Page:The People of India — a series of photographic illustrations, with descriptive letterpress, of the races and tribes of Hindustan Vol 5.djvu/222

JOGI. nothing relating to matter; it has become part of divinity, and is emancipated from the earthly condition of its existence, and, finally, is absorbed into the divine essence, as a raindrop into the sea. So far there is a certain sublimity attached to these doctrines, which are set forth with great metaphysical acumen; but, like many Hindoo points of belief, a grotesque absurdity accompanies them. To perfectly attain abstraction, the Yogi must gradually suppress his breathing, he must fix his eyes on the tip of his nose, he must fix his mind at the root of his tongue, and use many other means, which are detailed with a grave and solemn particularity, until he attains deliverance from all errors and earthly illusions, and becomes absorbed in the being contemplated. Having thus attained elevation of mind, and freedom from the delusions of matter, the Yogi must maintain his position by meditation on the attributes of God, and on his heavenly existence, when he will gradually reveal himself to the Yogi as pure light. Many will have to overcome obstacles, and the warfare is hard and tedious; but in the end it will prevail, and the Yogi's spirit will ascend to the unassisted knowledge of universal nature, and identity with the spirituality and perfection of God; and now the great spiritual enemies, illusion, consciousness of existence, passion, religious disgust, pain, and love of life, are overcome.

The subject might be illustrated at greater length, and the various arguments and instructions for overcoming all spiritual hindrances detailed; but enough has been said, perhaps, to show the tendency to that stern austerity and religious enthusiasm which has led imaginative persons of the Hindoo faith, and, indeed, many of the Christian faith also, to attempt to gain spiritual union with God by the sacrifice of all earthly passions, desires, and objects. Hindoos say that the present age is degenerate, and that none now can attain the perfection of the Patanjulic philosophy, but this does not prevent the seclusion and mortification which Jogis practise even now, nor the observances laid down for the attainment, in whole or in part, of the holy object.

The Jogi represented has scant clothing, and desires no other. His eyes are, closed, and he is telling his beads, repeating the names and attributes of God, on whom he is meditating. A fine powerful man, with an earnest expression of countenance; he has abjured caste long ago, and taken upon himself stern vows, which, in a steadfast faith, and heedless of privations and sufferings from pain, from cold, from hunger or fatigue, he will keep, as best he can, till he dies.