Now, we’ll examine regional forms of magic.

First up is India, one of the birthplaces of magic. You may not think of
India as an especially magical place, but… It’s precisely the opposite. If
you think about it, esoteric Buddhist magic came from India… It was a
definite influence on Gnosticism, and a foundation of modern-day
theosophy.

It’s said that the Upanishads, part of the Vedas, are the original books
of magic. Many ancient Indians were passionate in their search for
magic. These Indian magicians emerged in similar circumstances as
other places around the world.

In India, it’s traditional to lead a pious life… But eventually, some
people claimed to have gained immense power through Tapasya. At
first, their claims were rejected, but they slowly gained power and
numbers… Eventually, they were accepted into common practice. They
are the asceticists mentioned in the Upanishads.

However, a normal human wouldn’t be able to mimic their skills. The
tapasvins have surpassed the limitations of humanity. Do you think
you could fast and pray for months at a time, without eating or
sleeping? You’d die before attaining any powers!

So, it’s understandable that the Buddha rejected such extreme
asceticism. Of course, the Upanishads aren’t all about such wild
practices. They contain very practical methods, too. Yoga, for instance,
was also introduced in these scriptures.

Yoga is full of variations. Some asanas are for health, while others are
for prayer and worship. One important system is the Hatha yoga, the
type of yoga people are most familiar with today. In this yoga, one
cultivates a healthy body to attain purity of the mind.