Mircea Eliade YOGA IMMORTALITY AND ... - Brihaspati.net

the sin which had swallowed above ... "(p. 109).
Finally we should mention the basic treaty, La methode de la sainte et priere attention,
long attributed to Symeon the New Theologian: "The booklet could be of Nicephorus's
contemporary if not of the same Nicephorus, as he thinks, not without reason Irenaeus
Hausherr (Jean Gouillard, cited, p. 206). The Reverend Father Hausherr had included an
edition and translation into the pamphlet in his work: The method hesychast of prayer
(the portion that interests us is translated on pages 164-165). We reproduce here the new
translation of Jean Gouillard (Petite Philocalie, p. 216): "Then sit in a quiet cell, isolated
in a corner and dedicate to do this I say: shut the door, your spirit rises above all purpose
vain or passenger. Then, put your chin to your chest, eye directs the body to-gether with
all your mind, the center of your body, ie the om-Blige, compresses the suction air that
passes through the nose so as not to breathe easily and mentally searches inside your
bowels in search of the site of the heart, to which all powers "of the soul like to visit. At
first, you will find darkness and opacity stubborn, but if you persevere, if day and night
practice this exercise, you will find, joh, wonder! happiness without limits. " Fi-nally, one
might cite other texts by authors hesychast eg Gregory of Sinai (1255-1346), of which
Philocalie Petite Jean Gouillard includes some major fragments (on the "positions"
ascetic for prayer, p. 248 ; on the retention of respiration, p. 249). Also will always look
forward to the apology of hesychasm Gregory Palamas (1296-1359) "the last great name
of Byzantine theology. (See some excerpts on the work of Jean Gouillard, p. 269-285).
Do not be fooled by these external analogies with pranayama. The discipline of breathing
and posture are intended, among hesychast, preparing mental prayer, in the Yoga-Sutra,
the exercises seek to "unification" of consciousness and the preparation of meditation,
and the role of God (Isvara) is quite modest. But it is equally true that the two techniques
referred to are under the phenomenological aspects, sufficiently similar to the problem of
influence of physiology on the Indian mystic hesychasm can be raised. Not going to
elaborate here on such a comparative study hesychasm, see K. Holl, Enthusiasmus und
bei Bussgewalt griechischen Monchtum, Leipzig, 1898, p. 214 et seq., M. Jugie, Les
origines de la méthode d'oraison des Hesychast, Echos d'Orient, 30, 1931, p, 179,185, Dr.
Andre Blum, Contemplation et ascese, ortho-doxe contribution in Carmélitaines Etudes,
1948 (Technical and contemplation) p. 49; LHesychasme, Yoga Chretien? Yoga, edited
by Jean Masui, Paris 1953, p. 177-195, and the list of topics and bibliographies submitted
by Jean Gouillard, Petite Philocalie, P. 22, 37 and L. Gardet, La mention du nom divin, p
645 onwards.
"Concentration" and "meditation" YOGA
The asana, pranayama and have succeeded in eliminating ekagrata-if only for the short
time that lasts the year-the human condition. Motionless, with his breathing rhythm, fi-
Jando their gaze and attention on one point, the yogi mentally beyond the profane mode
of being. Begins to become autonomous with respect to Cosmos, the external stresses do
not disturb already (in effect having surpassed the "opposite" is insensitive to both cold
and heat, and light to dark, etc.). Sensory activity and not projected outward to the objects
of the senses psychomental current and is not forced or directed by the distractions, the
automatic and memory, this "con-centrated", "unified". This "retreat" outside of the
Cosmos is accompanied by a self submersion whose progress they sympathize with the