Rejecting the Material Allure of Prāpti Siddhi
In the Vedic teachings translated by Śrīla Prabhupāda, the mystic perfection of prāpti-siddhi is described as the extraordinary power to acquire anything from anywhere. While ordinary mystics are captivated by such abilities, pure devotees recognize them as temporary material distractions that hold no value in eternal spiritual life.
The Definition of Prāpti-siddhi
To understand the allure of mystic powers, one must examine what they actually offer to the practitioner. Through his commentaries, Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that this specific perfection grants a yogī the ability to reach out and obtain anything they desire, regardless of distance. For instance, a person seated on earth could effortlessly touch the moon or pluck a fruit from a garden thousands of miles away without moving their physical body.
- This siddhi is called prapti, or acquisition. With this prapti-siddhi, the perfect mystic yogi can not only touch the moon planet, but he can extend his hand anywhere and take whatever he likes.
- He (a mystic yogi) may be sitting thousands of miles away from a certain place, and if he likes he can take fruit from a garden there. This is prapti-siddhi.
- They (the inhabitants of the topmost planetary systems) do not have to 1) get anything and everything from anywhere and everywhere (prapti-siddhi), to become heavier than the heaviest (mahima-siddhi).
The Eightfold Material Perfections
This extraordinary power of acquisition does not stand alone, but is categorized among the eight primary material perfections achievable through mysticism. The rigorous practice of meditation and breath control, as Śrīla Prabhupāda points out, naturally produces these superficial abilities as indirect by-products. Thus, successful practitioners eventually unlock a suite of powers such as becoming lighter than the lightest or heavier than the heaviest, alongside this ability of limitless acquisition.
- Siddhi means perfection of life. Generally they take it asta-siddhi of yoga practice - anima, laghima, mahima, prapti, siddhi, isitva, vasitva, prakamya. So these are called siddhis, yoga-siddhi.
- Saubhari Rsi was a great yogi. Yogic perfection makes available eight material opulences - anima, laghima, mahima, prapti, prakamya, isitva, vasitva and kamavasayita.
- The eightfold material perfections - such as anima, laghima, prapti, isita, vasita, prakamya, and so on - are concomitant in the attainment of perfection in mysticism, and are but indirect by-products of that process.
- The highest achievements of the yogis are the eight material perfections, such as anima, laghima and prapti.
The Allure for Less Intelligent Mystics
Because these powers grant extraordinary mastery over the physical elements, they become a source of immense temptation for materialists and demons. Eager to exploit nature for personal gratification, ordinary mystics are easily allured by these superficial achievements, as Śrīla Prabhupāda frequently observes. They undergo severe austerities specifically to acquire such perfections, mistakenly believing that dominating material nature is the ultimate goal of existence.
- Generally yoga is practiced to acquire some material profit. There are eight kinds of yogic perfection (siddhis): anima, laghima, prapti, isitva, vasitva, mahima, prakamya and kamavasayita.
- By practicing mystic yoga, asuras generally attain some perfection in the eight siddhis, or perfections, namely anima, laghima, mahima, prapti, prakamya, isitva, vasitva and kamavasayita.
- So-called yogis are therefore allured by the superficial material perfections of anima, laghima, prapti and so forth. Consequently ordinary yogis cannot compare to Lord Rsabhadeva, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
- Generally yogis desire the yogic perfections of anima, laghima, mahima, prakamya, prapti, isitva, vasitva and kamavasayita. Lord Rsabhadeva, however, never aspired for all these material things.
The Devotee's Transcendental Disinterest
In stark contrast to the materialists, those engaged in pure devotional service view all such magical acquisitions as insignificant and entirely temporary. True spiritual life goes far beyond the manipulation of matter, and Śrīla Prabhupāda asserts that the pure devotee finds absolutely no happiness in such things. Instead of aspiring to control the universe, a devoted soul depends entirely on the causeless mercy of the Supreme Lord, recognizing that Kṛṣṇa already possesses all perfections in full.
- The yoga-siddhis - anima, laghima, mahima, prapti, prakamya, isitva, vasitva and kamavasayita - are temporary. The ultimate siddhi is to achieve the favor of Lord Visnu.
- The happiness derived from merging in the impersonal Brahman and the happiness derived from the eight perfections of mystic yoga (anima, laghima, prapti and so on) do not give any pleasure to the devotee.
- Yogis are aspiring after many siddhis (powers) - anima, laghima, prapti, etc. However, a devotee is not at all interested in these things because he is fully dependent on the mercy of Krsna.
- Krsna also has the perfection of prapti: He can get whatever He likes. Similarly, He has the facility of isita, controlling power.
Conclusion
The extraordinary capabilities afforded by prāpti-siddhi demonstrate the immense power hidden within the material nature. However, through his pure presentation of the Vedic philosophy, Śrīla Prabhupāda repeatedly warns that pursuing these abilities leads only to further entanglement and false pride. The true path to perfection bypasses the temporary allure of mystic yoga and focuses entirely on securing the eternal favor of the Supreme Lord, Kṛṣṇa.
Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani
Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Prapti-siddhi. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.