Seeker:

Swami, I want to start practicing in your tradition, and everything satisfies me, but I would like to understand what level I am at now and what should I strive for. I am an achievement thinker and I need to understand the levels, and the steps of spiritual growth. In sports I understand, there is a 3rd level, 2nd level, 1st level, Candidate of Sports, then Master of Sports, then Master of Sports International Class. And are there skill levels in yoga in your tradition?

Guru:

Absolute Himself has no gradations, no definitions, no attainments, but our way to Absolute in the relative sense is quite described as movement through the stages of spiritual growth, and in our tradition, we have our own gradations, our own stages of advancement in yoga and enlightenment.

Seeker:

What are they?

Guru:

The Seven Lands of Wisdom, the Seven Levels of Achievement, the 16 Stages of Increasing Moon of Awareness.

Here are the seven stages of attainment:

1 - Yoga-yuj (Entering the way of masters),

2 - Yoga-jukta (Joined the yoga, initiated into the Way),

3 - Yoga-vid (expert in yoga),

4 - Yoga-raj (Lord of Yoga),

5 - Yogendra (Overlord of Yoga),

6 - Mukti-purusha (liberated spirit),

7 - Siddha-purusha (Perfect spirit).

These stages correspond to the seven lands of wisdom (jnana-bhumik) described in the text Yoga Vasishtha.

To each of them correspond certain subtle experiences of meditation, which are verified by the master according to the 16 kala, the stages of the moon of awareness, that is, contemplation.

Seeker:

I see. And who assigns them?

Guru:

They are appropriated by the Refuge itself, by God himself, through the main guru and his mahant disciples.

Seeker:

And what does it take to go through all these steps?

Guru:

Only your intention, your faith, and blessings from God and the guru. Everything else is a matter of practice, practice, and effort in tapas - it's up to you.

Seeker:

Then I ask for your blessing.

Guru:

May the blessings of all the gods and saints of our lineage - Shiva, Dattatreya, Vasishtha, Sri Shankara, Guru Brahmananda - be with you.

From Shri Guru Swami Vishnudevananda Giri’s Satsang