The Hindu-Aryan theory of Raja Yoga

First published in 1908, “The Hindu-Aryan Theory of Evolution and Involution” is a short but somewhat complex work on Raja Yoga. The author, who is said to have resided in India, is unknown to me. The book was published in the United States and Britain, and small clues suggest some kind of Theosophical involvement. A Theosophy-inspired symbol adorns the title page, the term “evolution” is surely not Hindu, and the motto “No religion is higher than truth” also sounds Theosophical. The author claims that humans can't be reborn as animals, which – at least exoterically – isn't the Hindu position, but once again a Theosophical one. Of course, Tirumangalum Chrishna Rajan Iyengar claims to have access to esoteric teachings, including a secret version of the Bhagavad-Gita! Any relation to the Stanzas of Dzyan?

I know next to nothing about Raja Yoga, so I can't really comment on the contents of “The Hindu-Aryan Theory”, but I did notice that the author's complex metaphysics are ultimately based on Advaita Vedanta, since the divine is seen as impersonal. Apart from that, however, there doesn't seem to be any similarities between Rajan Iyengar's system and the “Advaita” currently practiced in the West (dubbed “Neo-Neo-Advaita” by another reviewer here on Amazon). The goal of the practitioner is to liberate himself from the physical body and merge with the divine, something accomplished through secret meditation and breathing techniques. These somehow develop an esoteric anatomy. Various paranormal powers can also be acquired on the path to liberation, including out-of-body experiences, psychokinesis or mind-control. The yogi's soul can even possess the physical body of another person!

The author emphasizes that true yogic instruction can only be oral, and that many esoteric truths will never be published. Western “experts” on Indian literature, such as Max Müller, don't know half of it, since they have misunderstood the meaning of many Sanskrit terms.

Not sure how to rate this “forgotten book”, but since it could perhaps be useful to some people, I will give it three stars.