im to Dhayana, a state of perfect, indescribable
bliss. According to their own description, in this state they swim in
the ocean of eternal light, in Akasha, or Ananta Jyoti, which they
call the "Soul of the Universe." Reaching the stage of Dhyana, the Yogi
becomes a seer. The Dhyana of the Yogis is the same thing as Turiya
Avastha of the Vedantins, in the number of whom are the Raj-Yogis.

"Samadhi is the last stage of self-trance," says Dr. Paul. "In this
state the Yogis, like the bat, the hedge-hog, the marmot, the hamster
and the dormouse, acquire the power of supporting the abstraction of
atmospheric air, and the privation of food and drink. Of Samadhi
or human hibernation there have been three cases within the last
twenty-five years. The first case occurred in Calcutta, the second in
Jesselmere, and the third in the Punjab. I was an eyewitness of the
first case. The Jesselmere, the Punjab, and the Calcutta Yogis assumed
a death-like condition by swallowing the tongue. How the Punjabi fakir
(witnessed by Dr. McGregor), by suspending his breath, lived forty days
without food and drink, is a question which has puzzled a great many
learned men of Europe.... It is on the principle of Laghima and Garima
(a diminution of one's specific gravity by swallowing large draughts
of air) that the Brahman of Madras maintained himself in an aerial
posture..."

However, all these are physical phenomena produced by Hatha-Yogis. Each
of them ought to be investigated by physical science, but they are much
less interesting than the phenomena of the region of psychology. But Dr.
Paul has next to nothing to say on this subject. During the thirty-five
years of his Indian career, he met only three Raj-Yogis; but in spite
of the friendliness they showed to the English doctor, none of them
consented to initiate him into the mysteries of nature, a knowledge of
which is ascribed to them. One of them simply denied that he had any
power at all; the other did not deny, and even showed Dr. Paul some very
wonderful things, but refused to give any explanations whatever; the
third said he would explain a few things on the condition that Dr. Paul
must pledge himself never to repeat anything he learned from him. In
acquiring this kind of information, Dr. Paul had only one aim--to give
these secrets publicity, and to enlighten the public ignorance, and so
he declined the honor.

However, the gifts of the true Raj-Yogis are much more interesting, and