineered to work from the transcendent state.
The classical translation of the Yoga Siddhis sutras
Depending on your source, there are different ways to translate these sutras or formulas. There are eight classical Yoga 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 Yoga 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 TM Yoga Siddhis sutras
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 Yoga 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 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 taint your learning in a way that makes them effective.
Holistic practice
The practice of the Yoga Siddhis sutras is done in a method called a “round.” The round is a series of activities to prepare for, engage in, and normalize the Yoga Siddhis 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. Afterward, 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 Yoga 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.
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.
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 Yoga Siddhis sutras 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 | The TM Yoga Siddhis sutras |
|---|---|
| 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 the Ssddhis
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 can 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. The differences 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. The TM Yoga Siddhis sutras of Patanjali are an advanced technique of consciousness exploration. Proper preparation is a necessity.
Whether one views the Siddhis as extraordinary powers, inner experiences, or tools for expanding consciousness, they remain one of the most intriguing elements of the Yoga tradition. Their real value may not lie in unusual experiences, but in the discipline, awareness, and self-understanding developed through the practice itself.
References
- Comparison of coherence, amplitude, and eLORETA patterns during Transcendental Meditation and TM-Siddhi practice. NCBI, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
- Long-term endocrinologic changes in subjects practicing the Transcendental Meditation and TM-Siddhis program. NCBI, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
- Transcendence and psychological health: studies with long-term participants of the Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhis program. NCBI, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
- Improved auditory thresholds and reduced biological age in TM-Siddhi practitioners. NCBI, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
- Empirical evaluation of group TM-Siddhi practice on drug-related mortality. NCBI, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
- Time-series analysis: TM and TM-Siddhis 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.