C opy righ t 19 12 , by

C 'A R L E S J O 'N S T O N
.
 'E 'I C AT E '
WI T' C O R ' I A L R E GA R 'S
TO
C 'A R L E S R O C K W E LL L AN ' AN
 I nt rodu c t ion to Book I

I
'
HE Yoga S u t ras of P atanj al iin th em selve s exc eed
are
i ngl y b ri e f , l es s th an ten p ag es o f l arg e typ e i n th e
o rigi nal . Y et th ey c ont ai n th e es senc e of p rac ti c al
wi s d om s et fo rt h i n admi rabl e order and d et ail Th e
, .

th eme, if th e p res ent i nt e rp ret er be right , i s th e g reat regenera

ti on, the bi rth o f the s pi ritu al f rom the p s y c h i c al man 'th e s am e
th eme w hi c h P aul s o wi s ely and el oqu ently s et fort h in w riti ng
to h i s di sc ipl es i n C ori nt h , th e th eme o f al l my s ti c s i n al l l and s
.

W e t h i nk o f ou rs elv es as livi ng a pu rely phy s i c al lif e i n ,

thes e mat eri al b odi es o f ou rs I n reality , we h av e g one far

.

i nd eed from p u re phy s i c al l i f e ; for ag es ou r lif e h as b een

‘
,

p s y ch i c al , we h av e b een c ent ered and i mmers ed in th e p sy c hi c

nat u re. S
om e of th e s c h ool s o f I ndi a s ay t h at th e p s y c h i c
natu re i s as it w e re a l ooki ng gl as s , wh erei n are mi rrore d th e
, ,
-

thi ng s s een by the p hy s i c al ey es , and h eard by th e p hy s i c al ears .

But t h i s i s a m agi c m i rror ; th e i mag es remai n and t ak e a c er

,

t ai n life of th ei r own T h u s withi n th e p s yc h i c realm o f ou r

.

l i fe t here g row s u p an im aged w orld w h erei n we dw ell ; a

w orld of th e i mage s of thi ng s s een and h eard , and th erefore
a w orld of m emori es ; a w orld al s o o f h op es and d es i res , o f
f ears and regret s M ent al li f e g row s up among th ese i mages ,
.

b u ilt on a meas u ri ng and c omp ari ng, on th e ma s s i ng of imag es

t oget her i nt o ge neral ideas ; on the ab s t rac ti on of new noti ons
and i mag es f rom th ese till a new w orld i s built u p within , full
o f d es i res and hat es a mbiti on, envy , l ongi ng , s p ec ulati on, c u ri
,

o s i ty , s el f will , s elf i nt eres t

- -
.
 P A T A N J A L I S
’
YOGA S U TRAS

The t eachi ng o f the Ea s t i s tha t all th ese are t ru e p ow ers,

ov e rlaid by fal s e d es i res ; th at th ough i n m anif es t ati on p s y

c hi c al
,
th ey are in es s enc e s pi ritual ; that th e p s y c hical man i s
th e v eil and p roph ec y of the s pi ri t u al man .

The pu rp os e of li fe th ere f or e i s th e r eali s i ng of th at

, ,

p roph ec y ; th e u nv eiling of the imm ortal man ; th e birth of the

s pi rit u al f rom th e p s y c hi c al wh ereby we ent er ou r divi ne in
,

h erit ance and c om e to i nh abit Et e rnity Thi s i s ind eed s al .

, ,

vati on the pu rp os e of all t ru e r eligi on i n all t im es

, ,
.

P atanj al i has in mi nd th e s pi ritual man to be b orn f rom ,

the p s y c hical ; or in a no th er s ense v eil ed by th e p s y c hi c al 'is ,

.

pu rp os e i s to s et in order the p ra c ti c al m eans for th e u nv eili ng

,

and reg ene rati on and to i ndi c at e th e fruit th e gl ory and the
, ,

p ow er of that new b i rth

, .

Th rough th e S ut ra s of th e Fi rs t B ook P atanj al i i s ,

c onc erned w ith the fi rs t g reat p robl em th e eme rgenc e of th e ,

S pi ritual man f rom the v eil s and m es h es o f th e p s yc hi c nat u re ,

th e mood s and v es tu res o f th e m ental and em oti onal man .

Lat er will c om e th e c ons id erati on of th e natu re and p ow ers o f

the s pi ritu al man onc e h e s ta nd s c lear of th e p s y c hi c v eil s and
,

t ram mel s and a vi ew o f the realm s in whi c h th es e new s pi ritual

,

p ow ers are to be rev eal ed .

A t thi s p oi nt may c om e a w o rd of expl anati on I h av e .

b een as k ed why I u s e the w ord S ut ras fo r th ese rul es of ,

P atanj ali s s y s t em wh en the w ord A ph ori s m h as be en c on

’
,
‘
nec ted with t h em i n ou r mi nd s for a g en erati on The reas on .

i s thi s ' the na me A ph ori s m s ugges t s to me at l eas t a pithy , ,

s ent enc e o f v e ry g eneral appli c ati on ; a pi ece o f p rov erbi al wi s

d om th at may be qu ot ed i n a goo d m any s et s o f c i rc u ms tanc e ,

and w h i c h will alm os t b ear on i ts fa c e th e evid ence o f i ts t ruth .

B ut with a S ut ra the c as e i s di fferent I t c omes from the s am e .

' '
root as the w o rd s ew and m ean s i nd ee d a th read; s ugg es t
, , ,

i ng t he r e fore a c l ose k nit c ons ec utiv e c hai n of arg u m ent

, ,
-

, .

N ot only has each s ut ra a d efinit e pl ac e i n the s y s t em b u t ,

f u rth er t ak en out o f thi s pl ac e i t will b e alm os t m eani ngl es s

, , ,

and will by no means be s el f evid ent S o I hav e t h ough t b es t

-
.

to adh e re to th e origi nal w ord The S ut ra s o f P atanj al i are.

as c l osel y k nit t ogeth e r as d ep end ent on eac h oth er as th e

, ,

4
 BOOK I

p rop os iti ons of Eu c lid and c an no m ore be t a k en out o f th ei r

,

p rop er s etti ng.

I n th e s ec ond p art o f th e fi rs t b ook the p roble m o f th e

,

emerg enc e o f th e S pi rit u al m an i s f u rth e r d ealt w i th

. W e are
l ed to th e c ons id erati on o f th e b arri ers to h i s emerg enc e of the
,

ov erc om i ng o f th e b arri ers and o f c ert ai n s t ep s and s t ag es i n

,

the as c ent f rom th e ordi na ry c ons c i ou s nes s o f p rac ti c al lif e,

to the fi ner de ep er radi ant c ons c i ou s nes s of the s pi ritual man

, ,
.
 BOO' I .

I . OM ' 'ere foll ows I ns t ru c t i on i n U ni on .

Uni on h ere as alw ay s i n th e S c riptu res of I ndi a m eans

, ,
,

uni on o f th e i ndividu al s oul with th e O v ers ou l ; of th e p ers onal

c onsc i ou s nes s with th e Divine C ons c i ou s nes s wh ereby th e ,

mort al be c omes i mm ortal and ent ers th e Et ernal,

T h eref ore .
,

s alv ati on i s fi rs t f reed om f rom s i n and th e s orrow whi c h c om es

, ,

f rom S i n and th en a divi ne and et ernal w ell b ei ng wh erei n th e

,
-

s ou l p artak es o f th e bei ng th e wi s d om and gl ory o f God

, .

2 . U ni on, p i ri tual c ons c i ous nes s

s , is g ai ne d th rou h g c ontrol
of th e v ers at i l e p s y c h i c nat u re .

Th e g oal i s th e full c ons c i ou snes s of th e s pi ritu al man ,

ill u mi ne d by th e D ivi ne Ligh t N othi ng ex c ept th e obdu rat e

.

res i s tanc e o f th e p s y c h i c nat u re k eep s u s ba c k from th e g oal .

Th e p s y c h i c al p ow ers are s pi ritu al p ow ers ru n wild p erv ert ed , ,

d raw n f rom thei r p rop er c h annel Th eref ore ou r fi rs t t ask i s .

,

to reg ai n c ont rol of t h i s p erv ert ed natu re to c h a s t en pu rify , ,

and res t ore th e mi s pl ac ed p ow ers .

3 . T h en th e S e er co mes to c ons c i ou s nes s i n hi s p rop er

natu re .

Egoti s m i s but th e p erv ers i on of s pi ritu al b ei ng A mb i .

ti on i s the i nv ers i on of S pi ritu al p ow er P as s i on i s th e d i s tor .

ti on of l ov e Th e mortal i s th e limitati on of the imm ort al

. .

Wh en th ese fal s e i mag es giv e pl ac e to t ru e t hen the S pi ritu al ,

man s tand s forth lu mi nou s as th e s un wh en th e c l oud s d i s

, ,

p erse .
 P A T A N J
'

A L I S
’
YOGA S U TRAS

4 . 'ere tof ore th e S e er h as b ee n en mes h ed i n th e ac t i vi ti es

of th e p s yc h i c natu re .

The pow er li fe w hic h are the h eritage o f the s pi ritual

and
man hav e b een c aught and enm es h ed i n p s y c h i c al a c tiviti es .

I ns t ead o f pu re b eing in the Divi ne th ere has b een f retful , ,

c ombativ e eg ot i s m i ts ha nd agai ns t ev e ry man

, I n st ead of th e .

light o f pu re vi s i on th ere hav e b een res tl es s sen ses and imagi n

,

i ng s I ns tead of s pi ritual j oy the u ndivid ed j oy o f pur e b ei ng

.
, ,

t here has b een s elf i nd u lgenc e o f b ody and mind Th es e are

-
.

al l real for c es b ut di s t ort ed f rom th eir t ru e na t u re and goal

, .

Th ey mu s t be ex t ri c ate d li ke gem s fr om th e matrix lik e th e , ,

pith f rom the reed s tea d il y w ith ou t d es tru c tive vi ol enc e

, , .

S pi ritual pow er s are to be drawn forth f rom th e p syc hi c

m esh es .

5 . Th e p s ych i c ac t i v i ti e s are fi v e ; t h ey are at t e n e d d by

pl eas u re or p ai n .

The p sychi c na t u re i s built up th rough the image ma k i ng -

po w er, the pow er whi c h l i es beh i nd and dw ell s i n mi nd p i c ~ -

tures Th es e pi c tu res d o not rem ai n qui es c ent i n the mi nd ;

.

th ey are kineti c rest l ess s timulating to new a c t s Thu s th e

, , .

mi nd image o f an ind u lg enc e s ugges t s and i nvit es to a new in

-

d u l genc e the picture o f pa s t j oy i s f ram ed i n regr et s or h op e s .

A nd th ere i s the c ea sel es s play o f th e d es i re to k now to p ene

'

t rat e to th e es s enc e o f th i ng s to c la s s i fy Thi s too b u s i es it , .

, ,

s elf c eas el es s ly with th e mind im age s S o t hat we may c la s s ify -

.

th e a c tiviti es of the p s y c hi c na t ur e t hu s

6 . T h es ev i ti es are ' S ou nd
ac t i i nte ll ec t i on, u ns ou n d i nte l
l ec tion , ph antas y d ream memory. , .

W e hav e h ere a li st m ental and em oti onal pow er s ; o f of

p ow er s that pi c tu re and ob s erv e and o f p ow er s that pi c tu re ,

and f eel B ut the pow er to k now and feel i s s pi ritual and i m

.

mortal What i s n eed ed i s not to d es t roy but to rai s e it f rom

.
,

th e p sy c hi c al to th e s piritual re alm .

8
 BOOK I

7 .Th e e l e me nts of s ou nd i nte ll ec t i o n are ' d i rec t b s erva

o

t i on, i nd u c t i v e re as on, and t ru s t wort h y t es t i mony .

Ea c h o f th es e i s a s pi ritual pow e r thi nly v eil ed Di rec t , .

ob serv ati on i s th e ou t e rm o s t form o f th e S oul s pu re vi s i on

’
.

I nd uc tiv e rea s on res t s on th e g reat p ri nc ipl es o f c onti nuity and

c orres p ond ence ; and th es e on th e s up rem e t ruth that all lif e i s
,

o f the O ne T ru stwo rth y t es tim ony th e s h ari ng o f one s ou l

.
,

i n th e wi s d om of anot her res t s on the ultimat e onenes s of all

,

s ou l s.

8 . U ns ou nd i nte ll ec t i on i s f al s e d
u n ers ta n d i ng , not g
res t i n

on a p erc ep ti on of th e t rue natu re of th i n g s.

The g reat ex ampl e of u ns ound i ntell ec tion i s mat eriali s m ,

whe reby to the reality and et ernity of th e s oul i s attribut ed th e

ev anes c enc e and p e ri s h abl enes s t h at r eally b el ong to m at eri al

thi ng s T h i s f al s e reas oni ng th er e fore res t s on a rev ersal of

.
, ,

th e t ru e natu re o f th i ng s .

9 . P h antas y is a fi c t i on of m e re w ord s , wi t h no u n er d ly
i ng re a l i t y .

O ne mayp erh ap s th at th ere i s thi s di ff erenc e betw een

s ay , ,

i mag inati on and fanc y ' imagination i s the im ag e o f u ns een

thing s wh i c h are real ; fanc y i s the im agi ng of u nseen th i ng s
,

w hi ch are u nreal The p ow er o f p h a nta s y has a wide s c 0 p c

.

and range A mb i ti on w hereby a man s et s up withi n h i s m i nd

.
,

an i m age o f h i m self g reat ri c h admi red to whi c h all men

, , , ,

Sh all bow d ow n i s a form of ph anta s y The p u rs u it of w ealth

, .

i s l argely p hant as y for men s eek not c omm oditi es but foo d for
,

th ei r c ow ardi ce and c onceit The fear of d eath i s a ph ant as y

.
,

nou ri s h ed on i m ag es of t omb s and fu neral s and bl ac k rob es .

A ll th ese are ficti ons w ith no u nd erlyi ng reality

, .
 ’
P A T A N J A L I S YOGA SUTRAS

I O. 'rea m i s t h e p s y c h i c c ond i t i on w h i c h res ts on m i nd

s t at es , a l l m a t e r i al t h i ng e b e i ng a b s e nt .

waki ng life we h av e two c u rrent s o f p erc epti on ; an

In ,

o u t er c u rrent o f p h y s i c al t h i ng s s een and h eard and p erc eiv ed ;

an i nner c u rrent o f mi nd i m ag es and t h ought s Th e out er c u r
-
.

rent c eas e s i n s l eep ; th e i nner c u rrent c onti nu es and w at c hi ng ,

th e mi nd i mag es fl oat b e f ore th e fi eld of c ons c i ou s n es s we

-

,
'
d ream .
'

1 1 M e mory i s t h e h old i n gf t as to m i nd = i m ag es of t hi n g s

He re as b e fore th e mental p ow er i s expl ai ned i n t erm s of

, ,

mi nd i mag es w h i c h are th e m at erial of whi c h th e p s y c h i c

-

w orld i s b u ilt T h ere fore th e s ag es t eac h t h at th e w orld o f

.

ou r p erc epti on whi c h i s i nd eed a w orld o f mi nd im ages i s

,
-

b u t th e w rait h or s h ad o w o f th e real and ev erl as ti ng w orld .

I n t h i s s ens e m emory i s bu t th e p s y c h i c al i nv ers i on o f th e

,

S pi ritual ev er p res ent vi s i on T h at w h i c h i s ev er b e f ore th e

,
-
.

s pi rit u al ey e o f the S eer need s not t o b e rem emb e r e d .

1 2 . Th e c o nt ro l of t h es e p s y c hi c ac t iv i t i es c om es t h rou gh
th e ri gh t u s e of th e w i ll a nd t h rou g h
, c e as i ng f rom s el f i nd u l g = =

e nc e .

I f th ese p s y ch i c al p ow ers and energi es ev en s u c h evil ,

th i ng s as p as s i on and h at e and f ear are bu t s pi ritual po w ers ,

fall en and p erv ert ed h ow are we to b ri ng ab out th eir rel eas e

,

and res t orati on ' Two m eans are p resent e d to u s 'th e awa k en
ing o f the s pi ritual will and th e p u rifi c ati on o f mi nd and ,

th ough t

IO
 BOOK I

1 3 . Th e gh t ri u s e of th e w i ll i s t h e s tea dy effort to s t and

in s p i ri t ua l b i nge .

W e h av e th ou gh t lv es p erh ap s as c reatu res mov

o f ou rs e , ,

i ng u p on t h i s eart h rath er h elpl es s at th e m erc y o f s t orm and

, ,

h u ng er and ou r enemi es W e are to t h i nk of ou rs elv es as

.

i mmort al s dw elli ng i n th e Ligh t e nc omp as s e d and s u s tai ned

, ,

by s pi rit u al p ow ers Th e s t eady effort to h old t h i s t h ou gh t w i ll

.

aw ak en d orm ant and u nreali s e d p ow ers whi c h wil l u nv eil to ,

u s th e nearnes s o f th e E t e rnal .

4 1 b ec om es a fi rm re s ti ng pl ac e
. T hi s =
, wh en f oll ow e d l ong ,

p ers i s te nt ly w i t h ri gh t e ou s nes s
, .

W e mu s t k s pi rit u al li fe i n c onf ormity with th e l aw s

s ee

o f s pi rit u al lif e with righ t eou s ne s s

, h u mi l i ty a
g entl e c h arity , ,
G
,

w h i c h i s an ack nowl edgem ent o f th e One S oul with i n u s al l .

O nly th rough ob edi enc e to that S h ared L ife th rough p erp etu al ,

rememb ranc e o f ou r onene s s w i t h all Divi ne B ei ng o u r not h ,

i ngnes s ap art f rom Divi ne B ei ng c an we ent er ou r i nh erit anc e ,

.

1 5 . C e as i ng f rom s e l f = i nd u g enc e is c ons c i ou s mas t ery v

o er

th e t hi rs t f or s e ns u ou s pl eas u re h ere or h e reaf ter .

Rightly
und erst ood th e d es i re f or s ens ati on i s th e d es i re
,

o f b ei ng th e di s t orti on o f th e s ou l s et ernal li f e Th e l u s t of
’
.
,

s ens u al s t i m u l u s and e x c i t at i on res t s on th e l ongi ng to f eel

one s li f e k eenly to g ai n th e s ens e o f b ei ng really aliv e T hi s

’
, .

s ens e o f t ru e lif e c om es onl y w i th th e c om i ng o f th e s ou l and ,

th e s ou l c om es only i n s i l enc e aft er s elf i nd u lg enc e h as b een ,

-

c ou rag eou s ly and l ov al l y s t i ll ed t h rou gh rev erenc e b e fore th e

c omi ng s oul .

I I
 ’
P A T A N J A L I S YOGA SUTRAS

1 6 . Th e c ons u mmat i on of th i s i s f ree d om f rom t h i rs t f or

a ny mod e of p s y c h i ca l ac ti v i ty , t h rou h th eg es tab l i s h me nt of
'

th e
s p i ri tu al man .

d r to gai n a t ru e u nd ers t anding o f thi s t ea c hi ng

In or e ,

s tudy m u s t be s uppl eme nt ed by d ev ot ed p ra c ti c e faith by ,

w ork s The reading o f the w ord s will not avail Th ere mu s t

. .

be a real eff o rt to stand as the S oul a r eal c eas i ng f rom s elf ,

i nd u lgence With thi s awak eni ng of th e s pi ri tu al will and

.
,

pu rific ati on w ill c om e at onc e th e g rowth of th e s p i ritual man

,

and ou r aw ak eni ng c ons c i ou s nes s as th e S piritual man ; and

thi s attai ned in ev en a s mall d eg ree will h elp u s notably i n ou r
, ,

c ont es t To him that hath s hal l b e giv en

.
,
.

1 7 . T h at p i ri tu a l v i s ion w h i c h i s c ond i ti one d and l i mi te d

s

ta k es t h e f orm fi rs t of exteri or reas oni ng th e n of i nt e ri or j u d g ,

me nt . th e n of h ap p i nes s t h e n of real i s at i on of i nd i v i d ual b e i ng

, .

pi ritual c ons c i ou snes s th er e are two c l ea rly m arke d

In s ,

s t ag e s The fir s t i s s pi ritual c ons c i ou s nes s exp res s i ng it s el f

.

th rough the p syc hi c al thr ough r ea son and feeli ng Th e s ec ond

,
.

i s s pi ritual c onsc i ou s nes s c l ear o f the p s y c hi c al and s hi ni ng ,

forth luminou s i n its own p rop er b ei ng The fi rs t i s h ere d e

, .

fi ned i n i ts a s c endi ng stages as fi rs t the right t rai ni ng and d i s ,

po s iti on o f the rea s on ; next the fi ner p erc epti on of i nt u iti on ; ,

ne xt th e j oy and ex altati on whi c h c om es with th e reali s ati on of

s pi rit u al lif e ; and th en th e aw ak eni ng to th e b ei ng o f th e s oul ,

th ough not y et to the k nowl e dg e of th e s oul s onenes s with th e ’

A ll .

1 8 . S pi ri tua l c ons c i ou s ne s s l i mi ted i s

un th e fi nal s ta e t l ed
up to by gh t p ac ti
th e ri r c e of s p i ri tua l S i l e nc e .

S piritual S il ence i s th e c row n and end o f pu rifica t i on . It

i s the t illing of all pa ss i onal and p s ychi c s torm s thos e d ramatic
s ,
'

fic ti ons th rough whi c h we s eek the s ens e of real life whi c h ,

need s no s t orm to rev eal it but i s i nnat e i n th e s oul and mad e , ,

m ani fes t th rough S il en c e .

12
 BOOK I

1 9 . Th e e xternal world ll d omi nates th os e wh o

s ti h av e con

q u e red b od i ly l u s ts , b ut are i mmers e d i n th e s e ns e of se pa at r e

ne s s .

T he re i s an a s c eti c i s m th at i s but a new form of ambit i on ,

a d es i re to g ai n s pi ritu al p ow er or g race for oneself i gnora nt ,

t hat s pi ritu al p ow er and g rac e b el ong only to al l united Th os e .

wh o s eek thu s h av e not y et c onqu ered the w orld

,
.

2 0 . 'or th e ot h e rs , p i ri tu al c ons c i ou s nes s l ed up

t h e re i s s ,

to by fai th val or , , ri gh t mi ndf u l nes s one p oi nte d nes s p erc ep ti on

,
-
, .

w ell to ke ep in mi nd th es e s t ep s on the path to i ll umi

It is
nati on ' faith v al o r right mi ndful nes s
,
one p oint ed nes s
, p er ,
-

c ep ti on N ot one c an b e di s p ens ed w ith ; all m u s t be won

. .

Fi rs t faith ; and th en f rom faith v al or ; from val or right mind , ,

fu lnes s f rom righ t mi ndfulnes s a one po i nt ed a s pirati on ,

-

t ow ard the s ou l ; f rom t h i s p ercepti on ; and finally full vi s i on ,

as th e s oul .

2 1 . S pi ri t u a l c ons c i ou s nes s is neares t to th os e of k e e n,

i nte ns e wi ll .

i mag e u s ed i s the s wi ft i mp etu s of the t orrent ; the

The
ki ngdom mu s t be taken by force Firm will c omes only .

th rou gh eff ort ; eff ort i s i ns pi red by f aith The great s ecr et i s .

thi s 'it i s not enough to hav e i ntuiti ons ; we mu st ac t on th em ;

we m u s t liv e th em .

2 2 . Th e w i ll may b e wea k , or of mi ddl e s tren gth , or in

tens e .

'o r th os e of
w eak will there i s thi s c ouns el 'to be faithful ,

in ob edi enc e to liv e th e li fe and thu s to s t ren gth en th e will to

, ,

more p erfec t ob edi enc e Th e will i s not ou rs but God s and .

,
’
,

we c om e i nto it only th rough ob edi enc e A s we ente r into the .

s pi rit o f God we are p ermitted to s h are th e po w e r of God .

,

I 3
 ’
P A T A N J A L I S YOGA S UTRAS

2 3 . Th e w i ll ma y be g a i ne d by ar d ent s er vi ce of th e
Afl a s t er .

I f we t h i nk of ou r lives as ta sk s laid on u s b y th e M as t er
o f Lif e i f we l ook on al l d u ti es as p art s o f that M a st e r s w ork
’

, ,

ent ru s t ed to u s and f o rm i ng ou r li f e w ork ; th en if we ob ey

,
-

, ,

p romptly l oy ally s i nc erely we s h all ent er by d eg rees i nt o t h e

, , ,

M as t er s l i fe and S h are th e M as t er s p ow er Thu s we s h all be

’ ’
.

i niti at ed i nt o th e S pi ritual will .

2 4 . Th e M as t er is th e s p i ri t ual man w h o h as c onq uere d

,

s orro w, b ond age t o w or k s , a nd th e ac c u mu l a t i on of ev i l s .

Th e s ou l th e
M as t er th e L ord i s o f the s ame natu re as
of , ,

th e s ou l i n u s ; b u t we s till b ear the bu rd en o f m any evil s we ,

are i n b ond age th rou gh ou r f o rm er w o rk s we are u nd er th e ,

d omi nance o f s orrow The s ou l o f th e M as t er h as c onqu ered

.

s i n and m ad e an end o f s ervitud e and s orrow .

2 5 . I n th e M as t e r i s th e s ee d of p erf ec t O mni s c i enc e .

Th e S ou l
M ast er i s i n es s enc e one with th e O v er
of th e
s ou l
,
t h ere fore p art ak er o f th e O v ers oul s al l wi s d om and
and
’
-

al l p ow e r
-

A ll S pi rit u al att ai nment res t s on thi s and i s p os s ibl e

.
,

b ec au s e the s ou l and th e O v ers oul are One .

 P A T A N J A L I
’
S YOGA SU TRAS

29 . T h e nc e co me t h e awa k e ni ng of i nte ri or c ons c i ous nes s ,

a nd t h e re moval of b arri e rs .

H ere agai n faith mu s t be s uppl em ente d b y w ork s the life ,

mu s t be l ed as w ell as s tudi ed b e fo re the f u ll m eani ng c an be

,

u nd ers t ood The aw ak eni ng o f S pi ritu al c ons c i ou snes s c an

.

only b e u nd ers t oo d i n m ea s u re as it i s ente red It c an only be .

ent ere d wh ere th e c onditi ons are p res ent ' p u rity o f h eart and

s t rong as pi rati on and the re s olut e c onqu es t of eac h s i n .

T hi s h ow ev er may eas ily be u nd ers tood ' that the rec og

, ,

ni tion o f the th ree w orld s as r es ti ng i n the S oul l ead s u s to

reali s e ou rse lv es and all lif e as o f th e S ou l ; th at as we dw ell
, , ,

not i n p as t p res ent o r fut u re but i n th e Et ernal we be c om e

, , ,

mo re at one with th e Eternal ; that as we vi ew all organiz ati on , ,

p res e rv ati on mu tati on as the w ork o f the Divi ne One we s hall

, ,

c ome m o re i nt o h armony wit h the O ne and thu s rem ov e th e ,

b arri e rs i n ou r path tow ard th e Light .

I n the s ec ond p art o f the fi rs t b ook the p rob l em o f the ,

em erg ence of the s pi rit u al man i s furth er d ealt with W e are .

l ed to th e c ons id erati on o f the ba rri ers to h i s em e rg enc e o f th e ,

ov e rc omi ng o f th e ba rri ers and o f c ert ain s t ep s and s t ages i n

,

the asc ent f rom th e o rdi nary c ons c i ou s nes s of p ra c ti c al li fe ,

to the fi ne r d eep e r radia nt c ons c i ou s nes s o f th e s pi ritual man

, , .

16
 BOOK I

30 . Th e b arr i ers t o i nt e ri or c ons c i ou s nes s , wh i ch d ri ve th e

p s yc h i c na t u re th i s w ay a nd th at , a re t h es e ' s ic kn es s , i nert i a ,
d ou b t l i gh t mi nd e d nes s l az i nes s
,
=
, , i nt e m p e ra nc e , fal s e not i ons ,

i nab i l i t y t o h old t h e g rou nd g ai ne d , u ns e a t d i nes s .

W e mu s tmemb er th at we are c ons id eri ng th e s pi ritu al

re

man as enw rapp e d and enmes h ed by th e p s y c hi c natu re th e ,

emoti onal and m ent al p ow e rs ; and as u nabl e to c om e to c l ear

i
c ons c ou s ne s s , u nabl e to s t and and s ee c l early b ec au s e o f the ,

p sy ch i c v eil s of the p ers onality Ni ne o f th es e are enu m erat e d .

,

and th ey go p retty t h orou gh ly i nt o th e b ru t e t ou gh nes s o f th e

p sy ch i c natu re .

S i cknes s i s inc lud ed rath er for its eff ec t on th e emoti ons

and m i nd s i nc e b odily i nfi rm it y s u c h as bl i nd nes s o r d eafnes s
, , ,

i s no i ns up erabl e ba rri er to S pi ritu al lif e and m ay s ometime s ,

be a h elp as c utti ng o ff di s t rac ti ons

, I t will be well for u s to .

p ond er ov er eac h o f th e s e nine ac tiviti es t h inki ng of eac h as a ,

y c hi c s t at e a b arri er to the i nt eri or c ons c i o u s nes s o f th e

,

i ri tu al man .

31 . Gri e vi n g d p nd n y b od i ly
, es o e c , l
re s t e s s nes s , th e d raw
i ng i n a nd se nd i ng f o t h f th l if b
r o e e= re at h , l
a so c ont ri b u te to
d ri v e th e ps ych ic nat u re t o and f ro .

Th e fi rs t two mood s are eas ily u nd ers t oo d W e c an w ell .

y
s ee h ow a s odd en p s c h i c c onditi on , fl ag rantly opp os e d to th e

p u re and p os i tiv e j oy o f s pi rit u al life w ou ld be a b arri er Th e , .

nex t b odily res tl es s nes s i s i n a s p ec i al way th e f au lt o f ou r

, ,

d ay and generati on W hen it i s c onqu ered , m ent al res tl es snes s

.

will be h alf c onqu ered too , .

Th e nex t two t erm s , c onc erni ng the li f e b reath , o ff er s om e -

di ffic ulty Th e s u rfac e m eani ng i s h ars h and i rregu l ar b reath

.

ing ; the d eep er m eani ng i s a lif e of ha rs h and i rregula r i m

p u l s es .
 P A T A N J
’
A L I S YOGA S U TRAS

32 . St ea dy a ppl i c at i on to a p ri nc i p l e i s t h e way to p ut
s t op t o t h es e .

will w hich in its pri s t i ne s ta te was full of vi gor h

The , , , ,

b een s teadily c or rupt ed b y s elf indul gen c e th e seek i ng -

,
’
m ood s and s ens ati on s for s ens ati ons s ak e H enc e c om e all .

m orbid and s i c kly m ood s o f the mi nd The r em edy i s a ret .

to the p ri s tin e s t at e o f th e will by vig orou s p os itiv e eff ort ; , ,

as we are he re t old by s t eady appli c ati on to a p ri nc

,

p ri nc ipl e to whi c h we s h ould thu s s t eadily apply ou rs elv es

s h ou ld be one a ri s ing f rom th e reality of s piritual li f e ; val or ou s

w ork for the s oul in oth ers as in our s elv es , .

33 . By y mpat h y w i th th h ap py
s e , co mp as s i on f or th e s or

ro wf ul , d l i g h t i n th h oly d i g d of
e e , s re ar th e u nh o ly , th e p s yc h i c
t
na u re mov esto g a i o p ac
r c us e e.

Wh en we are wr apped up i n ou rselv es S hroud ed w ith th e ,

c l oak o f ou r eg oti s m ab s orb ed i n ou r p ai ns and b itt er th ou ght s

, ,

we are not willi ng to di s tu rb o r s t rai n ou r own s i c kly m ood by

givi ng ki ndly s y mp athy to the h appy thu s doub li ng th ei r j oy , ,

or by S h owi ng c omp as s i on fo r th e s ad thu s halvi ng th ei r s o r ,

row W e refu s e to find d elight in h oly t h i ng s and l et the mi nd

.
,

b rood i n s ad p es s i mi s m on u nh oly things A ll th es e evil p sy c hi c .

m ood s mu s t be c onqu ered by s t rong eff ort of w ill Thi s r end .

ing o f th e v eil s will rev eal to u s s om ethi ng of th e gr ac e and

p ea c e whi ch are of th e i nt eri or c onsci ou s nes s of the s pi ritual
man .

34 . Or p eac e may b e reac h e d by th e e ve n s en d i ng forth

and c ont ro l of th e l i f e b reath
-
.

H ere agai n we may l ook for a d oubl e meaning i fi rs t that ,

ev en and qui et b reathi ng whi c h i s a part o f th e vi c tory ov er

b odily res tl es s ne s s ; th en the ev en and qui et t enor o f li fe with ,

o u t h ars h o r di s s ona nt impul s es w hi c h b ri ngs s tilln ess to th e ,

h eart .

18
 BOOK I

35 . Fai t h f u l p ers i s t e nt a ppl i c ati on to any ob j ec t

, , if com
l et el y a tt a i ne d w i ll b i nd t h e mi nd to s t ead i nes s
, .

We till c ons ideri ng how to ov erc om e th e w av ering

are s
p e rt u rb ati on o f th e p s y c h i c natu re w h i c h m ak e i t quite ,
-

t to t rans mit the i nw ard c ons c i ou s ne s s and s till nes s W e .

onc e mo re t old to u s e th e will and to t rai n it by s t eady and ,

' '
rs i stent w o rk ' by s itti ng c l o s e to ou r w o rk i n th e ph ra s e ,

f the origi nal .

36 . As a sol w i ll a j oyf l u ,
ra d i ant s p i ri t .

T h ere i s no s u c h illu s i on as gl oomy p es s im i s m and it h as ,

b een t ru l y s aid th at a man s c h ee rf u l nes s i s the meas u re of hi s

’

faith G l oom d es p ond enc y th e p al e c as t o f th ou ght are v ery

.
, , ,

amenabl e to th e will S tu rdy and c ou rageou s eff ort will b ri ng

.

a c l ear and v al o rou s m i nd B ut it mu s t alw ay s be rememb ered

.

t hat thi s i s not for s ol ac e to the p ers onal man bu t i s rath er an ,

off eri ng to th e id eal of s pi rit u al li f e a c ont ributi on to th e ,

u niv ers al and u niv ers ally s hare d t reas u re i n he av en .

37 . Or t h e p u rg i ng of s el f = i nd u l g e nce f rom th e p s yc h i c
natu re .

W e mu s t gniz e th at the f all of man i s a reality

rec o ,

ex empl ifi e d i n ou r own p ers ons W e h av e q u it e oth er s i ns th an .

th e ani mal s and far mo re d el et eri ou s ; and th ey h av e all c om e

,

th rou gh s elf i ndulgenc e with whi c h ou r p s y ch i c nat u res are

-

s oak ed t h ro ug h and th rou gh A s we c li mb d ow n hill for ou r .

pl eas u re s o mu s t we c li mb u p agai n for ou r p u rific ati on and

,

res t orati on to ou r f o rm er high es t at e Th e p roc es s i s p ai nful .

,

p erh ap s y et i ndi s pens abl e

, .

I 9
 ’
P A T A N J A L I S YOGA SUTRAS

38 . Or a p ond eri ng on th e p erc e p t i ons g ai ne d in d reams

a nd d ream l es s s l ee p .

'or the E as t ern ges d rea m s are it i s t ru e mad e u p of

sa , , ,

im ages of w aki ng li fe refl ec ti ons of what th e ey es hav e s een

,

and th e ears h eard

~
B ut d ream s are s om ethi ng m ore for the
.
,

i mag es are in a s ens e real ob j ec tiv e on th ei r own plan e ; and

,

the k nowl edg e th at th ere i s a noth er w orld ev en a d ream w orld ,

-

lightens the ty ra nny o f mat erial lif e M u c h o f p oet ry and art .

i s s u c h a s ola ce f rom d ream land B ut th ere i s m ore in dream

-
.
,

for it may i m ag e wh at i s abo v e as w ell as wh at i s b el ow ; not ,

only th e c hild ren o f men bu t al s o th e c hildr en by th e S h o r e o f

,

th e imm ort al s ea th at b rought u s hith e r may th row th ei r i mag es ,

on thi s m agi c mi rror S o too of the s ec r et s of d reaml es s

’

.
, ,

s l eep with i ts pu re vi s i on i n ev en g reat er d eg r ee

, .

39 . Or m e d i tati ve b rood i ng on wh at i s d eares t to th e h eart .

H ere i s a t hough t whi c h ou r own d ay i s b egi nni ng to

g ras p ' t h at l ov e i s a f orm o f k nowl edg e ; th at we truly k now
any t h i ng o r any p ers on by b e c om i n n th with i n l v
‘

g o e ,e re o e ,
.

Th u s l ov e h as a wi s d om th at th e mi nd c annot c laim and b y thi s ,

h earty l ov e t hi s b ec omi ng one with what i s beyond ou r p er

,

s onal b ord ers we m ay t ak e a l ong s t ep t owa rd f ree d om

, Two .

di rec ti ons for th i s may b e s ugges t ed ' th e p u re l ov e of th e

arti s t for h i s w o rk and th e ea rnes t c ompa s s i on
, at e s earc h i nt o ,

th e heart s of oth ers .

40 . T h u s h e mas t e rs al l , f rom th e at om t o t h e I n ni t e fi .

N ewton was as k ed how h e m ad e hi s di s c ov eri es By .

i nt endi ng my mi nd on th em he repli e d Thi s s tead y p res s u re , . ,

t h i s b ec omi ng one with w h at we s eek to u nd ers t and w h eth er ,

it be at om or s ou l i s th e one m eans to know Wh en we be

, .

c om e a thi ng we really k no w it not oth er w

, ise Th erefore liv e , .

th e lif e to k now th e d oc t ri ne ; d o th e will of th e Fath er if y ou

, ,

w ould k now the F ath er .

20
 BOOK I

41 Wh en th e p ertu rb ati ons of t h e p s yc h i c natu re h ave al l

.

be e n s t i ll ed t h e n th e c ons c i ou s nes s l i ke a p u re c ry s t al tak es

, , ,

t h e c ol or of w h at i t res t s on w h e t h er t h at b e t h e p erc ei v er p er
, ,

c ei v i ng or t h e t h i ng p e rc ei v e d
, .

T h i s i s a f u ll er ex p res s i on of th e l as t S ut ra and i s s o lu c id ,

that c om ment c an hardly ad d to it Ev erythi ng i s eith er p er .

c ei v e r p erc eiving or th e thi ng p erc eiv e d ; or as we m igh t s ay

, , , ,

c ons c i ou s nes s f o rc e or m att er

,
Th e s ag e t ell s u s th at th e one
, .

key will u nl oc k th e s ec ret s of al l t h ree th e s ec ret s of c onsc i ou s ,

ness f orc e and matt er alik e

,
Th e t h ought i s t h at th e c ordi al
.
,

s y mp athy o f a g entl e h ea rt i nt u i tiv e ly u nd ers t anding th e h ea rt s

,

of ot h ers i s really a m anif e s t ati on o f th e s am e p ow er as that

,

p enet rati ng p erc epti on wh ere by one divines th e s ec ret s of

planeta ry m oti ons or atomi c s t ruc tu re .

42 Wh en t h e c ons c i ou s nes s i n p erc ei vi ng i s s u c c es s i vely

.
, ,

oc c u p d by th e nam e t h e i d ea and th e u nd ers tand i ng of wh at

ie , ,

i t i s d we ll i ng on t h i s i s th e d i s t ri b u t i ve ac t i on of t h e m i nd
, .

W e are now to t ra c e th e as c endi ng s t ag es o f p ercepti on ,

from th e m os t ex t ernal ob s erv at i on to p u re i nt u itiv e vi s i on .

W e b egin wit h th e p erc epti on of g ros s s ub s tanc e or as we ,

migh t s ay ext ernal and obj ec tiv e th i ngs ob s erv ed by th e

, ,

phy s i c al sense s I n p erc eivi ng th es e ext ernal thi ng s th e mi nd s

.
,
’

ac ti on m ay b e eit h er d i s t ribut i v e and analyti c al or non d i s ,

-

tribu ti v e and i ntuitiv e th e s ec ond b ein g th e high er as nea rer to

, ,

u nit y . Thu s we may th i nk a nalyti c ally of s omethi ng s ay a , ,

c ow fi rs t by name t h en a c c o rdi ng to i ts app e a rance and th en

, , ,

th rou gh w h at we k now of i t s natu re ; or we may thi nk non

di st rib u tiv ely ent eri ng i nt o the id ea of the c ow as a f am ou s
, ,

p ai nt er of th e N eth erla nd s en t ered i nto th e i nmost b eing of th e

sh eep h e so l ovin gly d ep ic t ed .
 ’
P A T A N J A L I S YOGA SUTRAS

43 . W h e n th e ob j ec t d well s i n th e mi nd c l ear , of memory

p i c tu res d evoi d of any f orm as a p u re l u mi nou s i d ea
, , , t h i s i s non
d i s tri b u t i ve p e rc e p ti on .

We till c ons id eri ng ext ernal vi s ibl e ob j ec t s S u ch

are s , .

perc epti on as i s h ere d es c rib ed i s of th e nat u re o f th at penetrat

i ng vi s i on wh ereby N ewt on i nt endi ng h i s mi nd on thi ng s , ,

m ad e hi s di s c ov eri es or th at wh ereby a really g reat p ortrai t

,

p ai nt er pi erc es to th e s oul of him wh om he p ai nt s and mak es ,

t hat s oul liv e on c anv as Th ese s tag es of p erc epti on are d e .

s c rib ed i n thi s way to l ead th e mi nd u p to an u nd ers ta ndi ng of

,

th e pi erc i ng s ou l vi s i on of the s pi ritu al m an th e im mortal

-

, .

44 . Th e sa me t w o s te ps wh e n ref erri ng to t hi ng s of fi ner

,

su b s t a nc e , are s ai d to b e w i t h or wi t h out , j u d i c i a l ac ti on of th e
,

mi nd .

We now c ome to p s y c hi c al ob j ec t s ' to images

mental or
i n the m i nd I t i s p rec i s ely by c omp ari ng a rrangi ng and
.
,

s u p erp os i ng thes e mi nd im ag e s th at we e t ou r g eneral noti ons

g
-

or c onc ept s Thi s p roces s of anal y s rs and s ynth es i s wh ereby

.
\ _ ,

we sel ec t c ert ai n qu aliti es i n a g roup o f mi nd im ages and th en -

rang e t og eth er th os e o f lik e qu ality i s th e j udi c i al ac ti on of the ,

mind s p ok en of Bu t wh en we ex erc i s e s wi ft divi nati on u p on

.

th e m i nd imag es as d oes a p oet or a m an o f g eni u s t h en we

-

, ,

u s e a p ow e r high er th an th e j u di c ial and one nearer to th e ,

k een vi s i on o f the s pi ritual man .

22
 P A T A N J A L I S
’
YOGA SU TRAS

47 . W h e n p u re p erc e p t i on w i t h ou t j u d i c i al ac ti on of th e
m i nd i s reac h e d t h e re f oll ows t h e g rac i ou s p eac e of t h e i nne r
,

se lf .

W e hav e i ns tanced tai n ty p es o f t h i s pu re p erc epti on '

ce r
'

the p oet s divi nati on wh e reby h e s ees the s pi rit withi n th e s y m

,

bol lik enes s i n t h i ng s u nlik e and b eauty i n all thi ng s ; th e pu re

, ,

i ns ight o f the t ru e phil os oph er w hos e vi s i on res t s not on the ,

app ea ranc es of lif e but on its realiti es ; or th e s ai nt s fi rm p er

,
’

c ep tion o f s pi rit u al li f e and b ei ng A ll th ese are far adv anc ed .

on the way ; th ey hav e d ra w n nea r to th e s ec ret d w e lli ng o f

p ea ce .

48 . I n t h at p eac e , p erc e p t i on is f l i ng ly
u n ai t ru e .

Th e p oet th e wi s e phil os oph er and th e s ai nt not only

,

rea c h a wid e and l u m i nou s c ons c i ou s ne s s but th ey gai n c ertai n ,

knowl edge of s ub s t anti al reality Wh en we k now we k now .

,

th at we k now 'or we h av e c ome to the s t ag e wh ere we k now

.

thi ng s by b ei ng t h em and tha n b eing nothi ng can be m ore t ru e

w
.
,

W e res t on the roc k and k no it to be roc k root ed in th e v ery

, ,

h eart of th e w orld .

49 . Th e b j ec t
o p erc e p t i on i s
of th i s ot h er th a n w h at i s
l earned f rom t h e s a c re d b ooks or by s ou nd , i nf e re nc e , s i nc e th i s
p e rc e p ti on i s part i c u l ar .

Th e
di sti nc ti on i s a l u mi nou s and i ns pi ri ng one Th e .

S c ript u res t ea ch general t ru th s c onc erni ng u niv ers al s pi ritu al ,

li fe and broad l aw s and i nf erenc e f rom t h ei r t eac h ing i s not

,

l es s general Bu t th e S pi rit u al p erc epti on o f the aw ak ened s eer

.

b ri ng s pa rti c ula r t ruth c onc e rni ng h i s own p ar ti c ul ar life and

nee d s w h eth er th es e be for him s elf or oth er s
, 'e r ec eiv es .

d efin ed p r eci se kn ow l ed ge exac tly a pp lyin g to w ha t he has at

,

, ,

h ear t .
 BOOK I

so . Th e i mp res s on th e c ons c i ou s ne s s s p ri ng i ng f rom th i s

p erc ep t i on su p e rs ed es al l p revi ou s i m p re s s i ons .

E ac h s tate or fi eld of the mi nd ea c h fi eld o f k nowl edge s o , ,

to s p eak whi c h i s reac h ed by m ental and emoti onal energi es

, ,

i s a p s y c hi c al s tat e j u s t as the mi nd p i c t u re o f a s t ag e w i t h
,

th e ac t o rs on it i s a p s y c h i c al s t at e or fi el d Wh en th e pu re .

vi s i on as o f th e p oet th e ph i l os op h er the s ai nt fill s th e w hol e

, , , ,

field al l l es s e r vi ew s and v i s i ons are c rowd ed ou t T h i s high

, .

c ons c i ou s nes s di s pl aces al l l e s s er c ons c i ou s ne s s Y et i n a c er .

,

t ain s ens e t hat w h i c h i s vi ew ed as p art e v en by th e vi s i on o f

, ,

a s ag e h as s till an el ement o f i ll u s i on a thi n p s y c h i c al v eil

, , ,

how ev er p u re and l u minou s t hat v eil may be I t i s th e l as t .

and high es t p s y c hi c s tat e .

n
o ly
t on
incertain 51 . Wh en thi s i m p res s i on c eas e s , t h en, s i nc e al l i m p re s
w ek now s i ons h av e c eas e d , t h e re ari s es p u re s p i ri tu al c ons c i ou s nes s , with
wek now no s ee d of s e p arat enes s l ef t .

lOit tr
ue
Th e
l as t p s y c h i c v eil i s d raw n a s ide and th e s pi ritu al man
.

I th
,
eve
ry s t and s wit h u nv eil ed vi s i on pu re s erene , , .
 I nt ro du c t i o n t o Book II .

The fi rs t b ook of P atanj al i s Y og a S ut ra s i s c all ed th e

’

B ook of S pi ritual C ons c i ou s n es s The s econd b ook w hi c h we

.
,

now b egi n, i s th e B ook o f th e M eans of S oul G ro wth A nd .

we mu s t rem emb er that s oul g rowth h ere m ea ns th e g row th

o f the realizati on o f th e s pi ritual man, o r, to put th e matt e r
m ore b ri efly , th e g rowth o f th e s pi ritual man, and the d i sen
t angli ng o f th e s pi ritu al man f rom th e w rappi ng s the v eil s , ,

th e di s gui se s laid up on him by th e mi nd and th e p s y c hi c al

natu re wh erei n h e i s enme s h ed lik e a bi rd c aught i n a net
, ,
.

Th e q u es ti on a ri s es 'B y what m ea ns may th e s pi ritual man

be f reed f rom th e s e p s y ch i c al m es h es and di s gui s es , s o tha t h e
may s t and forth ab ov e d eath , i n h i s radia nt et ernaln es s and
'
divi e p ower A nd th e s ec ond book s et s it s el f to a ns w er thi s
n
v ery qu es ti on and to d et ail the m eans i n a way enti rely p ra e
,

ti c al and v ery lu c id s o that he who ru ns may read , and he wh o

,

read s may u nd ers ta nd and pr ac ti s e .

The s ec ond pa rt of the s ec ond b ook i s c onc e rne d w ith

p rac ti cal s pi ritual t rai ni ng th at i s , wit h th e earli er p ra c ti c al
,

t rai ni ng of the s pi ritual man .

Th e mos t s t riki ng thi ng i n it i s th e emph as i s laid on th e

C omma ndm ent s w hi c h are p rec i s ely th os e of th e l atte r p art of
,

th e D ec al ogu e t og eth er w ith ob edi enc e to th e M a s t er

, O ur .

day an d g en erati on i s far too prone to fa nc y that t her e c an be

my stical lif e and g r ow th on s om e oth er f ounda t i on , on the
f oundati on , for exam p l e, of int ell ect ual curi os ity or p sychical
s elfi s hn es s. I n r eali t y , on thi s latt er fou ndati on the lif e of the
S pi ritual man c an n ev er be built ; nor i nd eed a nythi ng bu t a
, ,

p sy c hi c unt erfeit a d ang erou s d elu s i on

co , .

26
 BOOK II

Th erefore P atanj al i lik e ev ery g r eat s pi rit u al t eac h er

, ,

m eet s the qu es ti on ' W h at m u s t I d o to be s av ed 'with th e

ag e ol d ans w er ' K eep th e C omma ndm ent s
-
Only aft er the
.

di s c ipl e c an s ay ' Th es e have I ke pt c an th ere be th e furth er

and fi ner t ea c h i ng of th e s pi ritu al R ul es
,

I t i s th erefore vital for u s to realiz e that the Yoga s y s t em

, , ,

like ev ery tru e s y st em o f s pi ritual t ea c hi ng res t s on thi s b road

,

and fi rm f ou nda t i on of h one s ty t ru t h c l ea nnes s ob edi enc e

, , , .

With out th es e th ere i s no s alvati on ; and he who p rac ti s es

,

thes e even t hough ignorant o f s pi ritual thi ng s i s laying up

, ,

t rea s u re agai nst the tim e to c om e .

 BOO' II .

1 . p rac ti c es wh i c h make f or u ni on wi th th e S ou l are

Th e
ferve nt as p i rati on s p i ri tual read i ng and c ompl ete ob e d i ence to
, ,

the M as t er .

The w ord whi c h I h av e rend ered f erv ent a s pi rati on

means p rima rily fi re 'and i n the Ea s t ern te a chi ng it m eans
' '
, ,

the fi re whi c h giv es lif e and light and at the s am e ti me th e fi re

,

which pu rifies W e h av e there fore as ou r fi rs t p ra c ti c e as

.
, , ,

the fi rs t o f the means o f s pi ritu al g rowt h that fi ery qu ality of ,

the will whi c h enki ndl es and ill u mi nes and at the s am e t i m e , , ,

the s t eady p rac ti c e of pu rifi c ati on th e b u rning away of al l ,

known i mp u riti es S pi ritu al readi ng i s s o u niv ers ally ac c ept ed

.

and u nd ers t ood th at it need s no c omm ent

,
The v ery s tudy o f .

P atanj al i s S u t ras i s an ex erc i s e i n S pi ritu al readi ng and a

’
,

very eff ec tiv e one A nd s o with al l other b ook s o f th e s oul

. .

Obedi ence to the M a s ter m eans th at we s hall make the will o f

,

the M as t er ou r will and S h all c onfo rm i n al l way s to th e will

,

of the Divi ne s etti ng as id e the will s o f s elf whi c h are but ,

,

p sychic di st orti ons o f th e one Divi ne Will Th e c ons ta nt eff ort .

to obey i n al l th e w ay s we k now and u nd ers ta nd will rev eal ,

new w ay s and new task s th e e v i d enc e o f new g rowth o f th e

,

sou l. N othi ng will d o m ore for th e s pi rit u al man i n u s th an

this , for th ere i s no s u c h regenerati ng p ow er as the aw ak enin g
sp i ri tu al will .

29
 ’
P A T A N J A L I S YOGA SUTRAS

2 T h ei r ai m is , to b ri n g s oul = v i s i on, a nd to wear awa y

The aim ferv or s piritu al r eadi ng and ob edi en c e to th e

of ,

M a s t er i s to b ri ng s oul vi s i on and to w ear aw ay ba rri ers

,
-

,
.

O r to u se th e ph rase we h av e al ready ad opt ed the ai m of

, ,

th ese p rac ti ces i s to h elp the s pi ritual man to op en hi s eyes ;

,

to h elp him al s o to t h ro w as id e th e v eil s and di s gui s es the en ,

m es hi ng p s yc hi c net s whi c h s u rround him tyi ng h i s h and s as , ,

it w ere and b and agi ng h i s ey es A nd thi s as al l t each er s

, .
,

t es tify i s a l ong and a rdu ou s t as k a s t eady up hill fi ght d e

, ,
-

m andi ng fi ne c ou rage and p ers i s tent toil F erv or th e fi re o f .

,

th e s pi ritu al will i s as we s aid two fold ' it illumi nes and s o

, ,
-

h elp s th e s pi ritu al man to s ee ; and it al s o burn s up th e net s

and m es h es whi c h ens nare th e s pi ritual man S o with th e .

oth er m eans s pi ritual readi ng and ob edi enc e

, E ac h i n i ts .
,

a c ti on i s two fold w eari ng away the p s yc hi c al and upbuildi ng

,
-

, ,

the s pi ritual man .

30
 ’
P A T A N J A L I S YOGA SUTRAS

4 . Th e d ark nes s of u nw i s d om i s th e fi e ld of th e o t h e rs .

T h es eb a rri ers may b e d orma nt , or w orn t h i n , or s u s p end ed , or

exp a nd e d .

H er e we hav e really two s utras i n one Th e fir s t has b een .

explai ned al ready ' i n th e d ark nes s o f u nwi s d om g row th e

p ara s it es h at e lu s t atta c h ment Th ey are all outg rowth s o f

, , , .

th e s elf ab s orpti on o f th e p s y c hi c al s elf

-
.

N ext we are t old th at th es e b ar ri er s may be eith er d or

,

ma nt o r s u s p end ed or expa nd ed or w orn t h i n Fault s w h i c h

, , , .

are d orma nt will be b rought ou t th rough th e p res s u re o f li f e ,

or th rough th e p res s ur e o f s t rong as pi rati on Thu s exp and ed .

,

th ey m u s t be f ou ght and c onqu ered or as P atanj ali qu ai ntly , ,

s ay s th ey mu s t be w orn thi n
, as a v eil might or th e li nk s o f ,
—
,

ma nac l es .

5 . d a rk nes s of i g noranc e i s ' h old i ng th at w h i c h

Th e is
u ne nd u ri ng i m p u re f u ll of p ai n not th e s ou l t o b e et e rnal p u
, , , , ,

f u l l of j oy t h e s ou l , .

Thi s we hav e really c ons i d ered al ready The p s y chi c man .

i s u nend u ri ng i mp u re f u ll of pai n not th e s oul n

, ,
ot th e real , ,

S el f Th e s pi rit u al man i s end u ri ng p u re full o f j oy the real

.
, , ,

S elf Th e darknes s of u nwi s dom i s th erefore the s elf abs orp

.
, ,
—

ti on o f th e p s y c hi c al pe rs onal man to th e ex c lu s i on of the

, ,

s pi rit u al m an I t i s th e b eli e f c arri ed int o ac t ion th at th e p er

.
, ,

s onal man i s th e real man th e m an for w h om we s h ou ld t oil , ,

fo r w h om we s h ou ld build for w h om we S h ould liv e Thi s i s

, .

th at p s y c h i c al man o f wh om it i s s aid ' h e that s ow eth to th e

fl es h S h all of th e fl es h reap c orrupti on
, .

32
 BOOK II

6 . S el f = as s e rt i on co mes f rom th i nk i ng of th e S eer and th e

i ns t ru me nt of vi s i on as f ormi ng one s el f .

Thi s i s th e fu nd am ent al id ea o f the S ankhya phil osophy ,

o f whi c h th e Yog a i s av ow e dly th e p rac ti c al s id e To t rans l ate .

thi s i nto ou r t erms we may s ay tha t th e S eer i s th e s pi ri t ual

,

man ; th e i nst ru ment o f vi s i on i s th e p s y c hi c al man t h rough ,

w hi c h the s pi rit u al m an gai ns exp eri enc e o f th e out er w orld .

Bu t we tur n th e s erv ant i nt o th e ma s t er W e att ribut e to th e .

p syc h i c al man th e p ers onal s elf a reality whi ch really b el ong s

, ,

to th e s pi rit ual man al one and s o thi nki ng of the quality o f the
, ,

s pi ritu al man as b el ongi ng to th e p s y c h i c al we m erge th e ,

s pi ritu al man i n th e p s y c h i c al ; or as the t ext s ay s we thi nk of , ,

the two as f o rming one s elf .

7 . Lu s t i s t h e re s t i n g i n th e s e ns e of j ym nt
en o e .

Thi s has b een expl ai ned agai n and as ag ain S ens ation
.
, ,

for ex ampl e th e s ens e o f t as t e i s m eant to be th e g u id e to

, ,

ac t i on ; i n t h i s c as e th e c h oi c e o f w h ol es ome f ood
, and th e ,

av oid ance o f p oi s ono u s and h u rtful thi ng s B ut i f we res t in .

the s ens e o f t as t e as a pl eas u re i n it s elf ; res t th at i s i n th e

, , ,

al s id e o f t as t e we f all i nt o gl u tt ony and liv e to eat

, , ,

o f eati ng to liv e S o wit h th e oth er g reat organi c

.

th e p ow er o f rep ro d u c ti on T h i s lu s t c omes i nto b ei ng .

,

h res ting in th e s ens ati on and l ooki ng for pl ea s u re f rom,

8 . 'ate i s th e res t i n g i n th e s e ns e of p ai n .

P ain m es for th e mos t p art f rom th e s trif e of p er

co , ,

nal i ti es th e j arri ng di s c ord s be tw e en p s y c h i c s elv es ea ch of

, ,

m s it s el f s u p rem e A dw elli ng on thi s p ai n b reed s

\
.

h ate w hi c h t ears the w arri ng s elv es y et fu rth er a s und er and

,
,

p u t s new enm ity b etw een t h em th u s h i nd eri ng th e ha rm ony ,

o f th e R eal th e rec onc iliati on th rough the s oul

, .

33
 P A T A N J A L I S
’
YOGA SU TRAS

9 . A tt ac h ment i s th e d es i re toward l if e , ven

e i n th e
c arri e d f orward by i ts ow n e nergy .

The lif e h ere d es i red i s th e p s y c hi c life the inte ,

vib rating li fe of th e p s y chi cal s elf Thi s pr evail s ev en .

wh o hav e attain ed mu c h wi s d om s o l ong as it fall ,

wi s d om of c ompl ete renu nc iati on c om p l et e obedi enc e ,

l ea s t b eh es t o f th e s pi ritu al man and of the M as t er who ,

and aid s th e s pi ritual man .

Th e d es ir e of s ens ati on t he d es ir e of p s ychi c li fe re

, ,

du c es it s el f c arri ed on by its own energy and m omentum ;

,

h en c e c om es th e c i rc l e of d eath and rebirth d eath and rebi rt ,

i ns tead of th e lib erati on of th e s p iritual man .

1 0. T h es e su btl e b arri ers are to b e re move d by a c ou nt

c u rrent .

Th e da rk nes s of unwi s d om i s to be r em ov ed b y th e
o f wi s d om pu rs u e d th rough f erv or s pi ritual r eadi ng o f
, ,

t ea c hi ng s and o f life it s elf and by ob edi ence to the M ast ,

Lu s t i s to be rem ov ed by pu re as pi rati on of S p
whi c h b ri ngi ng t ru e s t rength and s t abili ty tak es aw
, ,

v oid o f w eak nes s whi c h we try to fill by th e s timulu s of s en

ti ons .

Hat e i s to be ov erc om e by l ov e Th e fear th at ari .

th rough th e s ens e o f s ep arat e warri ng s elv es i s to be s till ed ,

th e r ealizati on of th e One S elf th e one s oul in al l Th , .

realiz ati on i s the p erf ec t l ov e tha t c a s t s ou t f ear .

1 1 . T h ei r ac t i ve tu rni n gs are to b e removed by med i tati o

H ere i s i n t ruth the wh ol e s ec ret o f Y oga th e s c i en c e
, , ,

the s ou l Th e a c tiv e turnings th e s t rid ent vib rati ons

.
,

i s hnes s lu s t and h at e are to be s till e d by m edit ati on

, ,

h eart and mi nd dw ell in s piritual life by li fti ng up the he ,

to th e s t rong s il ent li f e ab ov e w hi c h res t s in th e s till nes s

, ,

et ernal l ov e and n eed s no hars h vi b ra t i on to convin c e i t

,

t ru e b ei n g .

34
 BOOK II

Th e b u rd e n of b ond age t o s orrow h as i ts root i n th es e

It wi ll b e f e l t i n th i s l i fe or i n a l i f e not y et
, man

b u rd enb ond ag e to s orrow has i ts root i n th e da rk

of
nwi s d om i n s elfi s hnes s i n lu s t in hat e i n a t ta chm ent
, , , ,

to sens ati on A ll th es e are i n th e l as t analy s i s ab s orpti on in

.
, ,

th e p s y c hi c al s elf ; and thi s means s orrow b ec au se it m ean s ,

the s ens e o f s ep arat enes s and thi s m eans j arri ng di sc ord and
,

i nevit abl e d eath Bu t the p s yc h i cal s elf will b reed a new

.

p s y ch i cal s elf in a new bi rth and s o new sorrow s in a life not

, ,

y e t m a n i fes t .

1 3 . From th i s root t h e re g ro w and ri p en th e f rui ts of bi rt h ,

of th e l i f e c
s p a n, of al l t h at i s tas t e d i n l i f e .

Fully to co mm ent
thi s w ould be to w rite a t reati s e on
on ,

Karma and its p racti c al w orki ng i n d etail whereby the pl ac e ,

and ti me o f th e nex t bi rth i ts c ont ent and du rati on are d e , ,

term i ned ; and to d o t h i s th e p resent c omm ent at or i s in no wi se

fitted B ut thi s mu c h i s c l early u nd ers t ood ' th at th rough a
.
,

ki nd of s pi rit u al g ravit ati on th e i nc a rnati ng s elf i s d raw n to

,

a h ome and l i f e c i rc l e whi c h will giv e it s c op e and di sc ipli ne ;

-

and i ts nee d o f di s c ipl i ne i s c l early c onditi oned by its c h a rac t er ,

its s t andi ng i ts a c c ompli s h m ent

, .

1 4 . T h es e b ear f ru i ts of rej oi c i ng or of afl i c t i on, as th ey

are s p ru ng f rom h oly or u nh oly w orks .

S inc e holi nes s i s ob edi enc e to divi ne law , to th e l aw of

y
divi ne h armon , and ob e di ence to h arm ony s t rength ens th at
h arm ony i n th e s ou l w h i c h i s th e one t ru e j oy , th e re fore j oy
,

come s o f h oli nes s ' c ome s , i nd ee d i n no oth er way A nd as , .

u nh oli ne s s i s di s ob edi enc e and th ere f ore di s c ord , th ere fore

,

u nholi ne s s m ak es for p ain ; and thi s two fold l aw i s tru e, -

wh et her th e cau s e tak e eff ect i n thi s , or i n a y et unma nif es t ed

birth .

35
 ’
P A T A N I A L I S YOGA SUTRAS

1 5 . To h i m w h o p o s s e s s e s d i s c e r nm e nt a l l p e rs onal ,

m i s ery b ec a u s e i t ev e r w axes a nd w ane s i s ev er affl i ct e

, ,

re s t l e s s ne s s m ak es ev er new dy nam i c i mp res s es i n t h e

,
mi
a nd b ec au s e al l i t s ac t i v i t i es war w i t h e ac h ot h er .

The wh ol e li f e of th e p s y c hi c s el f i s mi s ery b ec au s e i t e ,

w ax es and w anes ; b ec au s e bi rt h b ri ng s i nevitab l e d eath ;

c au se t h ere i s no ex p ec t ati on wit h out i ts S h ad ow f ear Th e , .

o f th e p s y c hi c s el f i s m i s ery b ec a u s e it i s affli c t ed with res tl

,

nes s ' s o t h at h e wh o h as m u c h find s not s ati s f ac ti on

, ,

rath er th e w h ett e d h u ng er fo r m o re The fi re i s not .

by p ou ri ng oil on it ; s o d es i re i s not q u enc h e d by th e 5

ti on o f d es i re A g ai n th e li f e of th e p s y chi c s el f i s
.
,

bec au se it mak es ev er new dy nami c imp res s es i n th e

b ec au s e a d es i re s ati s fi e d i s but th e s eed f rom whi c h s p ri ng s
d es i re to fi nd lik e s ati s fac ti on agam Th e app etit e c omes .

eati ng as th e p rov erb s ay s

,
and g ro w s by wh at it f eed s
,

A nd th e p s y c hi c s el f t orn with c onfli c ti ng d e s i res i s ev er t

, ,

h ou s e divid ed a gai ns t it s el f whi c h mu s t s u rely fal l

, .

1 6 . T hi s p ai n i s t o b e w a rd e d off , b ef ore i t h as co me .

I n oth er w ord s , we c annot c u re th e p ai ns of li fe by l ayi n

on t h em any b al m W e m u s t c ut th e root , ab s orpti on i n t
.

p s y c hi c al s el f S o it i s s aid th ere i s no c u re f or th e mi sery

.
,

l ongi ng , but to fix th e h eart up on th e et ernal .

1 7 Th e c au s e of w h at i s t o b e
. ward ed off , i s th e ab s or

t i on of t h e S
ee r i n t h i n s s e e n g .

H ere ag ai n we h av e th e fu ndam ent al id ea of th e S a nk

whi ch i s th e i ntell ec t u al c ou nt erp art of th e Y oga s ys t em .

c au s e o f w h at i s to b e w ard e d off th e root o f m i s e ry is

, ,

ab s orpti on o f c ons c i ou s ne s s i n th e p s y c hi c al m an and th e t h i n

whi ch b egu il e th e p s y ch i c al m an The c u re i s lib erati on . .
 BOOK II

81 . Thi n g s p rop erty mani f es tat i on act

s ee n h av e as t h ei r ,
a=

i on i nert i a
, T h ey f orm t h e b as i s of t h e e l e m e nt s and t h e s e ns e
.
s

p owers T h ey make f or exp eri e nc e and f or l i b erat i on

. .

H ere i s a wh ol e phil os op hy of l i fe Thi ng s s een th e t ot al .

,

of th e p h enom enal p os se s s as t h ei r p ro p erty m anifes t ati on

, ,

ac ti on i nert ia 'th e q u al i ti es o f f orc e and m att er i n c ombi nati on

,
.

T h es e in t h ei r gros s er f orm mak e th e m at eri al w orld ; in th ei r

, ,

finer m ore s ubj ec tiv e f orm th ey m ak e th e p s y c hi c al w orld th e

, , ,

w orld of s ens e i mp res s i ons and m ind i mag es A nd th rough

- —
.

th i s tot ality of th e p h enomenal th e s ou l gai ns ex p eri enc e and ,

i s p rep ared for lib erat i on I n oth er w ord s the wh ol e out er.
,

w orld ex i s t s for th e pu rp os es o f th e s oul and find s i n thi s its ,

t ru e reas on for b ei ng .

1 9 . Th e g d ra es or l ay ers of t h e T h re e P ote nc i e s ar e th e
d efi ned th e u nd efi ne d
, , t h at wi t h d i s t i nc t i ve mark , t h at w i t h ou t
d i s t i nc t i ve mark .

O r as we might s ay th ere
, ,
are two s ra a of th e t t p h y s i c al ,

and two s t rat a o f th e p s y c h i c al I n eac h , t h ere i s th e rea l ms .

s id e o f f o rm and th e s id e o f f o rc e
,
Th e fo rm s id e of th e .

p hy s i cal i s h ere c all ed th e d efi ned Th e f orc e S i d e of th e .

phy s i cal i s the und efined , th at w h i ch h as no b ou ndari es S o .

i n th e p s y c hi c al ; th ere i s th e f orm S ide , th at with di s ti nc tiv e

mark s s u c h as th e c h arac t eri s ti c f eatu res of mi nd im ag es ; and
,
—

there i s th e f orc e s id e, with ou t d i s ti nc t i v e mark s S u ch as th e ,

forc es o f d es i re or f ear wh i c h may fl ow now to th i s mind ,

image ,
now to that .

2 0. Th e S e er is p u re vi s i on . T h ou h g p u re , he l ooks ou t
th rou h th eg ves ture of th e mi nd .

Th e S eer ,
as pi ritu al man wh os e d eep es t
alw ay s i s , the s
s c i ou s nes s i s th e pu re lif e o f th e et ernal
pu re vi s i on B ut
, .

s pi ritu al man as et u n s e i n g i n h i p rop e p e rs on l ook s

y e , s r ,

on th e w orld th rou gh th e ey es of th e p s y c hi c al man by

,

h e i s e nf old ed and enm es h ed Th e t as k i s to s et thi s .

,

er f ree to c l ea r th e d u s t o f age s f rom thi s bu ri ed t empl e

, .

37
 P A TA N J A L I S
’
YOGA SUTRAS

2 1 . Th e very es s enc e of th i n g s s ee n i s , th at th ey xi s t
e

th e S ee r.

The thi ng s of outer lif e not only ma terial thi ng s b ut th , ,

p s y c hi c man al s o exi s t i n v ery d eed for th e purp os es of th

,

S eer th e s oul the s pi ritual man Di s as t er c om es w h en th

, ,
.
,

p sy c hi c al man s et s u p so to s p eak on h i s own acc ou nt t ryi ng

, , ,

to liv e for h im sel f al one and t aki ng mat erial thi ng s to s ol ac e ,

h i s l one li nes s .

2 2 T h ou g h f all e n a way f rom h i m w h o h as reac h ed t h e

.

g oal thi ngs s een h ave not al t og eth er f all en away s i nc e th ey s ti ll

, ,

e xi s t f or ot h ers .

Wh en nqu ers hat e hate does not th ereb y

one of us co ,

c ea s e ou t o f th e w orld s i nc e oth ers s till h at e an d s u ff e r hat red

,
.

S o with oth er d elu s i ons w h i c h ho ld u s i n b ondage to ,

thi ng s and th rou gh whi c h we l ook at all mat e

,

Wh en the c ol ored v eil of ill u s i on i s gone th e w o rl ,

s aw th roug h it i s al s o g one for now we s ee lif e as it i s in , ,

w h ite radi ance o f et ernity But for oth ers th e col ored .

remai ns and th ere f o re th e w orld t hu s c ol ored by it remai n

,

for th em and w ill remai n till th ey too c onqu er d elu s i on

, , , .

2 3 . Th e a s s oc i a t i on of th e S e er w i t h th i n gs s e en is th
c au s e of the r ea l i z i ng of t
t h e na u re of t h i n g s s ee n, and l
a so

th e re a l i z i ng of t h e na t u re of t h e S e er.

is
du c ativ e A ll life s i nfi nit e va ri ety i s for ’
Li fe e .

c i p li ne for the d ev el op m ent o f th e s ou l

,
S o p as s i ng th r .

many liv es th e s ou l l earns th e s ec ret s o f the w orld th e

, ,

l aw s t h at are w ritt en i n th e f orm o f the s now c ry s tal -

m aj esti c ord er o f th e s tars Bu t all th es e l aw s are but .

ti ons but p roj ec ti ons outward of th e law s of th e s oul ;

, ,

fore in l earni ng th es e th e s oul l earns to know it s el f A ll life

, .

i s but th e mi rror w h erein th e s oul l earn s to k n ow i ts own fac e .

 ’
P A TA N J A L I S YOGA SUTRAS

2 7 . Th e s ou l vi s i on wh i c h i s t h e fi nal g oal of l i b erat i on is

sevenf old .

Th e v n fold c ons c i ou s nes s of th e s pi ritual man wh o

se e ,

s tand s forth lib erat ed f rom p s y ch i c t ra mm el s i s m ore fully set ,

forth i n th e l at er s ut ras I t i s a c ons c i ou s nes s of th e et er nal .

,

th e bli s s f u l th e pu re ,
I n th e t ext we are not t old w h at th e
.
,

s ev en q u aliti es o f t h i s c on s c i ou s ne s s are s o that for e xpla na ,

ti on we mu s t h av e rec ou rs e to th e c omm entary Th ere we are .

t old t hat the t emp oral mi nd not y et lib erat ed h as t h es e s ev en , ,

c h aract eri s ti cs ' fi rs t th e d es ir e to k now ; s ec ond th e d es i re to

, ,

be f ree ; th i rd th e d es i re of bli s s ; f ourth th e d es i re to fulfill all

, ,

duti es ; fift h th e q u ality of s orrow ; s ixth th e t ou c h of fea r ;

, ,

s ev enth th e c hill pa raly s i s of d ou bt

, .

Th es e are th e s h ad ow s o f th e s ev enf old c ons c i ou s nes s of

th e lib erat ed S pi rit u al man wh o i ns t ead of th e fi rs t h as fi rmly , , ,

es t abli s h ed wi s d om ; i ns t ead o f th e s ec ond realiz ed lib erati on ; ,

inst ead of the th i rd a d eep and ev er i nc reas i ng d elight ; i ns t ead

,

o f th e f ou rth th e cert ai nty that al l d u ti es are f u lfill ed ' I h av e

,

fini sh ed th e w ork w h i c h th ou g av es t me to d o ; and fOr the ,

fifth s ixth and s ev enth j oy fearl es s nes s and th e fi rm set b ei ng

, , ,
-

o f th e Et ernal .

2 8 F rom s t eadfas t ly f oll ow i ng aft er t h e means of Yoga

.
,

u nt i l i m p u ri t y i s w o rn aw ay t h e re c om e s t h e l i gh t of w i s d om i n,

f u ll d i s c ernment .

H ere we ent er on th e more d et ail ed p rac ti c al t eac h i ng of

,

P atanj al i with i ts s ou nd and lumi nou s g ood s ens e

, A nd .
,

wh en we c om e to d etail th e m eans of Yoga we s hall be as t on ,

i sh ed at th ei r s impli c ity T h ere i s littl e th at i s my s t eri ou s i n.

th em They are v e ry familia r Th e es s enc e of th e mat t er li es

. .

in carryin g th em out .

40
 BOOK II

2 9 . Th e ei gh t means of Yo g a are ' t h e C ommand ments th e ,

Ru l es , ri gh t P oi s e , ri gh t C ont ol r of th e l i f e f orc e W i t h d rawal

s
, ,

Conc e ntrat i on M e d i ta t i on
, , I ll u mi nat i on .

Th es e eigh t mea ns are to b e f oll ow ed i n th ei r ord er i n ,

the s ens e w h i c h will i mmedi at ely b e m ad e c l ear W e c an get .

a ready u nd ers t andi ng o f th e fi rs t two by c omp ari ng t h em w i th ,

the C ommandm ent s whi c h m u s t be ob ey ed by al l g ood c i tiz ens ,

and t h e R u l es w h i c h are l aid on th e m emb ers of re ligi ou s

.

ord ers Until one h as fulfill e d th e fi rs t it i s futil e to c onc ern

.
,

ones el f with th e s ec ond A nd s o with al l th e m eans of Y og a

. .

T hey m u s t be t ak en in thei r ord er .

30. C ommand me nts are

Th e t h es e ' non i nj u ry ,z
t ru t hf u l a

nes s , a b s t a i ni ng f rom s t ea l i ng f rom , i m p u ri t y , f rom co vetou s nes s .

T he s e fi v e p rec ept s are al mos t ex ac tly the s ame as the -

dh i s t C ommand ment s ' not to kill , not to s t eal , not to be

o f i nc onti nenc e, not to d ri nk i nt ox i c ant s to s p eak th e ,

S
A l mos t id ent i c al i s t P au l s li s t ' T hou s h alt not c om .
’

u l te ry , t h ou s h alt not kill t h ou s h alt not s t eal , th ou s h alt ,

v et A nd i n th e s ame s pi rit i s th e ans w er m ad e to th e

.

man h avi ng g reat p os s es s i ons who as ke d W h at S h all , ,

be s av ed , and rec eiv ed th e rep ly ' eep th e C omm and K

T h i s b road general t rai ni ng w h i c h f orm s and d ev el op s
, ,

h u man c h arac t e r mu s t b e ac c ompli s h ed to a v ery c ons id erabl e

,

d eg ree b e fore th ere c an be mu c h h op e of s u c c es s i n th e f u rth er

,

s t ag es o f S p i ri t u al l i f e Fi rs t th e p s y c h i c al and th en th e
.
,

spi rit u al Fi rs t the man t hen th e angel

.
, .

On t h i s b road h u m ane and wi s e found ati on d oes th e s y s

,

tem of P atanj ali rest .

41
 P A T A N J A L I S
’
YOGA SUTRAS

31 . Th e C ommand me nt s are not l i m i te d

t i me or ag e . T h e y are u ni v e rs al ; t h e y a re t h

C omma ndm ent s form the b road

The
hu manity Ea c h one of th em res t s on a
.

l aw . Ea c h one of th em exp res s es an att ribut e

S elf th e Et ernal ; wh en we vi olat e one o f th e Commandm
,

we s et ou rs elv es agai ns t th e la w and b ei ng of the Ete

th ereby b ri ngi ng ou rs elv es to i nevitabl e c onfu s i on S o th e .

s t ep s i n s pi ritu al li f e mu s t b e tak en by b ri ngi ng ou rs elv es

v olu nta ry obedi enc e to th es e s pi ritual law s and thu s ma ,

ou rs elv e s pa rt ak ers of th e s pi ritual p ow ers th e b ,

Et ernal Lik e th e law of g ravit y th e need o f ai r to b reat

.
,

th es e g reat law s know no e x cepti ons T h ey are i n f or ce i n .

la nd s th rough ou t all t im es for all m anki nd

, ,
.

32 . Th e Ru l es are t h es e ' p ur i t y s ere ni t y f ervent as p i

, ,

t i on, s p i ri tual re a d i ng , and p e rf ec t ob e d i e nc e t o t h e M as t e r

.

H ere we hav e a finer la w one whi c h huma nity as a wh ,

i s l es s ready for l es s fit to ob ey , Y et we c an s ee .

Rul es are th e s ame in es s enc e as the Comm andm ent s

high er m ore s pi ritu al pl ane The C omma ndm ent
, .

ob ey ed i n out er ac t s and ab s ti nenc es ; th e R u l es d em and ob ed

i c h ee o f th e h ea rt and s pi rit a far more aw ak ened and m ore,

p os itiv e c ons c i ou s ne s s The Ru l es are th e s pi ritual c ou nter

.

pa rt of th e C omm and m ent s ; and th ey th ems elv es hav e finer

d eg rees for m ore adv anc ed s pi ritual g rowth
, .

42
 BOOK II

33 . q
To c on uer t rans res s i ns , t h e g o we i h t g of g
th e i ma i na
ti on s h ou ld
b e t h row n on t h e o os i t e s i pp de .

Let u s t ak e a s i mpl e c a s e, that of a thi e f , a habitual c rim

i nal , who has d ri fte d i nt o s tealing i n c hild hood , b efore th e
m oral c ons c i ou sness h as awak ened W e may i mp ri s on s u c h .

a thi e f , and d ep riv e him o f all p os s ibility o f fu rth er th eft or ,

o f u s i ng th e divi ne gi ft o f will O r we may rec ogniz e h i s d i s

.

advantag es and h elp him g radu ally to b u ild u p p os s es s i ons

,

w h i ch exp res s h i s will and d raw forth h i s sel f res p ec t I f we

,
-
.

im agi ne t hat , after h e has b u ilt w ell , and h i s p os s es s i ons hav e

b ecome d ear to h im h e hi m s el f s h ould be robb ed , th en we c an
,

s ee h ow h e w ou ld c ome vividly to realiz e th e es s enc e o f th eft

and o f hones ty , and w ou ld c l eav e to h ones t d eali ng s wit h fi rm

c onvi c ti on I n s ome s u ch way d oes th e g reat L aw t eac h u s
. .

Ou r s orrow s and l os s es t eac h u s th e p ai n of th e s orrow and

l os s W e i nfli c t on oth ers and s o we c eas e to i nfli c t th em
,
.

N ow as to th e m ore di rec t appli c ati on To c onq u er a s i n, .

l et h eart and mi nd res t not on th e s i n, but on th e c ont rary

,

vi rt u e L et the S i n be forc ed out by p os itiv e g rowth i n th e

.

t ru e di rec ti on not by di rec t opp os iti on Tu rn aw ay f rom th e

w
.
,

S i n and go f or ard c ou rag eou s ly , c ons t ru c tiv ely , c reativ ely , in

w ell d oi ng I n thi s way th e wh ol e nat u re will g rad u ally be

-
.

d raw n u p to th e high er l ev el , on whi c h the S in d oes not ev en

ex i s t . The c onqu es t of a s i n i s a matt er o f g rowt h and ev ol u
ti on rath er than of Opp os iti on
, .
 ’
P A T A N J A L I S YOGA SUTRAS

34 . T ra ns g res s i o ns a re in ju y f lr ,
a s e h oo d ,

t i ne nc e , vy w h e t h e r c om mi tt e d or c au s e d or
en , , ,

t h rou g h g re e d w ra t h or i nf a t u a t i on ; w h e t h e r f ai nt o r m
, , ,

or exc e s s i v e ; b e ari ng e ndl es s f ru i t of i g nora nc e a nd p a i n .

f ore m u s t th e w e i g h t b e c as t on th e ot h er s i d e .

H ere are th e c a s es o f s i n '

u i nfatu ati o
greed w rath , ,

th ei r eff ec t s ignorance and p ai n Th e c au s es are to be c u red

,
.

y
by b ett er wi s d om b a t rue r u nd ers tandi ng o f th e elf , o f Li fe
,
S .

'or g reed c annot endu re b e fore th e realizati on t h at th e wh ol e

S
w orld b el ong s to the el f , whi c h el f we are ; nor c an we h old S
w rath agai ns t one who i s one with the el f , and th eref ore with S
ou rs elv es ; nor c an i nf at u ati on, whi c h i s th e s eeki ng fo r th e
h appi nes s o f th e A ll i n s om e limit ed p art of it , s u rviv e th e
k nowl edge t hat we are h ei rs o f th e A ll Th ere f ore l et th ought .

and im agi nati on, m i nd an d h eart , th row th ei r w eigh t on th

oth er S id e th e s id e, not o f th e w orld , but of th e elf S .

35 . W h ere non i nj u ry i s
z
p e rf ec t e d , al l e n mi t y c eas es in
p res e nc e of hi m w h o p os s es s es it .

We co me now to th e s
pi rit u al p ow ers whi c h res ult
k eepi ng th e C omma ndment s ; f rom the ob edi ence to s p
l aw w h i ch i s th e k eepi ng of th e C om m and m ent s .

h eart i s full o f ki ndnes s w h i c h s eek s no i nj u ry to an

i n ac t or t h ough t o r wi s h thi s fu ll l ov e c reat es an
,

o f h armony wh o s e b enign p ow e r t ou c h e s wit h h eali ng all

,

c om e wit h i n i ts i nfl u e nc e P eac e in th e h eart radi at es p ea

.

to ot h er h eart s ev en more s u rely t h an c ont enti on b reed s c on

,

t enti on .
 BOOK I I

36 . Wh ere t ru t h i s p erf ec t ed , it b ri ngs th e re ward of al l

H ere i s i mpli ed th e b eli e f th at all sa c rifi c ial rit es and ac t s

of w ors h ip win a nec es s ary rew ard f rom th e c el es tial p ow ers ;
and we are t old t h at h e wh o i s p erf ec t e d i n t ruth wi ns th e s e
reward s wit h ou t rit e s The p ow er of t ruth i n h i s s oul hi s
.
,

onenes s wit h th e t ru th and reality o f t h i ng s i s a s t rong i nev , ,

i tabl e forc e to w h i c h al l th i ng s res p ond as h e who h as f aith

, ,

c an rem ov e m ountai ns .

37 W h ere c es s at i on f rom th ef t i s p erfect ed

.
, al l treas u res
pre sent t h ems el ves t o h i m wh o p os s es s es i t .

H ere is a whi c h may wa rn u s that bes id e the

t
s en enc e ,

ou t er and app arent m eani ng t h ere i s in m any o f th es e sent enc es

,

a s ec ond and fi ne r s ig nifi c anc e Th e obvi ou s m ea ni ng i s th at

.
,

h e who h as wh oll y ceas ed f rom th e ft in ac t th ough t and wi s h , , ,

fin d s bu ri ed t reas u res i n h i s p ath t reas u res of j ew el s and gold

,

and p earl s .Th e d eep er t ru t h i s th at h e who in ev ery l eas t

,

thi ng i s wh olly h ones t wit h th e s pi rit of Li fe find s Lif e s up ,

porti ng him i n all th i ngs and gai ns admittanc e to th e tr eas u re

,

hou s e o f Lif e th e s pi ritu al u niv ers e

,
.

38 . 'or h i m wh o i s p erf ec t in c ont i ne nc e , th e re ward i s

or and vi ri l i ty .

Th e c reative p ow er, s t rong and fu ll of vigor, i s no l onger

s i p ated , b u t t u rned to s pi ritu al u s es I t uph old s and endow s .

c on f erri ng on h im th e c reativ e will th e ,

s pi rit u al c h ild ren i ns t ead of b odily p rog eny .

a new e oc h ,
p th at o f th e s pi ritu al man i s op ened The ol d ,
.

c reativ e p ow er i s s u p ers e d ed and t rans c end e d ; a new c reativ e

p ow er t h at o f th e s p i ritu al man t ake s i ts pl ac e c arryi ng with

, , ,

it th e p ow er to w ork c reativ ely i n oth ers for right eou snes s and
et ernal li f e .

45
 P A T A N J A L I S
’
YOGA S U TRAS

39 W h ere t h e re i s fi rm c onq u es t of c ove t ou s nes s

.
, he
h as c onq u e re d i t awak es t o t h e h ow a nd w h y of l i f e .

S o it i s s aid that , b e fore we c an und er s ta nd th e la w s

Karma we m u s t f ree ou rs elv es from K a rma The conqu es t
, .

c ov et o u s nes s b ri ng s thi s ri c h f ru it b ec au se th e root of c ov ,

o u s nes s i s th e d es i re o f th e i ndividu al s oul ,

manifes t ed li fe A nd wh ere th e d es i re of the
.

ov erc ome by th e s up erb , s till li f e o f t

u p i n th e h eart withi n th e g reat s ec ret i s di s c erned , th e sec ret
,

t hat the i ndividu al s oul i s not an i s olat ed r eality but th e ray , ,

th e m ani fes t i ns t rum ent o f the Lif e whi c h tu rns it thi s w ay ,

and th at u ntil th e g reat w ork i s a c c ompli s h ed th e age l ong ,

-

l es s on l earned Th u s i s th e how and why of lif e di s c l os ed by

.

c eas i ng from c ov eteou s nes s .

40 . T h rou h g p u i ty om
r c es a wi th d rawal f rom one s own ’

b od i ly l i f e , a ce a i ng f om i nf
s r at u at i on w i t h t h e b od i ly l i f e

ot h ers .

A s th e s pi rit u al light g row s i n the h ea rt within ,

t as t e for p u re Li fe g row s s t rong er the c on s c i ou s nes s ,

tow ard th e g reat , s ec ret pl ac es wit h i n wh ere al l lif e i s one,

wh ere al l liv es are one Th ereaft er, t h i s ou t er, mani fes t ed ,
.

fugitiv e li fe wh eth er of ou rs elv es or o f oth ers , l os es s om ethi ng

,

o f i ts c harm and gl am or, and we s eek rath er th e d eep i nfini

t u d es I ns t ead of th e ou t er f orm and s u rrou ndi ng s of ou r

.

liv es , we l ong for th ei r i nner and ev erla s ti ng es s enc e W e .

d es i re not s o mu ch ou t er c onv ers e and c l os enes s to ou r f ri end s ,

bu t rathe r th at qui et c om m u ni on wit h th em i n th e i nner c ham
b er o f the s oul wh ere s pi rit s p eak s to s pi rit , and s pi ri t a ns w ers ;
,

w here ali enati on and s ep arati on nev er ent er ; wh ere s i ck nes s

and s orrow and d eath c an not c om e .
 ’
P A T A N J A L I S YOGA SUTRAS

43 . Th e p erfec t i on of th ep owers of th e b od i ly
c om es t h rou g h t h e w eari n g aw ay of i mp u ri t i es a nd , t h rou
ferv ent as p i ra t i on .

T h i s i s tru e of the phy s i c al p ow er s and of th os e wh i ,

dw ell in th e hi ghef v es tur es Th ere mu s t b e fi rs t purity ; .

, ,

the bl ood mu s t be pu re b e f or e one c an attai n to p hy s i c al

,

Bu t ab s enc e o f impu rity i s not i n it s elf enough e l s e ,

m any nerv el es s asc eti c s of th e c l oi s t ers rank as high

T h ere i s need ed fu rth er a p os itiv e fi re o f th e will ; a kee
, ,

vig or for the phy s i c al p ow ers and s om ethi ng finer , ,

s t rong er but o f ki nd red es s enc e f o r the hig h er p ow ers

, ,
.

fi re o f geni u s i s s om et h i ng m ore tha n a ph ras e for t h ere ,

be no geniu s with out th e c el es ti al fi re of the awa k ened s p iri

44 . g p
T h rou h s i ri tu a re a i n , t h e i s c i l d g d pl e g ai ns c om m u ni on

d P
w i t h t h e i vi ne ow er on w h i c h h i s he art i s s et .

S pi rit u al di ng m ea nt for a nc i ent I ndi a s omethin

rea , ,

m ore th an it d oes with u s I t m ean t fi rs t the rec it al of s ac re

.
, ,

t ext s whi c h i n th ei r v ery s ound s h ad my s ti c al p ot enc i es ; and

, , ,

it m eant a rec it al o f t ext s whi c h w ere in th em selv es d iv i nel

em anat ed and h eld i n th em selv es th e livi ng p otent es s ene
, ,

th e divi ne .

'or u s s pi rit u al readi ng m eans a c ommu ni ng with

,

rec ord e d t eac h i ng s o f th e M as t e rs o f wi s d om

,

ou rs elv e s i nt o th e M as t er s mi nd j u s t as
’

c an ent er i nt o th e m i nd and s ou l o f

h as b een w ell s aid t h at al l t ru e art i s c ont agi on o f

t hat t h rou gh th e t ru e readi ng o f t ru e b ook s we d o i nd eed
ou rs elv es i nt o th e s pi rit o f th e M as t ers and s h are i n th e atm ,

s ph ere o f th ei r wi s d om and p ow er .
 BOOK II

45 . S ou l vi s i on
-
is p erf ec ted t h rou h g pe f r ec t o e b d i ence to
th e M as ter .

The w and d ark nes s o f lif e c ome of the erri ng p er

s orro

sonal will whi c h s et s it s elf agai ns t th e will of th e S oul th e one ,

at Lif e Th e e rr or o f th e p ers onal will i s i nevitabl e s i nc e

.
,

0 c h oos e to try and f ail and s o to find

, ,

and d ark nes s are i nevit abl e u ntil th e ,

p ers onal will m ad e onc e m ore one with

n it fi nd s res t and p ow er with out l os i ng ,

om I n ' i s will i s ou r p ea c e A nd with that p ea c e c om es

. .

t S oul vi s i on i s p erfec t ed through ob edi en c e

.
-
.

46 . Ri h t g p oi s e mu s t b e fi rm and wi th ou t s trai n.

H ere we pp roa c h a s ec ti on of th e t eachi ng w hi c h h as

a .

i festl y a two f old m eani ng The fi rs t i s phy s i c al and con

-

.
,

S th e b odily p os iti on of th e s tud ent and th e regul ati on of ,

thi ng T h es e th i ng s hav e th ei r di rec t i nflu enc e up on s oul

.

th e life o f th e s pi ri tu al man S i nc e it i s alw ay s and ev ery

,

t r ue that ou r s tu dy d em and s a s ou nd mind i n a s ou nd

Th e p res ent s ent enc e d ec l ares th at for w ork and for ,

ti on the p os iti on of th e b ody m u s t be s t eady and with

,

in ord er t h at th e finer c u rrent s oi li fe may run th eir

I t appli es fu rth er to th e p oi s e of th e s oul th at fine b alanc e ,

s t ability w h i c h nothi ng c an s h ak e wh er e th e c ons c i ou sness

,

s on th e fi rm fou nd ati on o f s pi ritu al b ei ng Thi s i s ind eed .

h ou s e s et u p on a roc k wh i c h th e wi nd s and w av es b eat

,

in v ai n .
 ’
P A T A N J A L I S YOGA SUTRAS

47 . g
Ri h t p oi s e i s to b e g ai ne d by t eady and
s t e mp e
e ffort , a nd by s e tt i ng t h e h ear t u p on th e ev e rl as t i ng .

H ere again th ere i s the tw ofold m ea ni ng for

, ,

p oi s e i s to be g ai ned by s t eady eff ort of the mu sc l es by ,

and wi s e t rai ni ng li nk ed with a right u nd ers tandi ng

,

rel ati on with th e u niv ers al f orc e o f g ravity

,
U p righ .

b ody d emand s t hat b oth th es e c on

I n lik e m anner th e firm and
man i s to be g ai ned by s t eady
guid ed by wi s d om and by s etti ng th e h ,

filling th e s oul with th e at mos ph ere of

N eith er i s e ff ec tiv e with out th e oth er .

e ffo rt b ri ng s w e ak ne s s ; e ff ort with ou t as pi rati on

s t ren t h
g n o t,
re s ti ng on end u ri ng t h i ng s T h e t .

m ak e for th e right p oi s e whi c h s et s th e s pi rit u al man

and s t eadf as tly on hi s f eet .

48 . Th e f ru i t of ri gh t p oi se i s th e s t re n gth to res i s t

s h oc k s of i nf a t u at i on or s orrow .

I n th e s i m pl er p h y s i c al s ense, whi c h i s al s o c ov ere d by

w ordi ng of th e o rigi nal , thi s s ent enc e m eans that wi s e
es t abli s h es s u c h b odily p o i se th at th e a c c id ent s o f thi ng s c

di s t u rb it as th e c aptai n remai ns s t eady , th ough di s a s t er

,

tak e hi s ship .

B ut th e d eep er s ens e i s far m ore irnp ortant The .

man too m u s t l earn to with s tand all s h ock s to , re mai n

t h rou gh th e p ert u rb ati ons of exte rnal t h ing s and th e s to
and whi rlwi nd s of th e p s y c hi c al w orld Thi s i s the po .

whi c h i s gai ned by wi s e c onti nu ou s eff ort and by filli ng

, ,

s pi rit with th e atm os ph ere o f th e E t ernal .

 BOOK II

49 . Wh e n th i s i s g d th ere f oll ows t h e ri gh t

ai ne , g idu a nc e

of th e l i f e = c u rre nts , the c ont rol of t h e i nc om i ng and o tgu oi ng

breath .

It is
w ell d t d un t hat mos t of ou r mal adi es
e rs oo to d ay
-

come f rom i mpu re c o nditi ons o f th e bl oo d I t i s c omi ng to .

be u nd ers t oo d t h at ri gh t b reath i ng right oxyg enati on will d o , ,

v ery mu c h to k eep the bl oo d c l ean and p u re Th ere fore a right .

knowl edg e o f b reat h i ng i s a p art o f the s c i enc e of lif e .

B ut the d eep er meaning i s th at th e s pi rit u al man wh en , ,

he has g ai ned p oi s e t h rou g h ri ght eff ort and as pi rati on c an ,

st and fi rm and guid e th e c u rrent s o f hi s lif e b ot h th e i nc omi ng ,

c u rrent o f ev ent s and th e ou tg oi ng c u rrent o f h i s ac t s

,
.

E x ac tly th e s ame s y mb oli s m i s u s ed i n th e s ayi ng ' N ot

w h i c h goet h i nto th e mou th d efil eth a man ; but th at w hi c h
eth o u t o f th e m ou t h th i s d efi l eth a m an ,
Th os e .

w h i c h p roc eed ou t of th e m outh c om e f orth f rom th e

ou t o f th e h eart p rocee d ev i l t h ou gh t s m u rd ers , ,

c anne s s t h e ft s f al s e witnes s bl as ph emi es Th erefore th e

, , ,
.

t s t ep in p u ri fi c ati on i s to k eep the C om mandm ent s .

50. Th e l i f e = c u rre nt i s e i t h er ou t war d , or i nward , or b al

d; it is re g l
u at e d ac c or d i ng to pl ac e , t i me , nu m b er ; it is
l ong or s h ort .

he t ec hni c al p h y s i c al S id e o f thi s h as i ts v al u e I n th e
, .

t here s hou ld be righ t i nb reath i ng foll owe d by th e ,

o f p au s e w h en th e ai r c omes i nto c ont ac t with th e

,

and t h i s ag ai n f oll ow e d by righ t ou tb reathi ng ev en , ,

S i l ent F u rt h er th e l ung s Sho u ld b e ev enly fill ed ;

.
,

mal adi es m ay ari s e f rom th e negl ec t and c ons equ ent

o f s ome regi on o f th e lu ng s A nd th e numb er of .

s o i mp ort ant s o c l os ely rel at ed to h ealth th at ev ery

, ,

it .

But th e d eep er m eani ng i s c onc erned with th e c u rrent s of

with th at whi ch goeth i nt o, and c om eth out of the h ea rt .
 P A T A N J
’
A L I S YOGA SU TRAS

51 . Th e fou rt h d eg ree is c onc erne d wi th e xternal and

t e rna l ob j ec ts .

The traditi onal i nte rp retati on of thi s i s tha t ,

with the relati on o f the br ea t h to c ertain c ent ers

whi c h v forc es rela t ed to exc ep ti onal
are ner e -

and the c omm ent at ors d etail th e

Th e i nner m ea ni ng s eem s
th ree d eg rees of c ont rol al ready d es c ri b ed c ont rol , ,

th e inc omi ng c u rrent of li fe ov er th e out goi ng ,

ov er th e c onditi on of pau s e or q u i es enc e t h er e ,

d eg ree of c ont rol whi c h h old s i n c om p l ete ma s t ery b o

,

ou t e r pa s s age o f ev ent s and th e i nner c urr ent s o f th ou gh

emoti ons ; a c onditi on o f p erf ec t p oi s e and s ta b ili t y in th e

o f th e flux o f thi ng s o utwa rd and inwa rd .

52 . T h ere by i s w orn awa y th e vei l wh i c h c o e rs v up

The v eil i s th e p s y chi c na t u re th e web of em oti ons ,

, d es i
argu mentativ e t rai ns o f th o ught whi c h c ove r up and ,

the t ruth by ab s orbi ng the enti re att enti on and k eepi ng

s c i ou s ne s s i n th e p s y c hi c realm .

reck one d at t h e i r t ru e w orth in ,

s e s s i ons o f th e S ou l ; wh en th e o

c eas e d to di s t ra c t u s f rom i nner real

th ought no l ong er entangl es u s b ut yi eld s i ,

i nt u iti on the c ertai nty wh i c h s p ring s f rom within th en i s

, ,

v eil w orn aw ay th e c ons c i ou s nes s i s d rawn f rom the p sy c h

,

to th e s pi ritu al f rom th e t em p oral to th e Et ernal

, Th en i s .

ligh t u nv eil ed .
 BOOK II

53 . T h enc e c omes th e mi nd ’
s p ower ld
to h o i ts e lf i n th e
li gh t .

I t has been w ell s aid that what we m os t need i s th e fac ulty

,

of s pi ritual att enti on ; and i n th e s am e di rec ti on o f th ought it

,

has b een el oqu ently d ec la re d that p ray er d oes not c ons i s t i n

r c at c hing God s att enti on but rath er i n ou r all owi ng Go d
’

h old ou r a t t enti on .

The vital m att er i s t h at we need to di s ent angl e ou r c on

,

sc i ou s nes s f rom th e n oi s y and p ertu rb ed th ral dom of th e

s y c h i cal and to c om e to c ons c i ou s nes s as th e s pi ritu al man
,
.

i s we mu s t d o fi rs t by pu rifi c ati on thr ough th e C om mand

, ,

ment s and th e Ru l es ; and s ec ond t h rough th e fac ulty of

,

, ,

att enti on by s t eadily h eedi ng endl es s fi ne i nti mati ons

,

p i ri t u a l p ow e r wit h i n u s an d by i nt en di ng,
ou r c on
thu s by d eg rees t ra ns f erri ng th e c enter of
SS from th e p s y c hi c al to th e s pi itu al I t i s a qu es
r ~ .

fi rs t , l ov e an d th en of att ent i on
, .

53
 P A T A N J A L I S
’
YOGA SUTRAS

54 . Th e ri g h t W i th d ra wa l i s t h e d i s engagi ng of th e
f rom en an t gl e m ent i n ou e r t t hi n g s , a nd t h ei r ret u rn t o th e q
of c ons c i ou s nes s .

To u nd ers t and thi s l et u s rev ers e th e pr oc es s , and

,

o f th e one c ons c i ou s nes s , c ent ere d i n th e S oul , g radual '

p andi ng and t aki ng on th e f orm of th e di ff e rent

p ow ers ; th e one will at th e s am e ti me, di ff erentiati ng
,

i nto th e v ari ed p ow ers of ac ti on .

N ow l et u s i magi ne thi s to be rev ers e d , S o that the s p 1

forc e whi ch h as g one into the di ff er enti at ed p ow ers i s
, ,

m ore g ath ered t og et h er i nt o th e i nn er p ow er of i ntuiti on

S pi ritu al will , t aki ng on that u nity whi c h i s th e hall ma rk -

s pi rit u al thi ng s as div e rs ity i s th e s eal of mat eri al thi ng s

, .

I t i s al l a matt er o f l ov e for th e qu ality o f s pi ritual c

s c i ou s nes s as agai ns t p s y c hi c al c on s c i ou s nes s , o f l ov e and
,

t enti on 'or wh ere th e h eart i s th ere will th e t rea s u re be al

.
,

wh ere th e c ons c i ou s nes s i s th ere will the v es tu re with ,

p ow ers be d ev el op ed .

55 . T h e re u p on f oll ows p erf e c t mas te ry v er

o th e p ow e
Wh en th e S pi ritu al c onditi on whi ch we h av e d es c ri b ed
reac h e d with i ts p u rity p oi s e and ill u mi nat ed
, , ,

s pi rit u al man i s c om i ng i nt o h i s i nh erita nc e and g ,

p l ete m as t e ry o f h i s p ow ers .

I nd eed m u c h of th e st ruggl e to k
and th e R u l e s h as b een p avi ng th e
,

t h rou gh th i s v ery s t ru ggl e and s ac rific e

p os s ibl e ; j u s t as to u s e S ai nt P au l s s i m il e th e
,
’

th e mas t ery in th e c ont es t and th e rac e th rou gh th e S ,

o f h i s l ong and ardu ou s t rai nin g Thu s h e gai ns the .

 P A TA N J A L I S
’
YOGA SU TRAS

The pi ritual p ow er s th er e for e are th e p ow ers of the

s , ,

g rown and lib erat ed s pi ri t ual man Th ey c an only be d ev el op ed

.

and u s ed as th e s pi ritual man g row s and attai ns liberati on

th rough ob edi enc e Th i s i s th e fi rs t thi ng to b e k ept i n mi nd
.
,

i n all t h at i s s aid of s pi ritual p ow ers i n th e t h ird and four th

b ook s of the S u t ras The s ec ond thi ng to be u nder s t oo d and
.

k ept i n mind i s th i s '

J u s t as o u r m od ern s ag es hav e di s c e rn e d and taught tha t
all matt er i s u lti mat ely one and et er nal d efi nit ely rela t ed ,

th rough ou t the wh ol e wid e u nive rs e ; j u s t as th ey hav e d i s

c ern ed and taught th at all f orc e i s one and et e rnal s o co ,

ordi nat ed th rough out th e wh ol e u niv ers e t hat w hat ev er a ff ec t s

any at om m eas u rably aff ec t s th e wh ol e bou ndl es s realm o f mat
ter and f orc e to th e m os t di s t ant s t a r or neb u la on th e dim c on
fi nes of S pa ce ; s o the a nc i ent s ag es had di s cern ed and tau ght
th at al l c onsc i ou snes s i s one imm o rtal i ndivi s ibl e i nfinit e ; s o
, , ,

finely c orrel ate d and c onti nu ou s t hat what ev er i s p erc eiv e d b y

any c ons c i ou s nes s i s wh et h er a c tu ally o r p ot entially withi n th e
, ,

reac h o f all c ons c i ou s nes s and t h ere fo re withi n th e rea c h of

,

any c ons c i o u s nes s Thi s h as b een w ell expres s ed b y s ayi ng

.

th at al l s ou l s are fu ndam ent ally one with th e O v er s oul ; that

th e S on of God and all S ons o f God are fu ndam entally one ,

with th e Fath er Wh en th e c ons c i ou s nes s i s c le a red of p s y c hi c

.

b ond s and v eil s wh en th e s p i ritual man i s abl e to s tand to s ee

, , ,

th en th i S S u p erb law c om es i nt o eff ec t ' what ev er i s withi n th e

'

k nowle dge of any c ons c i ou s nes s and thi s i nc lud es th e w h ol e

,

i nfi nit e u niv ers e i s withi n h i s rea c h and may i f h e w ill s be

, , , ,

mad e a p art of h i s c ons c i ou snes s Th i s h e may attai n th rough

.

h i s fu ndam ental u nity with th e O v e rs ou l by rai s i ng him s elf ,

t ow ard th e c onsc i ou s nes s ab ov e h i m and d rawi ng on it s re ,

s ourc es . The S on i f he w ould w ork mi rac l es w h eth er of p er

, ,

c epti on or of a c ti on mu s t c om e oft en i nt o th e p re s enc e o f the

,

Fath er Thi s i s the bi rth right o f the s pi ritual man ; th rough

.

it h e c om es int o p osses s ion of h i s s pl endid an d immortal

,

p ow ers .

L et i t be c l ea rly k ep t in mind tha t what i s h ere to be

r elat ed of the s pi ritual man and h i s ex alt ed p ow ers mu st in
, ,

56
 BOOK III

no wi s e be d et ac h ed f rom wh at has gon e b e f ore The b ei ng .

,

th e v ery i nc epti on o f the s pi ritu al man d ep end s on th e p u rifi

,

c ati on and m oral att ai nm ent al ready d eta i l ed and c an i n no ,

wi s e di s p ens e with t h es e or c u rtail t hem .

Let no one im agine t h at th e t ru e li fe the t ru e p ow ers of ,

the s pi ritu al man c an b e attai ned by any way ex c ept the ha rd

,

way o f s ac rifi c e o f t rial o f renu nc iati on o f s elfl es s s elf c on

, , ,
-

q u es t and g enu i ne d evoti on to th e w eal of all oth ers O nly .

t hu s c an th e gold en gat es be reac h ed and ent ered O nly thu s .

c an we att ai n to t h at pu re w orld wh erei n th e s pi ritu al man

,

liv es and mov es and has h i s b ei ng N othi ng i mpu re nothi ng

, , .
,

u nh oly c an ev er c ros s th at t h res h old l eas t of all i mpu re m otiv es

,

or s elf S eeki ng d es i res

-
T h es e m u s t be burnt away b efore an
.
,

entr anc e to th at w o rld c an b e g ai ne d .

B ut w h ere th ere i s light th ere i s S h adow ; and th e l ofty

light of th e s oul c as t s up on th e c lou d s of th e mi d w orld th e
,

S had ow of the s pi rit u al man and of h i s p ow ers ; th e b as tard

v estu re and th e b as t ard p ow ers o f p sy c hi s m are ea s ily attai ned ;
y et ,
e v en wh en att ai ne d th e
, y are a d elu s i on th e v e ry es s enc,
e

of u nreality .

T here fore p onder w ell the ea rli er r u l es and lay a fi rm ,

fou nd ati on of c ou rage s ac rifi c e s elfl es s nes s h oli nes s

, , , .

52
 BOO ' III .

1 . b i nd i ng of th e p erc ei vi ng c ons c i ou s nes s to a c ertai n

Th e
reg i on i s A t t e nt i on ( d h a ra na) .

E mers on qu ot es S i r I s aac N ewton as s ayi ng th at he made -

h i s g reat di s c ov eri es by i nt ending hi s mi nd on th em Th at i s

.

w hat i s m eant h ere I read th e pag e of a b ook whil e thi nki ng

.

of s om ethi ng el se . A t th e end of th e p ag e I hav e no id ea of

,

w hat it i s ab ou t and read it agai n s till th i nking o f s ometh ing

, ,

el s e wit h th e s am e res ult

, .Th en I w ak e up s o to s p eak m ak e
, ,

an eff ort o f att enti on fix my th ought on wh at I am readi ng

, ,

and eas i ly tak e in i ts m eani ng Th e ac t of will th e eff ort o f

.
,
'

att enti on th e i nt endi ng of th e mi nd on eac h word and l i ne o f

,

the p ag e j u s t as th e ey es are foc u s s ed on eac h w ord and li ne

, ,

i s th e p ow er h ere c ont empl at ed I t i s the p ow er to foc u s th e

.

c onsc io u s nes s o n a giv en s p ot and h old it th ere

,
A tt enti on i s
.

th e fi rs t and i nd i s p ens abl e s t ep i n all k nowl edge A tt enti on to

.

S pi ritual thi ngs i s the fi rs t s t ep to s pi ritu al k now l edge .

59
 ’
P A T A N J A L I S YOGA SUTRAS

2 . A
p rol onge d h old i ng of th e p erc ei vi ng c ons c i ous nes s i n
t h at re g i on i s C ont e m pl at i on ( d h y a na) .

Thi s will apply equ ally to out er and i nn er thi ng s I may .

for a mom ent fix my att enti on on s om e vi s ibl e ob j ec t in a ,

s i ngl e p enet rati ng g l anc e o r I m ay h old th e att enti on fix edly

,

on it u ntil it rev eal s far m or e o f it s natur e tha n a S i ngl e glanc e

co uld p erc eiv e Th e fi rs t i s the foc u s s i ng o f th e s ea rc hli gh t
.

o f c ons c i ou s nes s up on th e ob j ec t The oth er i s th e h oldin g of

.

th e whit e b ea m of light st eadily and p ers i s t ently on th e obj ec t ,

u ntil it yi eld s u p the S ec ret o f i ts d etail s S o for thi ng s withi n ; .

one m ay fix th e i nner gla nc e fo r a m om ent on s pi ritu al thi ng s ,

or one may h old th e c ons c i ou s nes s s t eadily up on th em u ntil ,

wh at was i n th e da rk s l owly c om es f orth i nt o the light and ,

yi el d s up i ts imm ortal s ec ret B ut t h i s i s p os s ibl e only for the

.

s pi ritual man aft er th e c om m and ment s and th e rul es hav e b een

,

k ept ; for u ntil thi s i s d one th e th rongi ng s t orm s of p s y c hi c al

,

th ought s di s s ipat e and di s t ra c t th e att enti on s o that it w ill not ,

remai n fix ed on S pi ritual t h i ng s Th e c a res o f thi s w orld th e

.
,

d ec ei t ful nes s of ri c h es c h ok e the wo rd of th e s pi ritual m es s a ge

, .

3 .W h e n th e p erc ei vi ng c ons c i ous nes s i n t h i s c ontempl a ,

=

t i on i s w h olly g i ve n t o i ll u mi nat i ng t h e e s s ent i a l meani ng of t h e

,

o b j ec t c ont e m p l at e d a nd i s f ree d f rom t h e s e ns e of s ep a rat e ne s s

a nd p e rs onal i ty t h i s i s M e d i tat i on ( s am
,

, a d hi ) .

Let u s revi ew th e s t ep s s o far t ak en Fi rst th e b eam of .

,

p erc eivi ng c ons c i ou s nes s i s f oc u ss ed on a c ertai n regi on or s ub

et t h rough the eff o rt o f a tt enti on Th en thi s att endi ng c on
j c , .

s c i ou s nes s i s h eld on i ts ob j ec t Thi rdly th ere 1 S th e a rd ent w ill

.
,

to k now i ts m eani ng to i llumi ne i t w ith c omp reh endi ng

,

th ou gh t Fou rt hly all p ers onal bia s all d es ir e m er ely to i n

.
, ,

d ors e a pr evi ou s Opi ni on and s o p rov e on es el f right and all ,

d es i re for p ers onal p rofit or g ratifi c ati on mu s t be quit e pu t

away Th ere mu s t be a p u rely di s i nt eres t ed l ov e of tru th for
.

i ts own s a k e Thu s 1 S the p erc eivi ng c ons c i ou s nes s mad e v oid

.
,

as it w ere o f all p ers onality o r s ens e o f s epa rat ene s The

,
s .

p er s onal li m itati on s t a nd s a s id e and l et s the A ll c ons c i ou sn es s -

c om e to b ea r up on th e p robl eni
,

The O v ers oul b end s i ts ray

.

up on th e ob j ec t and illumi nes it w ith pu re light

, .

60
 BOOK III

4 W h e n t h es e
. t h ree , Att en t i on C ontempl ati on M e d i ta
, ,

t i on, a re exe rc i s e d at onc e , th i s is p e rf ect ly c onc entrate d M e d i a

tat i on ( s any am a) .

Wh en th e p ers onal li mitati on of th e p erc eivi ng c on s c iou s

nes s s t and s as id e and all ow s th e A ll c ons c i o u s to c ome to b ear
,
-

u p on th e p robl em t hen ari s es t h at real kn owl edg e whi c h i s

,

c all ed a fl as h o f g eni u s ; t h at real k nowl edg e whi c h m ak es di s

c ov eri es and wit h ou t whi c h no di s c ov ery c an be m ad e ho w

, ,

ev e r p ai ns t aki ng th e eff ort 'or geni u s i s th e vi s i on of th e

.

S pi ritu al man and th at vi s i on i s a q u es ti on of growth r ath er

,

th an p res ent eff o rt ; t h ough righ t eff o rt rig h c ont i nu e d , ,

will in ti me i nfallibly l ead to g rowth and vi s i Th rough the

p ow er thu s to s et as id e p ers onal li mit ati on to pu s h a s id e p etty ,

c onc e rns and c ares and s t eady th e w h ol e natu re and will i n

,

an ard ent l ov e o f t ru t h an d d es i re to k now it ; th rough th e

p ow er th u s to m ak e way for the A ll consc 1ou s nes s all great -

men m ak e th ei r di s cov eri es N ewton watc hi ng th e appl e fall .

,

to th e eart h w as abl e to l ook b ey ond to s ee th e s ubtl e wav es

, ,

o f f orc e p u l s ati ng t h rou gh appl e s and w orld s and s u ns and

gal ax i es and th u s to p erc eiv e u niv ers al g ravit ati on Th e O v er
, .

s ou l l ooki ng th rou gh hi s ey es rec ogniz ed th e u niv ers al forc e

, , ,

one o f i ts own c h ild ren D arwi n w at c hi ng th e f orm s and

.
,

m oti ons o f pl ant s and animal s l et th e s ame augu s t c ons c i ou s ,

nes s c om e to b ear on t h em and s aw i nfinite g rowth p erf ec t ed ,

th rou gh c eas el es s s t ru ggl e ' e p erc eiv ed th e s u p erb p roc es s

.

of ev ol u ti on th e O v ers ou l onc e m ore rec ognizi ng it s own

, .

F rau nho f er noti ng th e d ark l i nes in th e b and of s unlight i n

,

h i s S p ec t ros c op e d i vi ne d t hei r id entity with th e b righ t li nes in

,

th e s p ec t ra o f i nc and es c ent i ron s odiu m and th e res t and s o , ,

s aw th e onenes s o f s u b s t anc e in th e w o rld s and s u ns th e unity ,

of th e mat eri al s o f th e u niv ers e O nc e again th e O v er soul .

, ,

l ooki ng with h i s eyes rec ogniz ed i ts own S o i t i s with all, .

t ru e k nowl edg e B ut th e mi nd mu s t t rans cend its limitati ons

.
,

i ts idi os ync rac i es th ere m u s t be pu rity for to the pu re i n h eart ,

i s th e p romi s e th at th ey S hall s ee God

, .

61
 ’
P A T A N J A L I S YOGA SUTRAS

5 . By g
m as t e ri n t h i s p erf ec t ly c onc e nt rat e d M e d i tat i on ,

t h e re c om es t h e i ll u m i nat i on of t h e p e rc e i v i ng c ons c i ou s ne s s .

Th e m eani ng of thi s i s ill u s t rat ed by wh at h as b een s aid

b efore Wh en th e s pi ritu al man i s abl e to th row a s id e th e t ram
.

m el S o f emoti onal and m ent al li m itati on and to Op en hi s ey es ,

,

h e s ees c l early h e attai ns to illu mi nat e d p ercepti on

, A p oet .

onc e s aid th at O c c u lti s m i s th e c ons c i ou s c ultiv ati on o f g eniu s ;

and it i s c ert ai n th at th e awak ened s pi ritual m an attains to th e
p erc epti ons of g eni u s G eni u s i s th e vi s i on, th e p ow er o f th e
.
,

S pi rit u al m an wh eth e r i ts p os s es s or rec ogniz es thi s or not

, .

A ll t ru e k nowl edg e i s of th e s pi ritu al man The g reat es t in all .

.

ag es h av e rec og niz ed thi s and put th e i r t es tim ony on rec o rd .

Th e g reat in wi s d om who h av e not c ons c i ou s ly rec ogniz e d i t ,

h av e ev en been f u ll of th e S pi rit of rev erenc e of s elfl es s d ev o ,

ti on to t ru th o f h u mility as was Da rwi n ; and rev erenc e and

, ,

h u mility are th e u nc ons c i ou s rec og niti on o f th e nea rnes s of the

S pi rit th at Divinity whi ch b rood s ov er
,
us, a M a st er ’
o er a
s lave .

62
 P A T A N J A L I S
’
YOGA SUTRAS

7 . Th i s t h re e o f ld p ow er , of Att enti on, Contemp l ati on ,

M ed i t ati on , i s more i nt e ri or t h an th e means of growth p revi ous ly

d es c ri b e d .

V ery b ec au s e the m ean s of g row th prev

natu rally s o ;
i ou s l y d e s c rib ed w er e c once rned with th e ext ri c ati on of the
s pi ritu al man f ro m p s y c hi c b ondag es and v eil s ; whil e

th ree fold p ow er i s to b e ex erc i s ed by th e s p i ritu al man

ext ri c at ed and s t andi ng on h i s f eet vi ewin g lif e with op en ,

8 . Bu t t h i s t ri ad i s s ti ll exteri or to t h e s oul vi s i on wh
is u nc on d i t i oned f ree f rom , th e s e e d of menta l a naly s i s .

Th e thi s ' The t h reef old p ow er we hav e

re s on a is
c ons id eri ng th e t ri ad o f A tt enti on C ont em p l at i on
, M edi , ,

i s s o far as we hav e
,

b ea m o f p erc
i ng b ei ng with a vi ew of u nd er s ta nding it c ompl et ely
,
Th ere .

i s a high er s tag e wh ere th e b eam of c onsc i ou s n es s i s tu rn ed

,

ba c k u p on it s elf and th e i ndividual c ons c i ou sn es s enters int o

, ,

and k now s th e A ll c ons c i ou s nes s

,
Thi s i s a b ei ng a b ein g in
—
.
,

im mort ality rat h er than a k nowi ng ; it i s f ree f rom m ental

'

analy s i s or ment al f orm s I t i s not an ac tivity o f the high er.

mi nd ev en the m i nd o f th e S pi ritu al man I t i s an ac tivi ty of

, .

th e s ou l 'ad N ewt on ri s en to th i s high er s ta ge he w ould

.
,

hav e k now n not th e l aw s o f moti on but th at high B ei ng f rom

, , ,

w hose L i fe c omes et ernal m oti on Had Da rwin ri s en to thi s .

,

h e w ou l d hav e s een th e S ou l w h os e g raduat ed th ought and ,

b ei ng all ev oluti on exp res s es Th ere are th erefore th es e two .

, ,

p erc epti ons 't hat of livi ng th i ngs and that o f the Li f e ; tha t of ,

th e S ou l s w ork s and that of th e S oul i t s elf

’

, .
 BOOK III

One of d i ng d egrees i s th e d evel op ment of

the as c e n

I . F i rs t th e re i s th e overc omi ng of th e mi nd i mp res s of -

exc i ta t i on T h e n c omes t h e mani f e s tat i on of t h e mi nd i mp res s

.
-

of C o nt rol T h e n t h e p e rc e i vi ng c ons c i ou s nes s f oll ows af ter th e

.

mome nt of C ont rol T h i s i s t h e d eve l op ment of C ont rol

. .

Thi s i s a di ffi c ult s ent enc e I ts m ea ning s eem s to be thi s ' .

S ome obj ec t enters the fi eld of ob s erv ati on and at fi rs t ,

vi ol ently exc it es th e mi nd s ti rri ng up c u ri os ity fea r w ond er ;

, , ,

then the c onsc i ou snes s retu rns up on it sel f as it w ere and tak es , ,

the p erc epti on fi rml y i n h and s t eadyi ng it s elf and vi ew i ng the , ,

matt er c al m ly f rom ab ov e T h i s s t eadying eff ort of th e will

.

up on th e p erc eiving c ons c i ou s ne ss i s C ont rol and imm ediat ely ,

up on it f oll ow s p erc epti on u nd ers t andi ng i ns ight

, ,
.

T ak e a t rit e exampl e S u pp os i ng one i s walking in an

.

Indi an fores t A c h argi ng el eph ant s udd enly ap pea rs The

.
-

man i s ex c it ed by a s t oni s h m ent and p erh ap s terror Bu t he , , ,

.

ex erc i ses an effort of will p erc eiv es the s it u ati on i n its t ru e

,

b eari ng s and rec ogniz es th at a c ert ai n th i ng m u s t be done ;

,

in thi s c as e p rob ably th at h e mu s t get ou t of th e way as

, ,

qu i ckly as p os s ibl e .

O r a c omet u nh erald ed app ea rs in the S ky like a flami ng

, ,

s w ord . Th e b eh old e r i s at fi rs t a s t oni s h e d p erh ap s t error ,

s t ri c k en ; b u t h e t ak es h i ms e lf i n h and c ont rol s hi s t h ou gh t s , ,

vi ew s th e app ariti on c al m ly and fin ally c al c u lat es its orbit and

,

its rel at i on to me t eor s how ers .

T hes e are ext reme ill u s t rati ons ; but with all kno wl ed ge
the ord er o f p erc epti on i s th e s am e ' fi rs t th e ex c it ati on o f th e ,

mi nd b y th e new obj ec t i mp res s ed on it ; th en the c ont rol of th e

mi nd f rom wit h i n ; u p on whi c h foll ow s th e p erc epti on of th e
nat u re o f th e obj ec W h ere th e ey es o f the s pi ritu al man are
t .

op en t h i s will be a t ru e and p enet rati ng s pi ritu al p erc epti on

, .

I n s ome s u c h way d o ou r livi ng exp eri enc es c om e to u s ; fi f st ,

with a s h oc k of p ai n ; t hen th e S oul s t eadi es it s elf and c ontrol s

the p ai n ; th en th e s pi rit p erc eiv es th e l es s on of th e ev ent and ,

its b ea ri ng up on the p rog res s iv e rev elati on of life .

 P A T A N J A L I S
’
YOGA SUTRAS

1 0. T h rou h g
f req u ent re p eti ti on of th i s p roc es s th e mi ,

b ec ome s h ab i t u a t e d t o i t a nd t h ere ari s es an e q u abl e fl ow

,

p erc ei vi ng c ons c i ou s nes s .

C ont rol o f th emi nd by th e S oul lik e c ont rol of the mu ,

by the mi nd , c om es b y p rac ti c e and c ons ta nt v olu nta ry re

,

ti on.

As xampl e of c ont rol of th e mu s c l es b y th e mind

an e ,

th e cea s el ess p rac t i c e by whi c h a m u s i c i an gai ns ma s t ery

h i s i ns t rum ent or a f enc er gai ns s kill with a rapi er I nnu
, .

abl e s m al l e ff ort s of att enti on will mak e a

w ell nig h mi ra c u l ou s ; whi c h for th e nov
-

u l ou s . Th en c ons id er th at far m ore

p erc eivi ng m i nd pl ay ed on by tha ,

H ere agai n i nnu m erabl e s mall eff ort s of att enti on w

,

mu l ate i nt o m as t ery and a m as t ery w orth w i nni ng , .

c onc ret e ex ampl e t ak e th e g rad u al c onqu es t of ea c h day

, ,

e ff ort to liv e t h at d ay for th e S oul To him that i s faith .

u nt o d eath th e M a s t er giv es th e c row n of li fe

, .

1 1 . Th e g d al
ra u c on q u es t of th e m i nd s
’
t en d enc y to
f rom o ne ob j e c t to a not h e r and th e , p ower of one= p oi nte d n
ma k e th e d evel op ment of M e d i tat i on .

AS ill u s t rati on o f th e m i nd s t end enc y to flit fr om

an
’

obj ec t to anoth e r t ak e a s m all bo l earni ng a rithm eti c

y , ,
.

b egi ns ' two ones are two ; th ree ones are th ree and —

thi nk s of th ree c oi ns i n hi s p oc k et whi c h will p u rch a s e ,

c and y i n th e s t ore d ow n th e s t reet next to th e

, ,

are b as e b all s m arbl e s and s o on

-

, and th en ,
—

with a j erk to f ou r ones ar ,

s eeki ng th e m eani ng o f ou r

o f a m om ent o f S l ac k ene d att enti on an ,

ol ou S d etail to anoth er till we s udd en ,

ou s nes s aft e r t rav ers i ng l eag u e s o f S p

c onqu er thi s and to go b ack withi n o u rs elv es i nt o th e b
,

p erc eivi ng c onsc i ou s nes s it s elf w h i ch i s a b eam o f th e O ,

s ou l. T h i s i s th e t ru e one p oi nt ed nes s th e b ri ngi ng of on -

c ons c i ou s n es s to a f oc u s i n th e S oul .

66
 BOOK III

1 2 Wh en f oll owi ng thi s th e c ontroll e d mani f old tend enc y

.
, ,

and t h e arous e d one p oi nt e d nes s are e q u a lly b al anc e d p arts of

=

t h e p e rc e i vi ng c ons c i ou s ne s s t h i s i s t h e d ev e l op me nt of one
,

p oi nted nes s .

Thi s w ould seem to m ean th at th e i ns igh t whi c h i s c all ed

one p oi nt ed ness h as two s id es eq u ally bal anc e d
—
Th ere i s fi rs t
, .
,

th e mani fold as p ec t o f any obj ec t th e s u m o f all i ts c h arac ,

teri s ti c s and p rop erti es T h i s i s to be h eld fi rmly in th e mind

. .

Th en t here i s the p erc epti on of th e obj ec t as a u nity as a ,

whol e the p ercepti on of its es s enc e Fi rs t th e d et ail s mu s t be

, .
,

c l early p erc e iv e d ; t h en th e es s enc e mu s t be c omp reh end ed .

When the two p roces s es are equ ally b ala nc ed th e t ru e one ,

p oi nt ednes s i s att ai ne d Ev eryt h i ng has th es e two S id es th e

.
,

s id e o f di fferenc e and th e s id e o f u ni ty ; th ere i s th e i ndividu al

th ere i s the genu s ; th e p ol e of m att er and di v ers ity and ,

p ol e of onenes s and spi rit To s ee th e obj ec t t ruly we .

,

u s t s ee b oth .

1 3 . g
T h rou h t h i s , t h e i nh ere nt c h arac t er, d i s ti nc ti ve marks
d c on d i ti ons of b e i ng and p owe rs , ac c or d i ng t o t h e i r d eve l op
t, a re ma d e c l e ar .

B y th e p ow er d efined i n the p rec edi ng s ut ra th e i nh erent ,

c harac t er di sti nc tiv e mark s and c onditi ons of b ei ng s and

,

p ow ers are mad e c l ear 'or t h rough th i s p ow er as d efi ned

.
, ,

we g et a tw o f old vi ew o f eac h obj ec t s eei ng at onc e al l i ts in ,

divid u al ch arac t eri s ti c s and i ts es senti al ch arac t er s p ec i es and ,

genu s ; we s ee it i n rel ati on to it s el f and i n rel ati on to th e ,

Et ernal T h u s we s ee a ro s e as t hat p arti c u l ar fl ow er with i ts

.
,

c ol or and s c ent i ts p ec u li ar f old of eac h p et al ; b u t we al s o s ee

,

i n it th e s p ec i e s th e f am ily to whi ch it b el ong s with i ts rel ati on

, ,

to all pl ant s to al l lif e to Lif e it s el f

,
S o i n any d ay we s ee
,
.
,

ev ent s and c i rc u m s t anc es 'we al s o s ee i n it the l es s on s et for

the s ou l bv th e E t ernal .
 P A T A N J A L I S
’
YOGA SUTRAS

1 4 . Eve ry o bj ec t h as i ts c h a rac teri s ti c s whi c h l

a re a rea dy
q u i es c e nt , t h os e wh i c h are ac t i ve , and t h os e whi c h are not y et
d efi nab l e .

Ev ery ob j ec t has c hara c t eri s ti c s b el ongin g to i ts p a s t its ,

p res ent and i ts futu re I n a fi r tree for exampl e th ere are the
.
, ,

s tump s or s c ar s of d ead b ran c h e s whi c h once represen t ed its ,

foremos t g rowth ; th ere are th e b ra nc h es with th eir n eedl es

s p read ou t to th e air ; th e re are th e bud s at the end o f ea c h

b ranc h and t w i g whi c h c a rry the s till c l os ely p a c k ed n eedl es

,

whi c h are th e p romi s e of th e futur e I n li k e mann er the .

,

c h ry s ali s h as as i ts pa s t th e c at erpilla r ; as its futur e th e b u t

, , ,

terfl y . Th e man has i n hi s p as t th e a nimal ; in h i s futur e the

, , ,

angel B oth are vi s ibl e ev en now i n h i s f ac e S o w ith all

. .

thing s for all things c ha nge and grow

, .

1 5 . 'i fferenc e i n s ta g e i s th e c au s e of d i ff erenc e i n de

v e l op ment .

Thi s bu t amplifi es w h at has j u s t b een s aid The firs t st a ge .

i s th e s apli ng th e c at erpill ar th e animal

, The s ec ond s tage i s, . .

th e g rowi ng t ree th e c h ry s ali s th e man

, Th e thi rd i s the , .

s pl endid pi ne th e butt erfly th e a ng el

, Di ff erenc e of s tage i s
, .

th e c au se o f di ff erenc e of d ev el opm ent S o i t i s am ong men .

,

and am ong th e ra ces of men .

 BOOK II I

1 6 . T h rou h g p f ly
er ec t c oncentrate d M ed i tati on on th e
th ree s ta g es of d evel op ment co mes a knowl ed ge of pas t and
future .

W e hav e ta k en illu s trati on s from natural s c i en c e

ou r ,

b ecau s e S i nce ev ery t ru e di s c ov ery i n natural s ci ence i s a

,

divi nati on of a law in natur e at tai ned th rough a fla s h of ,

g eniu s s uc h di s c ov eri es really repr es ent act s o f S p i ritual per

,

c ep ti on act s of p erc epti on by th e s p i ritu al man ev en th ough

, ,

th ey are generally unc ons c i ou s .

S o we may onc e m ore u s e th e s am e illu s t rati on P erfectly .

conc entrat ed M editati on p erfect i ns i gh t int o th e c hry s ali s

, ,

rev e al s th e c at e rp illa r that it h as b e en the b u tt erfly t h at it i s ,

d es ti ned to be ' e who k now s the s eed kn ow s the seed pod

.
,
-

or ear it h as c om e f rom and th e pla nt that i s to c om e fr om it

, .

S o i n lik e manner h e wh o really know s to day and th e

,
-

h eart of to d ay k now s its pa rent y es t erd ay an d its child to

-

, ,

m orrow P as t p res ent and futu re are all i n th e Et ern al 'e

.
,
.

who dw ell s i n th e Et ernal k now s all th ree .

 ’
P A T A N J A L I S YOGA SUTRAS

1 7 . So un d a nd mea ni ng a nd t h e t h ou h t g ca ll ed up by a

w ord d e d b ec au s e th ey are al l b l u rre d togeth er i n th e

a re c on ou n f
mi nd . By p erfec t ly c onc e nt rated M ed i tat i on on e ach s e p arately ,

th ere c om es a n u nd ers ta nd i ng of t h e s ou nd s u tt ere d by al l b e i ng s .

I t mu s t be rememb ere d t h at we are s p eak i ng of p erc ep ti on

by th e s pi ritu al man .

S ou nd lik e ev ery forc e i s the exp res s i on of a p ow er of the

, ,

E t ernal I nfi nit e s hades o f thi s p ow er are exp res s ed in the

.

i nfi nitely vari ed t ones o f S ou nd 'e wh o havin g ent ry to th e .

,

c ons c i ou s nes s o f th e Et ernal k now s th e e s sence of thi s p ow e r ,

c an divi ne th e m eani ng s o f all s ou nd s fr om th e v oi c e o f th e

i nsec t to th e mu s i c of th e s p h eres .

I n lik e mann er h e wh o h as att ai ned to s pi ritual vi s i on c an

,

p erc eiv e th e mi nd i mag es i n th e t hought s of oth er s with the

-

s had e o f f eeli ng whi c h g oes w ith th em thu s readi ng th eir ,

th ought s as eas ily as h e h ears t hei r w ord s Ev ery one has th e .

g erm o f thi s p ow er s i nc e di ff erence o f t one will giv e wid ely

,

diff eri ng m ea ni ngs to th e s am e w ord s m eani ng s w hi c h are ,

i nt u itiv ely p erc eiv ed b y ev ery one .

1 8 . W h e n th e mi nd i mp res s i ons b ec ome vi s i bl e

=
, t h ere
com es an u nd ers tand i ng of p rev i ou s b i rth s .

Thi s impl e en ough i f we g ras p the t ruth o f r ebirth

is s ,
.

The fine h arv es t o f pa s t exp eri ence s i s d raw n i nt o th e S pi ritual

natu re form i ng i nd eed th e ba s i s o f i ts d ev el opm ent
, , ,
Wh en .

th e c onsc i ou s nes s h as b een rai s ed to a p oint ab ov e th es e fi ne

s u bj ec tiv e i m p res s i ons and c an l ook d ow n up on th em f rom
,

ab ov e thi s will i n it s el f be a r em emb eri ng of pa s t b i rth s

, .
 ’
P A TA N J A L I S YOGA SUTRAS

22 . By p e f tly r ec c onc e nt rate d M ed i tat i on on s y mpath y ,

comp as s i on a nd k i nd n es s , is g ai ne d the p ow er of i nt eri or u ni on

wi th oth e rs .

Unity i s the reality ; s ep a rat en es s th e illu s i on Th e near er .

we c om e to reality the nearer we c ome to u nity of hea rt

,
.

S ympathy c ompa ss i on ki ndnes s are m od es of thi s u nity of

, ,

h eart w hereby we rej oi ce with th os e who r ej oi c e an d w eep

, ,

with th os e who w eep T h es e thing s are l ea rn ed by d es i ri ng to

.

l earn th em .

2 3 . By p f er e c t ly c onc e nt rat e d M ed i tati on on p ow e r, e ve n

s uc h p ow e r as th at of t h e l
e e p h ant may b e g ai ne d .

Thi s i s a p retty imag e El ephant s p os s es s not only forc e

.
,

but p oi se and finenes s o f c ont rol Th ey c an lift a s t raw a .

,

c hild a t ree with p erf ec tly j u d g e d c ont rol and eff ort
, S o th e .

S imil e i s a g ood one B y d etac h ment b y w ithd rawi ng i nto th e

.
,

s oul 5 res e rv oir o f p ow er we c an gai n al l th es e f orc e and fine

, ,

nes s and p oi se ; th e ability to ha ndl e with equal ma s t ery thi ng s

s m all and g reat c onc ret e and ab s t ra c t ali k e
, .

2 4 . B y b end i ng u p on th e m th e awa k ene d g

i nner l i h t , t h ere
c omes a knowl d g of th i ng
e e s su btl e , b
or o s c u re , or re mot e .

A s was s aid at a h c ons c i ou s nes s i s r elat ed

th e out s et , e c

to all c on s c i ou s nes s ; and th rou gh it h as a p ot ential c ons c i ou s

, ,

nes s of all t h i ng s ; wh et h er s ubtl e or ob sc u re or rem ot e An , .

u nders ta ndi ng o f thi s g reat t ruth will c om e with p racti c e A S .

one o f th e wi s e h as s aid we hav e no c o nc epti on o f th e p ow er

,

of M edi t ati on .
 BOO K III

2 5 . By p erf ec tly c onc e nt rat e d M ed i tati on on th e s un c o mes

a know l d g e e of the world s .

Thi s has s ev eral m ea ni ng s ' Fi rs t by a kn ow l ed ge of the ,

c ons tit u ti on o f th e s u n as t ronom e rs c an u nd e rs t and th e ki n

,

d red nat u re o f the s tars A nd it i s s aid that th ere i s a fi ner .

as t ronomy w h ere the s pi rit u al man i s th e a s t ronomer B ut

, .

th e s u n al s o means th e S o u l and th rough k nowl ed ge of th e ,

S oul c om es a k nowl edg e of th e realm s of life .

2 6 . By p f e r ec t ly c onc e nt rate d M e d i tati on on the moon

co mes a k nowl d g e e of th e l u nar mans i ons .

H ere ag ai n are di ff erent m eani ng s The moon i s fi rs t .

, ,

th e c omp ani on pl anet whi c h eac h day pa s ses bac kw ard

, , ,

th rou gh one m ans i on o f th e s t ars B y watc h ing t h e moon th e

_
f

.
'
,

bou ndari es of th e m ans i on are l ea rne d with th ei r s u c c es s i on in ,

th e g reat tim e di al of th e S ky -
B ut th e moon al s o s y mb oli s es .

th e analyti c mi nd wit h i ts divid ed real ms ; and th es e too may

, , ,

be u nd ers t ood t hrou gh p erf ec tly c onc ent rat ed M editati on .

2 7 . By p f t ly
e r ec c onc e nt rat e d M ed i tati on on th e fixe d p ol e
t
s ar c o me s a k now l d g e e of the m ot i ons of th e s tars .

A dd res s i ng D u ty s t ern d au gh t er , of th e V oi c e of God ,

ted
ela Word s w orth fi nely s aid '
tio
ns

T hou d os t p res erv e th e sta rs f rom w rong ,

A nd th e most a nc i ent h eav ens t h rough th ee are f re sh and

s t rong

thu s s u ggestin g a p rofound r elati on b et w een the m oral p ow er s

and the p ow ers t hat rul e the w orld s S o in thi s s u t ra the fixed .
,

pol e s tar i s the et ernal s p irit abou t w hich all t hin gs m ov e as

-

w ell as th e s tar t ow ard w hi c h p oin t s the axi s of th e earth .

D eep my s teri es att end b oth and the v eil of my s t ery i s only to ,

be rai sed by M editati on b y op en ey ed vi s i on of th e a w akened

,
-

spi ritual man .

73
 ’
P A T A N J A L I S YOGA SUTRAS

2 8 P e rf e c t ly c onc e nt ra t e d M e d i ta t i on on
. th e t
c e n er of

f orc e i n t h e l ow er t ru nk b ri ng s a n u nd e rs tand i ng of th e ord er of

t h e b od i ly p owe rs .

W mi ng to a vitally im p orta nt part of the tea c hi ng

e are c o

o f Y oga ' na mely th e s pi rit u al m an s att ai nm ent of f u l l s elf

’

c onsc i ou s nes s th e aw ak eni ng o f th e S pi rit u al man as a s el f

‘

c ons c i ou s i ndividu al b ehi nd and ab ov e th e natu ral man I n

,
.

thi s aw ak eni ng and in the p roc es s o f g es tati on w hi c h p rec ed es

,

it th ere i s a c l os e rel ati on wit h th e p ow ers of th e natu ral man

, ,

whi c h are i n a c ert ai n s ens e th e p roj ecti on ou twa rd and

, ,

d ow nwa rd o f th e p ow ers of th e s pi ritual man Thi s i s notably

, .

t ru e of that c reativ e p ow er o f th e S pi ritual man whi c h wh en ,

emb odi e d i n th e natu ral man b ec om es th e p ow er o f g enerati on ,

.

N ot only i s thi s p ow e r th e c au s e o f th e c onti nu anc e of th e

bodily race of manki nd but fu rth er i n the i ndividual it i s th e
, , ,

key to th e d om i nanc e of th e p ers onal l if e R i s ing as it w ere .

, ,

th rou gh th e lif e c ha nnel s of th e b ody it fl u s h es th e p ers onality

-

with phy s i c al f orc e and mai nt ai ns and c olo rs th e illu s i on t hat

,

th e p h y s i c al lif e i s th e d om i na nt and all imp ortant exp res s i on -

o f lif e . I n d u e tim e wh en th e s pi ritu al man h as begu n to tak e

,

form th e c reativ e forc e will b e d raw n off and b ec ome Op era

, ,

tiv e i n b u ildi ng the b ody o f th e s pi ritu al man j u s t as it h as ,

b een op erativ e in th e b u ildi ng o f p h y s i c al b odi es th rough ,

g enerati on i n th e natu ral w orld .

P e rfec tly c onc ent rat e d M edit at i on on th e natu re o f th i s

forc e m eans fi rs t t hat ri s i ng of th e c ons c i ou snes s i nt o th e
, ,

s pi rit u al w orld al ready d e s c ri be d

, w h i c h giv es th e one s u re ,

footh old for M e dit ati on ; and th en f rom th at S pi ritu al p oi nt of ,

v ant ag e not only an i ns ight i nto th e c reativ e forc e i n i ts s pi rit

, ,

u al and phy s i c al a s p ec t s bu t al s o a g radu ally attai ne d c ont rol

,

o f th i s w ond erful f orc e whi c h will m ean it s di rec ti on to th e

,

body of the S pi ritual man and i ts gradual wi th d rawal from the ,

b ody of th e natu ral man u ntil th e ov erp res s u re s o general and

, ,

s u c h a f ru itf u l S ou rc e o f m i s e ry i n ou r d ay i s abat ed and , ,

pu ri ty t ak es th e pl ac e o f p as s i on T h i s ov erp res s u re whi ch i s .

,

th e c au s e o f s o m any evil s and s o mu c h o f hu m an S ha me i s ,

an ab norm al not a nat u ral c onditi on

,
I t i s p rim arily d ue to
, .

S pi ritu al bli ndnes s to blind nes s regardi ng th e s pi ritu al man

, ,

74
 BOOK III

and ignorance ev en o f hi s exi s t enc e ; for by thi s bli nd ign oranc e

are c l os e d th e c h annel s th rou gh whi c h w ere th ey op en the
, ,

c reativ e f orc e c ould fl ow i nt o th e bo dy of th e s pi ritu al m an ,

th ere buildi ng up an imm ortal v es tu re T h ere i s no c u re for

.

bli nd ness with i ts c ons eq u ent ov er p res s u re and att end ant mi s
,
-

ery and S h am e but s pi ritua l vi s i on s pi ritu al as p i rati on s ac ri

'

, , ,

fi ce th e new bi rth f rom abov e

, . T h ere i s no oth er way to
light en the b u rd en to l i ft th e m i s ery and S hame f rom h u m an
,

lif e Th eref ore l et u s foll ow aft er s ac ri fice and as pi rati on l et

.
,

u s s eek th e ligh t . I n thi s way only s h all we g ai n t h at i ns igh t

i nto th e ord er o f th e bo dily p ow ers and th at m a s t ery of t h em
, ,

whi c h thi s s ut ra i mpl i es.

75
 P A T A N J A L I S
’
YOGA SU TRAS

2 9 . By p e f ect ly
r c onc e nt rate d M ed i tati on on th e cente r

forc e i n th e wel l of th e t h roat , t h ere co mes th e c e s s at i on

h ung er a nd t h i rs t .

We continui ng th e s t udy of the b odil y p o

are
c ent ers o f f orc e i n th eir r ela t i on to the p ow ers and

th e s pi ritual man W e hav e al ready c ons id ered th e

.

p ow er o f phy s i c al li fe the c r eativ e p ow er w hich s e ,

c onti nua nc e of phy s i c al li f e ; and furth e r th e mann er in w hich , , ,

thr ou gh a s pi rati on and s a c rific e i t i s g radually rai sed and set ,

to the w ork of up b uilding th e b ody of th e s pi ritual man We .

c om e now to th e d omi na nt p s y c h i c f orc e th e p ow er w hi ch ,

m ani fes t s it s el f i n s p eec h and i n vi rtu e o f whi c h the v oice may

,

c a rry s o mu c h of th e p ers onal magn eti s m end ow i ng th e orat or ,

with a t ongu e of fi re magi c al i n i ts p ow e r to a rou s e and rul e

,

the em oti ons of h i s h ear ers Thi s em oti onal p ow er thi s d i s.

,
' '
ti nctiv el y p s y c hical f orc e i s th e c au s e of hung er and t hir s t
, ,

th e p s y c hi c al hu ng er and thi rs t for s ens ati ons whi c h i s the ,

s ou rce o f ou r two s id ed lif e of em oti onali s m

-
with i ts h op es ,

and f ears i ts exp ec tati ons and m em ori es i ts d es ir es and hat es

, ,
.

The s our c e of t h i s p s y c hi c al p ow er o r p erhap s we s h ould s ay , , ,

i ts c ent er of a c tivity in th e phy s i c al b ody i s s aid to be i n th e

c avity of th e th roat Thu s in the Tai tti ri y a Upani s had it i s
.
,
'
w ritt en ' Th ere i s t hi s S hi ning et h er i n the i nn er b ei ng .

Th erein i s th e S piri t ual man form ed thr ough th ought i m , ,

m ort al gold en I nwa rd i n the palat e th e o rgan that hang s

, .
, ,

d own lik e a nippl e thi s i s the w omb of I nd ra A nd th ere

,
—
.
,

w h ere the dividi ng of the hai r turn s ext endi ng up w ard to the ,
'
c r ow n o f th e h ead .

I nd ra i s th e nam e giv en to th e c reativ e p ow er of w hi c h

we hav e s p ok en and which we are t old res id es in th e organ
'
, , ,

w hich han g s d ow n li k e a ni pp l e in w ard in th e p alat e '

, , .
 BOOK III

30 . By p f ly c onc e ntrate d M ed i tati on

er ec t on th e c ente r of

forc e i n th e c h anne l c all e d t h e comes s t ea d

fas tnes s .

We are c onc erne d now

w ith th e c ent er of n erv ou s or
p s y c hi c al force b el ow th e c avity o f the th roat in the c h es t i n , ,

whi c h i s felt the s ens ati on o f f ear ; th e c ent er the di s tu rb anc e of ,

whi c h s et s the h ea rt b eati ng mi serably with d read or whi c h ,

p rodu c es th at s ense of t error th rough whi c h th e h eart i s s aid

to s tand s till .

Wh en the t ru th c onc erni ng f ear i s th oroughly ma s t ered ,

th rough s piritu al i ns ight i nt o th e immort al f ea rl es s li fe th en , ,

thi s forc e i s p erfec tly c ont roll ed ; t here i s no m ore f ear j u s t ,

as, th rough th e c ont ro l of th e p s y c hi c p ow er whi c h w ork s

th rough the nerv e c ent er i n th e th roat th ere c om es a c es s ati on
-

,
' '
of hunger and thi rs t Th ereaft er th es e forc es or th eir
.
, ,

s pi ritu al p rot oty p es are tur ned to th e building of f h e s pi ritual

,

man .

A lway s it mu s t be rem emb er ed

, , th e vi c t ory i s fir s t a
s pi ritual one only lat er d oes it bri ng c ont rol of th e bo dil y

p ow ers .

77
 P A T A N J A L
’
I S YOGA SUTRAS

31 . g
T h rou h p erf ec t ly c onc e nt ra e t d M ed i tati on on th e
l ight i n t h e h ea d c om e s th e v i s i on of t h e M as t ers wh o h av e at

f a i ne d .

Th e t raditi on i s that th ere i s a c ert ai n cent er of f orc e in

'

,
' '
th e h ead p erh ap s the pi neal gl and
,
whi c h s om e o f ou r W es t ,

ern phil o s oph ers h av e s u pp os ed to b e th e d w ellin g of th e

s ou l,
—
a c ent er w h i c h i s as it w ere th e d oo rw ay b etw een th e
, ,

nat u ral and the s pi ritual man I t i s th e s eat of that b ett er and
.

wi ser c ons c i ou s nes s b ehi nd th e outw ard l ooki ng c ons c i ou snes s

i n th e f orw ard p art o f th e h ead ; th at b ett er and wi s er c on
s c i ou s nes s o f th e b ac k o f th e mi nd w h i c h vi ew s S p iritu al ,

thi ng s and s eek s to i mp res s th e s pi ritu al vi ew on th e outward

,

l ooki ng c ons c i ou s nes s i n th e forw ard pa rt of th e h ead I t i s .

th e S pi rit u al m an s eeki ng to guid e th e natu ral man s eeking to ,

b ri ng the nat u ral m an to c onc ern h i ms el f with th e thi ng s of hi s

i mmort al ity T h i s i s s u gg es t ed i n th e w ord s of th e U p ani s had
.

'
al ready q u ot ed ' t h ere w h ere th e dividi ng o f th e h ai r tu rns
, ,
'
e x t endi ng upw ard to th e c row n o f th e h ead ; all o f whi c h may
s ou nd v e ry f ant as ti c al u ntil one c om es to u nd ers ta nd it
, .

I t i s s aid th at wh en thi s p ow er i s fully awak ene d it b ri ngs ,

a vi s i on o f th e g reat C ompa ni ons of th e S pi ritu al man th ose ,

wh o h av e al ready att ai ned c ros s i ng ov er to th e fu rth er s h or e

,

o f th e s ea o f d eat h and rebi rth P erhap s it i s to thi s divi ne

.

S ight th at th e M as t er all u d ed who i s rep ort ed to hav e s aid ',

'
I c ou ns el y ou to bu y o f me ey e s alv e th at y ou may s ee -
It ,
.
'

i s o f thi s s ame vi s i on o f th e g reat C ompa ni ons the c hild ren of ,

l i ght th at a s eer w rot e '

,

Th ough i nl and far we be ,

O u r s ou l s h av e S i ght o f t h at imm ort al s ea

W h i c h b rou gh t u s hith er ,

C an i n a moment t rav el thit h e r ,

A nd s ee th e C h ild ren s p ort u p on th e s h ore

'
A nd h ear th e mighty w at ers rolli ng ev erm ore .
 ’
P A T A N J A L I S YOGA SUTRAS

34 . Th e p e rs ona l se lf s ee k s to f eas t on l i fe , g
t h rou h a f ai l
u re to p e rc e i v e th e d i s ti nc ti on b etwe e n t h e p ers onal s elf and th e
s p i ri t u a l ma n A ll p ers onal exp eri e nc e really exi s ts f or th e s ake
.

of ano t h er ' na me ly t h e s p i ri t u a l man

, .

B y p erf ec tly c onc e nt rated M ed i ta t i on on exp eri e nc e f or th e

s ak e of t h e S e lf c om es a k now l e d g e of t h e s p i ri t u al man
, .

The divi ne ray o f the High er S el f whi c h i s et ernal , ,

i mp ers onal and ab s tra c t d es c end s i nt o li fe and f orm s a per

, ,

s onal i ty whi c h th rough th e s t res s and s t orm of lif e i s ham

, , ,

m ere d i nt o a d efi nit e and c onc ret e s el f c ons c i ou s i ndividuality -

.

Th e p robl em i s to bl end th es e two p ow e rs t aki ng the et ernal

, ,

and s pi ritual b ei ng o f th e fi rs t and bl endi ng with it t rans , ,

f erri ng i nto it th e s el f c ons c io u s i ndivid u ality of the sec ond ;

,
—

and t h u s b ri ngi ng to lif e a t h i rd b ei ng th e s pi ritu al man wh o , ,

i s h ei r to th e i m m ort ality o f h i s fath e r th e High e r S elf and , ,

y et h a s t h e s e l f c on sc i ou s c
-
onc ret e i ndividu ality o,
f h i s o th er
pa rent th e p ers onal s el f T h i s i s the t ru e i mm ac ulate c Onc ep
, .

ti on th e new bi rt h f rom ab ov e c onc eiv ed o f the H oly S pi rit ;

, ,
' '

of t h i s new birth it i s s aid ' that whi c h i s bo rn of th e S pi rit i s

'

S pi rit 'y e mu s t be b orn agai n .

Righ tly u nd ers tood th erefore the wh ol e li fe of the p er

, ,

s onal m an i s fo r anoth er not for him s e l f 'e exi s t s only to .

rend e r h i s v ery l if e and all h i s e xp eri enc e for th e buildi ng u p

o f th e s pi rit u al man O nly th rough failu re to s ee t h i s d oes h e

.
,

s eek enj oy ment fo r hi m s el f s eek to s ec u re th e f ea s t s o f lif e for

,

him s elf ; not u nd ers t andi ng th at h e mu s t liv e for th e oth er liv e ,

s ac ri fi c i al l y o fferi ng b oth f ea s t s and hi s v e ry b ei ng on th e

,

alta r ; givi ng hi m s elf as a c ont rib u ti on for th e buildi ng o f th e

s pi rit u al man Wh en h e d oes u nd ers tand thi s and liv es for the
.
,

High er S elf s etti ng h i s h eart and th ou ght on the Hi gh er S el f

, ,

th en h i s s a c rifi c e b ea rs divi ne f ru it th e s pi ritu al man i s b u ilt ,

u p c on sc i ou s ne s s aw ak es i n h i m and h e c om es fully int o b ei ng

, ,

as a divi ne and imm o rtal i ndividuali t y .

80
 BOOK III

35 . p b
T h ereu on are orn t h e i v i ne ow er of i ntu i t i on, and d p
th e g
h eari n , th e t ou c h , t h e v i s i on, t h e t as t e and t h e ow er of p
s me ll of th e s p i ri tual man .

Wh en in vi rtu e of th e p erp etual s a c rific e of th e p er s onal

,

man daily and h ou rly givi ng h i s li fe for h i s divi ne b roth er th e

,

s pi ritu al m an and t h rough th e radi anc e ev er p ou ri ng d ow n

,

f rom th e High er S elf et ernal in the H eav ens th e s pi rit u al man

, ,

c om es to bi rth th ere aw ak e i n him th os e p ow ers wh os e phy s i c al

,

c ou nt erp art s we k now i n th e p ers onal man Th e S pi ritu al man .

b egins to s ee to h ear to t ouc h to t as t e A nd b es id es th e

, , , .
,

senses o f th e s pi ritual man th ere aw ak es h i s mi nd t h at divi ne

, ,

c ou nt erp art o f th e m i nd o f th e phy s i c al man th e p ow er of ,

di rec t and i mm edi ate knowl edg e th e p ow er of s pi ritual i nt u ,

i tion of divi nati on

,
T h i s p ow er as we h av e s een ow es i ts
.
, ,

vi rtu e to the u nity th e c onti nuity of c ons c i ou snes s wh ereby

w h at ev er i s k nown to any consc i ou s nes s i s k nowabl e by any
, , ,

ot h er c ons c i ou s nes s T hu s th e c ons c i ou snes s of the S pi ritu al

.

man wh o liv es ab ov e ou r na rrow b arri ers of s ep arat enes s i s i n

, ,

i nti mat e tou ch with the c ons c i ou s nes s of th e g reat C omp ani ons ,

and c an d raw on t h at v as t res erv oi r for all real need s Thu s .

ari s es withi n th e s pi rit u al m an c ert ai n k nowl edg e w hi c h i s

c all e d i ntuiti on divi nati on illumi nati on
, ,
.

81
 ’
P A T A N J A L I S YOGA SUTRAS

36 . T h es e p owers d i n c ontrad i s t i nc t i on to th e
s tan

s p i ri tu al v i s i on. In mani f es ta t i on t h ey a re c all e d mag i cal

Th e p res ent t ra ns l at o r i s not quit e c ertai n of the

o f the di ffi c ult s ent enc e o f whi c h th e abo v e i s off e
t ra ns l ati on I t app ea rs to be thi s ' The divi ne man i s
.

to s up ers ed e th e s pi ritu al man as th e s piritual m an s up ers ed es

,

th e natu ral man Th en th e di s c ipl e b ec om es a M a s t er The

. .

op ened p ow ers o f th e s pi ritual man s p i ritual vi s i on, h eari ng , ,

and t ou c h s ta nd th eref o re , in c ont radi s ti nc ti on to th e high er

, ,

divi ne p ow er ab ov e th em and m u s t i n no wi s e be regard ed as

,

th e end o f th e way for th e p ath h as no end , but ri s es ev er to

,
’
high er and high er gl ori es ; th e s oul s g rowth and s pl endor hav e
no li m it S o that if th e s pi ritu al p ow ers we hav e b een c on
.
,

s i d eri ng are reg ard e d as i n any s ens e fi nal th ey are a hi nd ra nce , ,

a ba rri er to th e far h igh er p ow ers o f th e divi ne man; B ut

vi ew ed f rom bel ow , f rom th e s t andp oint of normal phy s i c al
e xp eri enc e th ey are p ow ers t ru ly m agi c al ; as th e p ow ers
,

nat u ral to a fou r di mens i onal b ei ng w ill a p p ea r ma gi c al to a

-

th ree dim en s i onal b ei ng

-
.

82
 BOOK III

37 . g
T h rou h t h e w e a k e ni n g of th e c au s e s of b ond age , a nd

by l ea rni ng t h e m et h od of p as s i ng , th e c ons c i ou s nes s i s t rans

f e rre d t o t h e ot h er b ody .

I n d ue ti me
ft er th e s pi it u al man h as b een f
, a r or m ed and 1

g row n s t abl e th rou gh th e f orc es and vi rtu es al ready enu

merated and aft er th e s ens es o f th e s pi ri tu al man h av e aw ak e d
, ,

t h ere c om es th e t rans f er of th e d ominant c ons c i ou s nes s th e ,

s ens e o f i ndivid u ality f rom th e p h y s i c al to th e S pi ritu al man

,

T he reafter th e p hy s i c al m an i s f elt to b e a S ec ond ary a s ubordi ,

nat e an i ns t ru m ent th rou gh w h om th e s pi rit u al man w ork s ;

,

and th e s pi rit u al m an i s f elt to b e th e real i n divid u ality T hi s .

i s i n a s ens e th e att ai nm ent to full s alv ati on and i mmort al li fe ;

, ,

y et it i s not th e fi nal goal or res ti ng pl ac e but only th e b egi n ,

ning o f th e g reat er way .

Th e m eans f or t h i s t rans f er are d esc rib e d as th e w eak

eni ng o f th e c au s es o f bo nd ag e and an u nd ers t andi ng of th e ,

met hod o f p as s i ng f rom th e one c ons c i ou s nes s to th e oth er .

Th e fi rs t may al s o be d es c rib ed as d et ac hment and c omes f rom ,

th e co nq u e s t o f th e d el u s i on t h at th e p ers onal sel f i s th e real

man Wh en t h at d elu s i on ab ateS and i s h eld i n c h ec k th e fi ner
.
'

c on s c i ou s nes s o f th e s p i rit u al m an b egi ns to S h i ne i n th e b ac k

g round of th e m i nd Th e t rans f er of th e s ens e of i ndividu ality

.

to thi s fi ner c ons c i ou s ne s s and t h u s to th e s pi rit u al m an th en

, ,

b ec om es a matt er of rec oll ec t i on of att enti on ; p ri marily a , ,

m att er of t aki ng a d eep er i nt eres t i n th e lif e and d oing s of th e

s pi rit u al m an t h an i n th e pl eas u res or oc c u p ati ons o f th e p er
,
'
s onal ity T he re f ore it i s s ai d ' Lay not u p for y ou rs elv es
.

t reas u res u po n earth w h ere m oth and ru s t doth c orru pt and

, ,

wh ere th i ev es b reak th rou gh and s teal ' but l ay up for y ou r

s elv es t reas u re s i n h eav en w h ere neit h er m ot h nor ru s t d oth ,

c orru pt and w h ere th i ev es d o not b reak t h ro ugh nor s t eal ' for
,
'
w h ere y ou r t reas u re i s th ere w i ll y ou r h eart be al s o
,
.
 P A T A N J A L I S
’
YOGA SUTRAS

38 . g
T h rou h mas t ery of th e up wa rd l i f e
e
co mes freed om
f rom t h e d ang ers of water moras s , , and t h orn y pl ac es , and th e
p ow er of as c ens i on i s gai ned .

H er e i s one o f th e s ent enc es s o c har ac t eri s t i c of thi s ,

auth or and i nd ee d o f th e E as t ern S pi rit in whi c h th er e i s an

, , , ,

ob vi ou s ext eri or m eani ng and wit h in thi s a c l ear inte ri or

, , ,

m ea ni ng not quit e s o obvi ou s but far m ore vi t al

, , .

The s u rfa c e mea ni ng i s that by m as t ery of a c ert ain p ow er

, ,

call ed h ere the up w ard li fe and aki n to l evit ati on t h ere c om es

-

, ,

th e ability to w alk on w at er or to pa s s ov er t ho rny plac es W ith

,

out w ou ndi ng the f eet .

B ut th ere i s a d eep er meani ng Wh en we s p eak o f th e .

di s c ipl e s path as a p ath of t h orns we u s e a s ymb ol ; and th e

’

s am e s ymb ol i s u s ed h e re Th e upw ard lif e means s om ethin g

.
-

m ore than th e p ow er o ft en mani fes t ed i n ab normal p s y c hi c al

,

exp eri enc es o f l evitati ng th e phy s i c al bo dy or ne ar by phy s i c al

, ,
—

obj ec t s . I t m eans th e s t rong p ow er of a s pi rati on of upwa rd ,

will whi c h fi rs t b u ild s and th en awak es th e spi ritu al man and

, , ,

finally t ra ns f ers th e c ons c i ou s i ndividuali ty to h i m ; for it i s '

h e wh o p as s es s af ely ov er the w at ers o f d eath and rebi rth and ,

i s not pi erc ed by th e t h orns i n th e p ath Th erefore it i s s aid .

that h e wh o w ould t read th e p ath o f p ow er mu s t l ook for a

h ome in th e ai r and aft e rwa rd s i n th e eth er
, .

O f the upw ard l i fe thi s i s w ritt en in th e K atha Upani shad

-

A hu nd re d and one are th e h ea rt s c h annel s ; of th es e one ’

'
p as s es to th e c rown Goi ng up thi s h e c om es to the imm ortal
.
,
.

Thi s i s th e p ow er of a s c ens i on S p ok en of i n th e s u t ra .
 BOOK III

39 . By mas t ery of the b i nd i ng l i f e

-
me s
co ra d i anc e .

I n the Upani s had s it i s s aid th at thi s b inding life u nites

,
-

th e upw ard life to th e d ow nwa rd lif e and th es e liv es hav e th eir

- -

,
' '
a nal ogu es i n th e vital b reath s i n the b ody Th e th ough t in .

th e t ext s eem s to b e th at w h en th e p ers onality i s b ro ught

, ,

t horoughly u nd er th e c ont rol of th e S pi ritu al man th rough th e ,

lif e c u rrent s w h i c h b i nd th em t og et her the p ersonality i s en

'

d ow ed with a new forc e a s t rong p ers onal magneti s m one

, ,
.

might c all it s u c h as i s o ft en an app anag e of geniu s

,

B ut th e t ext s eem s to mean m ore th an th i s and to have in ,

vi ew the v es tu re o f th e c ol or of the s un att ribu ted by the

Upani s had s to th e S pi ri t u al man ; th at v es t u re wh ic h a di s c ipl e .

'
has th u s d es c rib ed ' Th e L ord s h all c h ang e ou r vil e b ody ,

that it m ay be fas hi oned l ik e unto h i s gl ori ou s bo dy ; p erhap s '

' '
body of radiance w ould b ett er t rans l ate th e G reek _ .

I n b oth th ese pa s s ag es th e t ea c h i ng s eem s to be th at th e

, ,

body o f th e full grow n s pi rit u al m an i s radiant or lumi nou s

-

for th os e at l eas t wh o h av e anoi nt ed t h ei r ey es with ey e s alv e

, ,
-

s o th at th ey s ee .
 ’
P A T A N J A L I S YOGA SUTRAS

40 . F rom p e rf ec t ly t t d M ed i tat i on on th e corre

c onc e n ra e

l ati on of h e ari n g a nd the e t h er c o m e s t h e p owe r of s p i ri t u a l

,

h ea ri n g .

Phy s i c al s ou nd w e are t old i s c a rri ed by th e ai r or by

, , ,

wat er i ron o r s om e m e dium on th e s am e pl ane o f s ub s ta nc e

, , .

Bu t th ere i s a finer h eari ng w h os e m ediu m of t rans mi ss i on ,

w ould s eem to be the ether ; p erh ap s not th at eth er whi c h c ar

ri es lig h t h eat and magneti c w av es bu t it may b e th e far
'

, , , ,

finer e th er th rou g h wh i c h th e p ow er o f g ravity w ork s 'or .

,

w h il e ligh t or h eat or m ag neti c w av es t rav elli ng f rom th e s un ,

to th e e art h tak e eigh t m i nut es for th e j ou rney it i s m ath e

, ,

mati c al l y c ert ai n t h at th e p u ll o f g ravit ati on d oes not t ak e as

mu c h as eigh t s ec ond s o r ev en th e eighth o f a s ec ond
,
Th e .

p ull of g ravitati on t rav el s it wo uld s eem as qui c k as th ought

,
' '

s o it m ay w ell b e t h at i n t h ou ght t ra ns f e renc e o r t e l ep at h y th e

th ou ght s t rav el by th e s am e way c arri ed by th e s ame th ought

, ,

s wift m e di u m
'
.

Th e t rans f er o f a w ord by t el ep athy i s th e s i m pl es t and

earli e s t f orm o f th e divi ne h eari ng of th e s pi ritu al man ; as
' '

t h at po w er g row s and as t h rough p erf ec tly c oncent rat e d

, ,

M edit ati on th e s pi ritu al man c om es i nt o more compl et e m as t ery

,

of it h e g row s abl e to h ea r and c l early di s ti ng u i s h th e s p eec h

,

o f th e g reat C om p ani ons wh o c ou ns el and c omf o rt h i m on hi s

,

way . T h ey m ay s p eak to h i m eith er in w ordl es s th ou gh t s or ,

i n p erf ec tly d efi nit e w ord s and s ent enc es .

86
 ’
P A T A N J A L I S YOGA SUTRAS

43M as t e ry of th e el ements c omes f rom p erf ec tly c on

.

c e ntrat e d M e d i ta t i on on t h e i r fi v e f orms ' t h e g ros s t h e e l e me n ,

tal t h e s u b t l e t h e p ervad i ng t h e e s s enti a l or ob j ec ti ve

, , , .

Th es e fi v e f orm s are a nal ogou s to th os e r ec ogniz ed b y

m od ern phy s i c s ' solid liquid ga s eou s radia nt and i oni c , , ,
.

Wh en the pi erc i ng vi s i on of th e awa ken ed s piritu al man i s

di rec t ed to the form s of matt er from w ithi n as it w ere f rom , , ,

b ehi nd the s c enes th en p erfec t ma s t ery ov e r the b eggarly

,
'

'
el em ent s i s attai ned T h i s i s p erhap s equival ent to the i h
.
, ,
'
j unc ti on ' I nq u i re of the earth the ai r and th e wat er of th e , , ,

s ec ret s th ey h old for y ou Th e d ev el opm ent o f y ou r in ner .

'
s ens es will enabl e y ou to d o thi s .

44 T h e re u on wi
. p ll co me m ani f es tat i on
th e of the atomi c

a nd ot h er p
owe rs , w hi c h are th e e nd owme nt of t h e b ody , to g et h e r

w i t h i ts u nas s ai a l bl e f orc e .

Th e qu es ti on i s of c ou rse the eth eri c b ody of th e

b ody in , ,

S pi ritu al man ' e i s s aid to p os s es s eight p ow ers 'th e atomi c

.
,

th e p ow er of as s imil ati ng him s elf with th e natu re o f th e at om ,

whi c h will p erh ap s i nv olv e the p ow er to di s i nt eg rat e mat eri al

, ,

f orm s ; the p ow er o f l evit ati on ; th e p ow er of limitl es s e'

t en s i on ; the p ow er of b ou ndl es s rea c h s o that as th e c omm en , ,
' '
tat or s ay s he c an t ou c h th e m oon w ith th e tip of hi s fin ger ;
,

th e po w er to a c c ompli s h h i s will ; th e po w er of g ravitati on th e ,

c o rr elativ e o f l evitati on ; th e p ow er o f c omm a nd ; th e p ow er

o f c reativ e will T h es e are th e end ow m ent s o f th e s pi ritual

.

man F u rth er th e s pi ritu al b ody i s u nas s ailab l e Fi re bu rns

.
,
.

it not w at er w et s it not th e s w ord c l eav es it not d ry wind s

, , ,

pa rc h it not A nd it i s s aid th e s pi ritu al man c an impa rt

.
, ,

s om ethi ng of thi s qu ality and t emp er to h i s bo dily v es t u re .

88
 BOOK III

45 . Sh p el i nes s b eau ty f orc e th e

a , , , te m p er of t h e d i am ond
th es e are t h e e nd owme nts of t h at b ody .

pi ritu al man i s s h ap ely b eautiful s t rong fi rm as th e

Th e s , , ,

dia mond Th ere fore it i s w ritt en ' Th es e th ings s aith th e

.
'

S on of God who h at h h i s ey es lik e u nto a flam e o f fi re and h i s

, ,

f eet are lik e fi ne b ras s ' 'e th at ov erc ometh and k eep eth my
w ork s u nt o th e end to h i m will I gi v e p ow er ov er the nati ons '
,

and h e s h all ru l e t h em with a rod o f i ron ; and I will giv e h i m

the m orni ng s ta r .

46 M as ter over
. y
p erc e pt i on and act i on th e p owers of

c omes t h rou h g p f ly c onc entrated M e d i tati on on t h e i r fi v e

er ec t »

fold f orms ; namely t h ei r p ow er to gras p th ei r d i s ti nc ti ve natu re

, , ,

th e e l e m e nt of s e lf c ons c i ou s ne s s i n t h e m t h e i r p ervas i ve nes s

,
=
, ,

and t h e i r ob j ec t i v i t y .

T ak e for exa mpl e s igh t T h i s p os ses s eS fi rs t th e p owef

, ,
.
,
'

to g ra s p app reh end p erc eiv e ; s ec ond it h as its di s ti nc tiv e f orm

, , ,

of p erc epti on ; t h at i s vi s u al p erc epti on ; t h i rd it alw ay s c arri es

, ,
'
with i ts op erati ons s elf c ons c i ou snes s th e th ough t ' I p e r -

, ,

s ight h as th e p ow er o f ext ens i on th rou gh th e

'
c eiv e ; f ou rth ,

w hol e fi eld o f v i s i on ev en to th e utm os t s tar ; fifth it p res ent s , ,

i ts rep ort s as s om eth i ng ob j ec tiv e to c ons c i ou s nes s S o wit h .

th e oth er s enses P e rfec tly c onc ent rat ed M editat i on on eac h

.

s ense a vi ew i ng it f rom b eh i nd and with i n as i s p o s s ibl e f or

, ,

th e s p i rit u al man b ri ngs a m as t ery of th e s c op e and t ru e

,

c h arac t er of eac h s ens e ; and o f th e w orld on whi c h t h ey rep ort

c oll ec tiv ely .

47 . T h e nc e me th e p owe r s w i f t as
co g
th ou h t , i n d ep end enc e
of i ns t ru me nt s , a nd mas tery ov er matt er .

We furth er enum erati ng th e end owm ent s of th e

are
S pi ritual man Among th es e i s th e p ow er to t rav ers e S p ac e
.

with th e s wiftnes s of th ought so th at w h at ev er pla c e the ,

S pi rit u al man thi nk s o f to th at h e goes in th at plac e h e al ready , ,

is. T hought h as now b ec om e h i s means o f l oc omoti on 'e i s .

,

th ere fore i nd ep end ent of i ns t ru ment s and c an b ri ng hi s forc e

, ,

to b ear dir ec t ly wh er ev er h e will s ,

.

89
 P A T A N J A L I S
’
YOGA SUTRAS

48 .W h e n th e s p i ri tu a l man i s p erf ec t ly d i s entangl e d

t h e p s y c h i c b ody h e at t ai ns t o mas t e ry ove r al l t h i ng s and
,

k no wl e d g e of al l .

Th e pi ritual man i s enmesh ed i n the web 0

s

d es i re f ea r ambiti on p as s i on ; and imp ed ed by th e

, , ,

f orms of s epa rat enes s and m at eriali s m Wh en th es e m es h es .

are s u nd ere d th es e ob s t ac l es c ompl et ely ov erc om e th en th e

, ,

S pi ritu al m an s ta nd s fo rth in h i s own wid e w orl d s t rong , ,

m igh ty wi s e 'e u s es divi ne p ow ers with a divi ne sc op e and

,
.
,

ene rgy w orki ng t og eth er with divi ne C om p ani ons To s u c h

, .

'
a one it i s s aid ' T ho u art now a di s c ipl e abl e to s tand abl e , ,
.

to h ea r abl e to s ee abl e to s p eak th ou ha s t c onqu ered d es i re

, , ,

and att ai ned to s el f k no wl e dg e th ou has t s een thy s oul i n i ts

-

,
'
bl oom and rec ogniz ed it and h ea rd th e v oi c e of th e S il enc e ,
.

49 . By b a s e nc e of al l s el f = i nd u l g e nc e at th i s p oi nt , a s o, l the
s ee ds of b o nd a g e to s orr o w are d e s t roy e d , and p ure s p i ri t u al

b ei ng is at t ai ne d .

Th e k i ng of i nd u l genc e for the p ers onal s elf wh eth er

s ee ,

th rough p as s i on o r ambiti on s ow s th e s ee d o f fu tu re s orrow ,

.

'or thi s s elf i ndulg enc e of th e p ers onality i s a d ou bl e s i n

-

ag ai n s t th e real ; a s in ag ai ns t th e c l eannes s o f lif e and a S i n ,

ag ai ns t th e u niv e rs al b ei ng whi c h p e rm it s no ex c l u s iv e p ar ,

ti c u l ar g oo d s i nce i n th e real al l S pi rit u al p os s es s i ons are h eld

, , ,

i n c ommon T h i s tw o fold s in b ri ng s i ts reac ti ng p u ni s h m ent

.
,

i ts c onfi ni ng b ond ag e to s orrow Bu t c eas i ng f rom s elf .

‘

i ndulgence b rings pu rity lib erati on s pi rit u al life , , .

90
 BOOK III

50 . T h e re s h ou ld be c om pl ete overc omi ng of all u rement

p ri d e i n t h e i nvi tat i ons of t h e d i ffe rent re g i ons of l i f e l e s t ,

g
nt t o t hi n s e i vl ari s e onc e more .

Th e c omm entat or t ell s u s th at di sc ipl es s eek ers for uni on , ,

o f f ou r d egrees ' fi rs t t hos e wh o are ent eri ng th e p ath ;

,

nd th os e wh o are i n th e realm of allu rement s ; t h i rd th os e

, ,

h av e won the vi c tory ov er ma t t er and th e s ens es ; fourth ,

e wh o s t and fi rm i n pu re S pi ritual lif e To th e s ec ond .

,

i n th e t ext i s add res s ed M ore m od ern .

w ou ld exp res s th e s am e t ru t h by a w arni ng agains t

s i ons and f as c i nati ons o f th e p s y c h i c real m w h i c h op en ,

th e di s c ipl e as h e b reak s th roug h i nt o th e u ns een

,

T h es e are th e d ang ers of th e ant eroom S af ety li es in .

on s wi ftly i nt o th e i nner c h amb er

'
'i m th at ov er .

met h will I m ak e a pill ar i n th e t empl e of my Go d and h e _

,
'
all go no m ore out .

51 . F rom p e rf ec t ly c onc ent rat e d M e d i tati on on th e d i vi s =

of ti me and t h ei r s u c c e s s i on comes t h at w i s om d wh i c h i s
of d i s c e rnment .

Th e Up ani s h ad s s ay o f th e li b erat ed t h at he h as p as s ed
nd th e t ri ad o f ti m e ; h e no l ong e r sees lif e as p ro j ec t ed
'
.

p as t , p res ent and f u tu re, s i nc e th es e are form s of th e

but b eh old s al l th ings S p read out i n th e q u i et ligh t o f
ernal T h i s w ou ld s eem to be th e s ame t hou gh t and to
.
,

to th at c l ear ey e d s pi ritu al p erc epti on w h i c h i s ab ov e

-

th at w i s d om born of th e u nv eili ng of Ti m e s d el u s i on '

’
.

11 s h all th e di s c ipl e liv e neith er i n th e p res ent nor th e futu re,

in the Et ernal .

9 I
 P A T A N J A L I S
’
YOGA SU TRAS

52 . 'enc e c ome s d i s c ernme nt b etween t hi ng s

of l i ke nat u re , not d i s t i ngu i s h ed by d i fference of k i nd
or p os i ti on .

H ere as al s o in the pr ec edi ng s ut ra we are c l os e to

, ,

K a ntia n d oc t rine th at di s ti nc ti ons of ord er tim e and s pa ce ,

c reati ons o f th e mi nd ; th e th ree f ol d p ri s m th rough w hi c h

thi ng i n it s el f app ea rs to u s di s t ort ed and ref rac t ed

- -
.

th e p ri s i m i s withd raw n th e t h i ng i n it s el f return s to i ts

,
-

u nity no l ong er di s ti ngui s habl e by th e mi nd y et c l ea rly kn

, ,

abl e by that h igh p ow er of s pi ritual di s c ernm ent o f i l l um ,

ti on w hi c h i s ab ov e the mi nd
,
.

53 . Th e w i s d om wh i c h i s
b orn of d i s c e rnment is li
s tar

i t d i s c e rns al l t h i ngs a nd al l c ond i t i ons of t hi ng s

, , it d is ce
wi th ou t s uc c es s i on ' s i mu l ta neou s ly .

Th at wi s d om that i nt uitiv e divi nin g p ow er i s

, ,

s ay s the c omm entat or b ec au s e it shin es with i ts ,

b ec au s e it ri s es on high and illumi nes all thi ng s , .

hid f rom it wh eth er thi ng s pa st thi ngs p res ent 0

, , ,

c om e ; for it i s b ey ond th e t h ree f old f orm of tim e ,

thi ng s are s p read b efore it t ogeth er i n th e ,

divi ne Thi s p ow er h as b een b eautif u lly d es c rib ed by

.

lumba ' S om e th ere are th ough v ery few to w h om Di

'
, ,

gra c e h as gra nt ed thi s ' th at th ey c an c l ea rl y and mos t

ti nc tl y s ee at one and th e s am e m om ent as th ough u nd er
, ,

ray o f th e s u n ev en th e enti re c i rc uit of th e w h ol e w orld w

,

i ts s u rrou ndi ng s o f oc ean and Sk y the i nm os t part o f th ei r ,

mi nd b ei ng ma rv el ou s ly enla rged .

54 . W h en v es tu re
th e and th e s pi ri t u a l man are a l i ke p ure ,

t h en p erf ec t s p i ri t ual l i f e i s at t ai ne d .

Th e v es tu re, s ay s the c omm en t a tor, mu s t fir st be w

pur e of all s tain s of pa s s i on and dark nes s , and th e s eed s
futu re s orrow mu s t b e burned up ut t erly Th en b oth .
,

v es t ur e and the w ea rer o f the v es tur e b ei ng alik e pur e,

s pi ritual man t r i nto p erfect S piritual life
en e s .

9 2
 I ntrodu c t i o n t o Book I V .

The Thi rd B ook of the S ut ra s h as fai rly compl et ed th e

i s tory of the bi rth and g rowth of th e s pi ritual man and the ,

enumerati on of hi s p ow ers ; at l eas t s o far as c onc ern s t h at

fi rs t ep oc h in hi s immo rt al life whi c h imm ediately s u cceed s

, ,

and s u p ers ed es th e li f e of th e natu ral m an

, .

I n th e F ou rth B ook we are to c ons id er wh at one might

,

c all th e m ec h ani s m o f S alv ati on th e id eally s i mpl e w orki ng

,

o f c os mi c l aw whi c h b ri ng s th e s pi ritu al man to bi rt h g rowt h , ,

and full nes s of p ow er and p rep ares him for th e S pl endid t oil
, ,

s ome f u rth er s t ag es of h i s g reat j ou rney h om e .

Th e S ut ras are h ere b ri e f to ob s c u rity ; only a few w ord s ,

for ex ampl e are giv en to the g reat t riu ne my s t e ry and ill u s i on

,

o f Ti me ; a ph ra se or two i ndi c at e th e s w eep of s om e u niv ers al

l aw . Y et it i s h op e d th at by k eepi ng ou r ey es fi xe d on th e
,

s pi rit u al m an rem emb eri ng t h at h e i s th e h ero of th e s t ory and

, ,

that all th at i s w ritt en c onc erns h im and h i s adv entu res we ,

may b e abl e to fi nd ou r way th rou gh thi s thi c k et o f t angl ed

w ord s and k eep in ou r h and s th e c lu e to th e my s t ery
, .

Th e l as t p art of th e l as t b ook need s littl e i nt ro d u c ti on I n .

a s ens e it i s th e m os t i mp ort ant pa rt o f th e wh ol e t reat i s e

, ,

s i nce it u nmas k s th e natu re o f th e p ers onality th at p sy ch i c al

,

mi nd w hi c h i s th e w ak e ful enemy of al l wh o s eek to t read

'
,

the pa t h Ev en now y ou c an h ear i t whi s p ering th e d oubt

.
,
'
W h eth er that c an be a good path whi c h t hu s s et s , mi nd at
d efi anc e .

I f thi s th en be th e m os t vit al and fundam ental part of

'

, ,

th e t eac h i ng s h ould it not s t and fi rs t at th e v ery b egi nni ng '

,

I t may s eem s o at fi rs t ; but h ad it s tood th ere y ou w ou l d not ,

h ave c omp reh end ed it Th e riddl e o f p ers onality c ann ot be s o

.

lightly read I f y ou hav e faithfully f oll ow ed w ha t has gone

.

93
 ’
P A T A N J A L I S YOGA SUTRAS

b e fore and w rought it as y ou wo

, ,

fab ri c of y ou r lif e th en y ou hav e

,

p ers onality and gai ned l et u s hOp e

, , ,

I f y ou h av e d one thi s y ou are now i n a p os iti on to

,

d erstand th e b road outli nes of th e t eac hi ng now s et be f or e

I f not go b ac k ov er it for th e r ec ord of the t eac hi ng i s
, ,

and read y to y ou r h and ; and th e t as k and th e foe are

ready to y ou r h and ; lik ely i nd ee d s o to rema
, ,

y et
. Th e re f o re y o u c an s et a b out yo u r l e s s on
fight A nd thu s y ou will t ru ly l earn 'o r h e who woul
. .

th e d oc t ri ne mu s t l ead l i fe d oi ng , will hi s
whi ch H eav en .

94
 ’
P A T A N J A L I S YOGA SUTRAS

that hi s forc es b reak f orth exub era nt li k e the ,

d ru nk ard s and he s ees and h ears thi ng s d elu s iv e Whil e S in k

, .

i ng h e b eli ev es th at he h as ri s en 'g rowi ng w eak er h e thi nk s

, ,

him s elf full of s t rength ; b eh oldi ng illu s i ons h e tak es th em to

,

be t ru e S u c h are th e p ow e rs gain ed b y dru gs p s y c hi c w h olly

.
, ,

S i nce the real p ow ers th e s piritual c an n ev er be so gain ed

, , .

I n c antati ons are affi rmati ons of hal f truth s c onc ernin g
-

s pi rit and matt er w hat i s and wh at i s not whi c h w ork up on

, ,

th e mi nd and S l owly build u p a wr aith o f p ow ers and a d elu s iv e

w ell b ei ng Th es e too are of th e p s yc hi c r ealm of dr eam s
-
.
, ,
.

L as tly th ere are th e t ru e p ow er s of the s piritual man b uil t

, ,

up and realiz ed i n M editati on th rough r ev erent ob edi enc e to

,

s pi ritu al l aw pu re c onditi ons

,
b ei ng divin e ,

r ealm .
 BOOK IV

2 . Th e trans f er of p owe rs f rom one pl ane to anot h er c omes

g
t h rou h t h e fl ow of t h e nat u ral c reat i v e f orc e s .

H ere i f y ou c an p erceiv e it i s th e wh ol e s ec ret of s pi ritu al

, ,

bi rth g rowth and life S pi ritu al b ei ng lik e al l b ei ng i s bu t

, .
, ,

an exp res s i on o f th e S elf of th e i nh erent p ow e r and b ei ng o f ,

A tm a I nhe r ent in th e S elf are c ons c i ou s nes s and will w h i c h

.
,

hav e as th ei r l ordly h erit ag e th e wid e s w eep of th e u niv ers e

, ,

th rough ou t et ernity for S elf i s one with th e Et ernal A nd the

, .

c onsc i ou s nes s of th e S el f m ay mak e it s el f m anif es t as s eei ng ,

h ea ring t as ti ng f eeli ng or what s oev er p erc eptiv e p ow ers th ere

, , ,

may be j u s t as th e whit e s unlight may divid e i nto m any

,

c ol ored ray s S o may the will of th e S elf man if e st it s elf i n

.

the u tt ering o f w ord s or i n h andl i ng or i n m oving and w h at

, , ,

ev er p ow e rs o f ac ti on th e re are th roug h ou t th e s ev en w orld s .

W here the S elf i s t h ere will i ts p ow ers be I t i s but a qu es

, .

ti on o f the v e s t u re t h rou gh whi c h th es e p ow ers S h all s h i ne

fo rth A nd whe rev er the c ons c i ou s ness and d es i re of th e ev er
.

c reati v e S elf are fi x ed th e re will a v e s t u re b e b u ilt u p wh e re

the h eart 1 8 th ere w

,

ill the t reas u re be al s o

, .

S ince th rough ages the d es i re of th e S el f has b een tow a rd

th e natu ral w o rld w h erei n th e S elf s ought to mi rro r hi ms elf
,

th at he might know him s el f th erefore a v es tu re of natu ral ,

el em ent s c am e i nt o b e i ng th rough w h i c h bl os s omed f orth th e ,

S el f s pow ers of p erc eiving and of will ' th e p ow er to s ee to

’
,

h ear to s p eak to w alk to ha ndl e ; and w h en th e S el f thu s

'

, , , ,

c om e to s elf c ons c i ou s ne s s and wit h it to a k nowl ed ge o f h i s

-

, , ,

i mp ri sonm ent s h all s et hi s d es i re on th e divine and real w orld

, ,

and rai se h i s c ons c i o u s nes s th eret o th e s p i rit u al v estu re S h all ,

be b u ilt up for him th ere with i ts exp res s i on of h i s i nh erent ,

p ow ers N or will mig rati on thither be di ffic u lt for the S elf

.
,

s i nce th e divi ne i s no s t rang e o r f oreig n l and for h i m but th e ,

h ou se of hi s h om e wh ere he dw ell s f rom ev erl as ting

,
.

97
 ’
P A T A N J A L I S YOGA SUTRAS

3 . Th e a pp are nt , i mme d i at e c au s e is not t h e true

of th e c re a t i ve nat u re = p ow ers ; b ut, l i ke t h e h us b an d man in
fi eld , i t ta k es o b s tac l es awa y .

hu s ba ndman till s h i s fi eld b r eak i ng up the c l od s

Th e ,

e arth i nt o fi ne m ould p enet rabl e to ai r and rai n ; he s ow s

,

s ee d c a re fully c ov eri ng it fo r f ear o f bi rd s and th e wi nd ;

, ,

wat e r s the s eed l ad en ea rth tu rnmg th e littl e rill s f rom

-

i rri gati on t ank now thi s way and that rem ovi ng ,

f rom th e ch annel s u ntil the ev en fl ow of wat er vitaliz es the

,

wh ol e fi eld A nd s o th e pla nt s germi nate and grow fir s t the

.
‘

bl ad e th en th e ear th en th e full c orn i n th e ear B ut it i s not

, , .

th e hu s b andm an wh o m ak es th e m g row I t i s fir s t the .

, ,

m i rac u l ou s pl as m i c p ow er i n th e g rai n o f s eed whi c h b ri ng s ,

f orth aft er i ts kind ; th en th e al c h emy o f s u nli ght whi c h in ,

pr es enc e o f th e g reen c ol ori ng matt er of th e l eav es gath ers ,

hyd rog en f rom th e w ate r and c arb on f rom th e ga s es i n th e

ai r and mi ngl es th em i n th e hydr o c ar b ons o f pla nt gr ow t h ;
,
- -

and fi nally th e wh olly oc c ult vit al p ow ers o f th e plant it s el f

, , ,

s t o re d up th rough ag es and fl o wi ng d own f rom th e primal

,

s ou rc es o f li f e Th e hu s b andm an but rem ov es the ob s t a c l es

. .

'e pl ant s and w aters but God g i v es th e i nc reas e ,

.

S o with th e fi ner hu sb and man o f divi ner fi el d s ' e till s .

and s ow s but th e g rowth o f th e s pi ritu al man c om es th rou gh

,

the S u rg e and fl ow o f divi ne c reativ e f orc es and p ow ers ,

.

H ere agai n God giv es th e inc reas e Th e divi ne S elf puts

, ,
.

f orth for th e m a ni f es t ati on of i ts p ow ers

,
new fi ner ,

v es tu re the b ody of th e s pi ritu al man

,
.
 P A T A N J A L I S
’
YOGA SU TRAS

5 . I n th e d i fferent fi eld s of mani f es tat i on th e C ou s e ,

ne s s , t h ou h g one , i s t h e eff ec t i ve ca u s e of ma ny s tates of

'

s c i ou s nes s .

H ere i s the s pl endi d t ea chi ng o f on enes s t h at li es a

h eart of the Ea s t ern wi s d om C on s c i ou sn es s i s ultimat ely .

ev erywh e r e and f orev er The Et ernal the Fath er i s th e .

, ,

S elf of A ll B ei ng s A nd s o i n ea c h i ndividual who

.
,

fac et o f that S el f C ons c i ou s nes s i s One Wh eth er i

, .

th rough as the d u ll fi re o f phy s i c al li fe or th e mu rky ,

th e p s y c hi c and p ass i onal or th e radi ance o f th e S p ,

or th e full gl ory o f th e Divi ne it i s ev er th e Light , ,

th e Light Th e one C ons c i ou s nes s i s th e eff ec tiv e c au se of

.

stat es of c ons c i ou s nes s on ev e ry pla ne , .

6 . A mong s t at e s of c ons c i ou s nes s , th at w hi c h i s bo n r

M ed i tati on is f ree f rom th e s ee d of f u t ure s orro w .

Wh ere the c ons ci ou s nes s b r eak s forth in the phy

and th e full pl ay of b odily li fe b egi ns i ts p rogres ,

w ith it i nevitabl e limitati ons B i rth inv olv es d eath M eet ing s . .

hav e th ei r partings Hu ng er alt ernat es with s ati ety A ge

. .

foll ow s on th e h eel s o f y outh ' S o d o th e s t at es of c ons c i ou s

nes s run al ong th e c i rc l e of b i rth and d eath .

With the p s y chi c th e alt erati on b etw een p riz e and p enalty
,

i s s wi ft er H op e has its S h adow o f fea r or it i s no h op e

.
,
.

Exc lu s iv e l ov e i s t ortu red b y j eal ou s y Pl ea s u re pa s s es th rough .

d ead nes s into p ai n Pai n s s u rc ea s e b ri ngs pl ea s u re b ac k agai n

.
’
.

S o h ere too th e s t at es o f c ons c i ou s nes s ru n th ei r c irc l e

, ,
In .

al l p s y c hi c s tat es th ere i s egoti s m whi c h i nd ee d i s the v ery , , ,

es s enc e o f th e p s y c hi c ; and wh e r e th ere i s eg oti s m th e re i s ev er

the seed of futur e s orr ow D es ire c a rri es b ondage in i ts w omb

. .

B ut wh ere th e pu re s pi ritual c ons c i ou s nes s b egin s f ree ,

from s el f and s t ain th e anc i ent law of r etalia t i on c ea ses ; the

,

p enalty o f s orrow l ap s es and i s no m ore imp os ed Th e s oul .

now pa s s es no l ong er f rom s orrow to s o rrow but f rom gl ory

, ,

to gl ory .I ts g row th and s p l end or hav e no limit Th e good .

p a s ses to b etter b est , .

1 00
 BOOK IV

7 . Th e wor k
s of f oll owers aft er U nion make nei th er f or
b g
ri h t pl eas u re nor f or d ark p a i n Th e works of ot h e rs mak e
.

f or pl eas u re or p ai n , or a m i ng l i ng of t h es e .

The man d es i re wi ns f rom h i s w ork s th e r ewa rd of

of
pl ea su re or i nc u rs the p enalty of pai n ; or as s o o ft en hap
, ,

p ens i n li fe hi s gu erd on lik e the pa s s i onat e m ood of th e l ov er

, , ,

i s p art pl ea s u re and p art pai n Work s d one with s el f s eeki ng .

-

bea r withi n th em th e s eed s of futu re s orrow ; c onv ers ely ,

a cc ording to th e p rov erb p res ent p ai n i s f u tu re gai n , .

B ut for him who has gone b ey ond d es i re wh os e d es ire i s

, ,

s et on th e E t ernal neith er pai n to be av o id e d nor pl ea s u re to

,

be gai ne d i ns pi res h i s w ork ' e fears no h ell and d es i res no

.

h eav en 'i s one d es i re i s to k now th e will of the Father and

.
,

fi ni s h h i s w ork 'e c omes di rec tly i n li ne with th e divine

.

Will and w ork s c l eanly and immedi ately with ou t l ong i ng or

, ,

fear ' i s h eart dw ell s

. th e Et ernal ; all h i s des i res are s et
th e Et ernal .

I OI
 P A T A N J A L I S
’
YOGA SUTRAS

8 . F rom th e f orc e i nh ere nt i n works c omes th e mani f es ta

t i on of t h os e dy nami c mi nd i mag es wh i c h are c onf ormab l e to t he
-

ri p eni ng ou t of eac h of th e s e work s .

We are now to c ons g en eral m ec ha ni s m of K arma

id er th e ,

in ord er tha t we may p as s on to the c on s id erati on of him wh o

i s f ree f rom K a rma K a rma i nd eed i s the conc ern o f the
.
, ,

p ers onal man of h i s b ondage or f reed om I t i s the s ucc es s i on

,
.

o f th e f o rc es w hi c h built u p th e p ers onal man r ep rodu c i ng ,

th em s elv es i n one p ers onality aft er a noth e r .

N ow l et u S t ak e an imaginary c as e to see h ow t h es e for c es ,

may w ork ou t L et u s thi nk of a man with mu rd erou s i nt ent

.
,

i n h i s h eart s t riki ng with a dagg er at h i s enemy

, 'e mak es a .

red w ou nd i n h i s vi c tim s b rea s t ; a t the s am e i ns tan t h e pai nt s

’

i n hi s own mi nd a pi c tu re o f that w ou nd ' a p i c tur e dynamic

,

with all th e fi erc e will p ow er h e has p u t i nto h i s murd erou s

-

bl ow I n oth er w ord s he h as m ad e a d eep w ound i n h i s own

.

p s y c hi c b ody ; and wh en h e c om es to be born a gain that bo dy

, ,

will b ec om e h i s out e rm os t v es tu re u p on whi c h with its w ou nd , ,

s till th ere b odily ti s s u e will b e built up

,
S o the man will be .

b orn maim ed o r with th e p redi sp os iti on to s om e m ortal i nj u ry ;

,

h e i s u ngu ard e d at th at p oi nt and any t rifli ng ac c id en t al bl ow h

will pi erc e the b rok en j oi nt s of hi s p s y c hi c a rm or Thu s d o .

th e dynami c mi nd imag es ma nifes t th em selv es c omi ng to the

-

s u rfa c e s o t h at w ork s d one i n th e pa s t may rip en and c om e to

,

f ruiti on .

1 02
 P A T A N J A L I S
’
YOGA SUTRAS

1 0. Th e s e ri es of dy nami c mi nd i ma - g es is b gi nni ngle

e ss ,
b e c au s e 'es i re i s e verl as ti ng .

Th e
wh ol e ri es of mind ima g es w hi c h mak e
se dy nami c -

up the enti re hi s t ory of the p ers onal man i s a p art of the ,

m ec h ani s m whi c h the S elf empl oy s to mi rror it s el f in a refl ec ,

ti on to emb ody i ts p ow ers in an outward fo rm to th e end of

, ,

s elf exp res s i on

-
s elf realizati on s el f k nowl edg e
, Th eref ore
-

,
-
.

th e i niti al i mpul s e b ehi nd th es e dy nami c mi nd imag es c om es -

f rom the S elf and i s the d es cending ray of the S elf ; s o that
,

it c a nnot be s aid that th ere i s any fi rst m em be r of the s eri es of

imag es f rom whi c h the res t a ros e Th e impul s e i s b egin ni ng
, .

l es s s i nc e it c om es f ro m th e S elf whi c h i s from ev erla s ti ng

, , .

D es i re i s not to c ea s e ; it i s to turn to th e Et ernal and s o ,

b ec om e a s pi rati on .

1 1 . Sin
dy nami c mi nd i mages are h eld togeth er b y
ce th e a

i m p u l s e s of d es i re by t h e w i s h f or p e rs ona l re ward by t h e s u b
, ,

s t rat u m of m e nt a l h ab i t by th e s u pp ort of outer th i ngs d es i red ;

,

t h e re f ore w h e n t h e s e c ea s e t h e s e lf rep rod uc ti on of dy nami c

, ,
-

mi nd i mag es s
c e as es .

We till c onc ern ed with th e p ers on al life in its b odily

-
'

are s
v es tu re and with th e p roc es s wh er eb y the forc es w hich hav e
, ,

uph eld it are g radually t rans f erred to th e lif e o f th e s pi ritual

,

man and build up for h i m h i s fi ner v es tu re in a fi ner w orld

,
.

'ow i s th e c u rrent to be c hang ed ' 'ow i s th e fl ow of

s elf rep rod u c tiv e mi nd ima ges whi c h hav e built th e c onditi ons
- -

o f li f e aft er lif e i n thi s w orld o f b ondag e to be c h ec k ed tha t , ,

th e tim e of i mp ri s onment may c om e to an end th e day of ,

lib erati on dawn '

Th e a ns w er i s giv en i n the s ut ra j u s t tran s l at ed Th e t ru e .

drivi ng forc e i s withd raw n and di rec t ed to the upbuildin g of

-

th e s pi ritual b ody .

Wh en the buildi ng im p ul s es and for c es are w ithdra w n the ,

tend enc y to ma ni f es t a new phy s i c al b ody a new body of ,

b ondage cea s es w i th th em
, .

1 04
 BOOK IV

1 2 d i ffere nc e b etwee n th at wh i c h i s p as t and th at

. Th e
c h i s not y et c ome a c c ord i ng t o t h ei r nat u re s
, d e p end s on ,

d i ffere nc e of p h as e of th ei r prop e rti es .

H ere we c om e to a high and di ffic ult m att er w hi c h has ,

al way s been h eld to be o f g reat m om ent in the E as t ern wi s d om '

th e th ought that the divi s i on of tim e i nt o p as t p res ent and ,

futu re i s i n great m ea s u re an illu s i on ; t h at pa s t p res ent

, , , ,

futu re all dw ell t og et h er in the et ernal N ow .

The di sc er nm ent of thi s t ru th h as b een h eld to be s o

nec ess a rily a pa rt of wi s d om that one o f th e nam es o f the ,
'
E nligh ten ed i s ' he who h as pa s s ed b ey ond t h e th ree tim es '

'
pas t p res ent future
, ,
.

S o th e W est ern M a s t er S aid ' B e fore Ab rah am was I ,

am I am with y ou alw ay u nto the end of th e

'
and ag ai n , ,
'
w orld ; us i ng th e et ernal p res ent for p as t and fu tu re alik e .

With th e s am e pu rp os e the M as t er s p eak s of him s elf as th e ,

'

alph a a nd the om ega th e b egi nni ng and th e end th e fi rs t and

, ,
'
th e la s t .

And a M a s t er of ou r own day s w rit es ' I feel ev en i rri

tated at havi ng to u s e th es e th ree c lu m s y w ord s pa s t p res ent —
, ,

and futu re M i s erabl e c onc ept s of th e ob j ec tiv e pha s es of th e

.

s ub j ec tiv e wh ol e th ey are ab out as ill adapt ed fo r th e p u rp o s e

,
-

,
'
as an a' e for fi ne c a rvi ng One feel s that th ere mu s t be .

s om ething wo e fully w rong with w ord s that can s o far di s tu rb

that h igh u rban e s erenity , .

I n the et ernal N ow b oth p a s t and futu re are c ons ummat ed

‘

.
,

Bj Orkl un d th e S w edi s h p h il os oph er h as w ell s tat ed th e

, ,

s ame t ruth '

'
N eith er pa s t nor fu t u re c an exi s t to God ; 'e liv es undi
v i d ed l y with ou t limitati on s and need s not as man to pl ot ou t
, , , ,

hi s exi s t ence in a s eri es o f mo m ent s Et ernity th en i s not .

id enti c al with un endi ng t im e ; it i s a di ff erent form of exi s t

en c e , r el at ed to tim e as th e p erf ec t to th e imp erf ec t .

' an as an entity for him s elf mu s t hav e th e natu ral li mitati ons
for th e part C onc eiv ed by God man i s et ernal i n th e divi ne
.

sens e but c onceiv ed by him s elf man s et ernal lif e i s c l oth e d i n

’

th e limit ati ons we c all tim e Th e et ernal i s a c ons tant pr es ent

.

w ith out b eg inning or end without p a s t or futu re ,

.
'

1 05
 P A T A N J A L I S
’
YOGA SUTRAS

1 3 . T h es e p p ro e rt i es , wh eth er mani f es t or latent , are of

t h e nat u re of t h e T h ree P ote nc i es .

Th e Th ree P ot enc i es thr ee man if est ed mod ifica

are the
ti ons o f the one p rimal m at erial w hi c h s ta nd s opp os i t e to ,

p erc eiving c ons c i ou s nes s Th ese Thr ee P ot enc i es are c all ed

. .

S u b s ta nc e F orc e Da rknes s ; or vi ew ed ra th er for th eir moral

, ,

c ol ori ng G oodnes s Pa s s i on I nertn es s Ev ery mat erial man

, , , .

i fes tati on i s a p roj ec ti on o f s ub s tance in t o the em p ty s p ac e of

d ark nes s Ev ery ment al s tat e i s eith er good or pa s s i onal or
.
, ,

i nert S o wh eth er s ub j ectiv e or ob j ec tiv e la tent or manifest

.
, , ,

al l thi ng s that pr es ent th em selv es to th e p erc e iving c on s c i o u s

nes s are c omp ou nd e d o f th es e thr ee .

14 Th e exte rna l m ani f e s tat i on of an ob ec t ta

. j ke p lace
s

w h en t h e t rans f ormati ons are i n t h e s ame h as e p .

W e S h ould be i nc li ned xp res s the s am e law by s ayi ng

to e ,

for exampl e that a s ou nd i s audi b l e wh en i t cons i s t s of vib ra

, ,

ti ons withi n the c ompa s s of the audit ory nerv e ; that an ob j ec t

i s vi s ibl e wh en e ith er di rec tly o r by refl ec ti on it s end s f orth
, ,

lu mi nif e rou s vib rati ons wi th i n the c om p a s s of the r etina and

'

t h e o pti c nerv e V ib rati ons b el ow or a bov e t hat co mpa s s mak e

.

no i mp res s i on at all and th e ob j ec t r emain s invi s i b l e ; as for

, ,

e x ampl e a k ettl e of b o ili ng wat er i n a da rk room th ough the

, ,

k ettl e i s s endi ng forth h eat vib rati ons c l os ely aki n to ligh t .

S o wh en the vib rati ons of the obj ec t and th os e o f th e

’

p erc eptiv e p ow er are i n the s am e p ha se the ext ernal mani fes ta ,

ti on o f th e ob j ec t tak es p la c e .

Th ere s eem s to be a furth er s ugges t i on t ha t the ap p ear

a nc e o f an ob j ec t in the p res en t or its r emaini ng hid in th e
' '
,
' ' ' '
pa s t or futu re i s lik ewi s e a qu es ti on o f phas e and j u s t
, , , ,

as the ra nge of vib rati on s p erc eiv ed might be i ncrea s ed b y th e

d ev el op m en t of fin er sen ses so the p erc ep ti on of thin g s p a st
, ,

and t hin g s to c om e may be ea s y from a hi gh er p oint of vi ew

, .

1 06
 ’
P A T A N J A L I S YOGA SUTRAS

7 1 A n o ec t i s
. bj p
erc e i v e d , or not p erc e i v e d , a c c ord i n ga s

th e g
mi nd i s , or i s not , t i n ed w i th th e c ol or of th e ob ect j .

'

The s impl es tmani fes tati on o f thi s i s the ma t t e r o f atten

ti on O u r mi nd s app reh end what th ey w i s h to app reh end ; all
'

el se pa s s es un noti c ed or on the oth er h and we p erc eiv e w hat

, , ,

we r esent as for exampl e the n oi s e of a p a s s ing t rain ; whil e

, , ,

oth ers u se d to th e s ou nd d o not noti ce it at all

, , .

B u t the d eep er m eani ng i s th at out of the va s t t otali tyo f

,

ob j ect s ev e r p r es ent in the u niv ers e th e mi nd p ercei v es only ,

th os e whi c h c onform to the hu e of its K a rma Th e res t re .

m ain s u nseen ev en th ough c l os e a t h and

, .

Thi s s piritual law h as b een w ell expr es sed by Em er s on

Th rough s olid es t eternal thi ng s the man fi nd s hi s road as
'

i f th ey did not s ub s i s t and does not once s u s p ec t th eir b eing

,
.

A S s oon as he need s a new ob j ec t s udd enly h e b eh old s it and , ,

no l onger att empt s to pa s s th rough it but t a k es a noth er w ay ,

.

Wh en he has exhau st ed for th e tim e the nou ri s hm ent to b e

dra w n from any one p ers on or thi ng that ob j ect i s withd rawn ,

f rom hi s ob s ervati on and th ough s till in h i s imme di at e n eigh

borhood h e d oes not s u s p ec t i ts pr es en c e
, N othing i s d ead . .

' en f ei gn th em s elv es d ead and end ure moc k funeral s and ,

m ou rnful ob ituari es and th er e th ey s tand l ooking ou t o f th e

,

w i nd ow s ou nd and w ell i n s om e new and s trang e di s gu i s e

, , .

J es u s i s not d ead h e i s v e ry,

w e ll aliv e 'nor J oh n no r P aul no r , ,

M ah om et nor A ri s totl e ; at tim es we be li eve we hav e s een

,

th em all and c ould ea s ily t ell the nam es und er w hich th ey go

,
.

1 08
 BOOK IV

1 8 . Th e mov em ents of th e p syc h i c nat ure are p p etu ally

er

o bj ec ts of p erc e p ti on , s i nc e th e S p i ri tual ' an wh o i s , th e l ord of

t h e m, re mai ns u nc h an gi ng .

H ere i s t ea c hi ng of the utm ost imp ort b oth for und er ,

s tan di ng and fo r p rac ti c e .

To th e p s y c h i c nat u re b el ong all th e ebb and fl ow of

em oti on al l h opi ng and f eari ng
,
d es i re and h at e ' the thi ngs ,

th at m ak e the mu ltit u d e of men and wo men d eem th em s elv es

h appy or m i s erabl e To it al s o b el ong th e m ea s uring and c om
.

p ari ng the d oubt and qu es ti oni ng w h i c h for th e s am e multi

, , ,

tud e m ak e up m ent al li fe S o that th ere res ult s th e emo ti on

,
.

s oak ed p ers onali ty with i ts d ark and narr ow vi ew of lif e ' th e

,

S h iv eri ng t error d riv en p ers onality that i s life it s el f for all

,
-

bu t all of m anki nd .

Y et the p ers onality i s not th e t ru e man not the living s oul ,

at all but only a s p ec t ac l e whi c h th e t ru e man ob s erv es

,
Un .

d ers t and thi s th ere fore and d raw y ou rs el f up i nwa rdly to the
'

, ,

h eigh t of th e S pi ritu al ' an wh o s t andi ng i n the qui et light , ,

o f th e Et ernal l ook s d ow n s erene upon thi s turmoil of the

,

ou t er lif e .

One fi rst ma s t ers the p ers onality the mind by thu s , ,

l ooki ng d ow n on it fr om ab ov e f rom withi n ; by s t eadily watc h ,

i ng i ts ebb and fl ow as obj ec tiv e outw ard and th e re fore not , , ,

th e real S el f Thi s st andi ng ba c k i s th e fi rs t s tep d eta c hm ent

.
, .

The s ec ond to m ai ntai n th e va nt age g rou nd thu s gai ned i s

,
-

rec oll ec ti on .

I O9
 P A T A N J A L I S
’
YOGA SUTRAS

1 9 . Th e M i nd i s not se lf l u mi nous
-
, s i nc e it can be s een as

an o b j ec t .

Thi s is
a fu rth er s t ep t oward ov erthrowi ng the tyran ny
'
o f th e mi nd th e p s y c hi c natur e of em ot i on and m en tal
m eas u ri ng Thi s p s y chi c s el f the p er s onality c laim s to be
.
, ,

ab s olut e as s erti ng th at li f e i s for it and t h rough it ; it s eek s to

,

i mp os e on the wh ol e b ei ng of man its na rrow mat eri ali s ti c , ,

faithl es s vi ew o f li f e and th e u niv ers e ; i t w ould fai n c lip the

wi ng s o f th e s oari ng S oul B ut the S oul d eth rones the tyrant .
,

by p erc eivi ng and s t eadily a ffi rmi ng th at th e p s yc hi c s el f i s no

t ru e s elf at all not s el f lumi nou s but only an ob j ect o f obs er
,
—
,

vati on w atc h ed by th e s er ene ey es of the Sp i ri t ual M an

, .

2 0 . N or c ou ld th e M i nd at th e sa me t i me know i ts elf and

th i n g s e xt e rnal to i t .

Th e is
that the mind k now s n eith er ext ernal thi ng s
t ruth
nor it s elf I ts m eas u ri ng and a naly s ing i ts h opi ng and f ea r
.
,

i ng h ati ng and d es i ri ng nev er g iv e it a t ru e m ea s ur e of lif e

, , ,

nor any s ens e o f real v alu es C ea sel es s ly ac tiv e i t n ev er r eally .

,

att ai ns to k nowl edg e ; o r i f we ad mit i ts k no wl e dg e it ev er

‘

, ,

fall s s h ort o f wi s d om w h i c h c om es only th rou g h i ntui t i on the

, ,

vi s i on o f th e Sp i ritu al ' an .

Li fe c annot be k now n by th e mi nd i ts s ec ret s c a nnot ,

be l ear ne d th rough th e m i nd
'
Th e p roo f i s th e c ea s el ess .
,

s t ri f e and c ont radi c ti on o f Opini on am ong th ose wh o tru s t i n

' '
th e mi nd M u c h l es s c an th e mi nd k now it self the m or e s o
.
, ,

b ec au s e it i s p erv ad ed b y the illu s i on that i t t ruly k n ow s ,

t ruly i s .

T ru e k nowl edg e of th e m i nd c om es fi rs t wh en the , ,

S pi ritual ' an ari s i ng s tand s d et ach ed regardi ng the mind

, ,
' '
,

f rom ab ov e with qui et ey es and s eei ng it for the tangl ed web

, ,

o f p s y c hi c f orc es th at i t t ruly i s B ut th e truth i s divi ned l on g .

b e fore it i s c l early s een and th en begi ns th e l ong b a ttl e of the

,

mi nd agai ns t th e R eal th e mi nd fighti ng furi ou sly

'
,
'
,

c raftily for i ts s up rem ac y

,
I ts h onor root ed i n di s h onor .

s ta nd s and fait h u nfaithful m ak es it fal s ely tru e

,
.

1 10
 P A T A N J A L f S Y OG A S U TR A s

2 3 . Th e p s yc h i c nat u re , u ni ers a v lly ad ap ti ve , ke

ta s on the
l
c o or e i t h er of thi n g s s e e n, or of t he S ee r.

I n the u nreg enerat e man, th e p s y c hi c natur e i s s a t urat ed

with i mages aof mat eri al thi ng s , of thin g s s een , or h eard , or
fi

t as t ed , or felt ; and thi s web of dynami c ima ges form s the ordi
na ry m at erial and d rivi ng p owe r o f lif e The s ens ati on of .

s w eet thi ng s t as t ed c l am ors t o be renew ed , and driv es th e man

i nto eff ort to obtai n i ts renew al ; s o he add s image to imag e,

eac h dynami c and i mp ortu nate p ili ng up S i n s in tol erab l e ,
’

b urd en .

Th en c om es reg enerati on and th e wa s hin g away of S i n

, ,

th rou gh t h e fi ery c reativ e p ow e r of th e S oul w hi c h bur ns out

, ,

the s tai ns of th e p s y c hi c v es tu re purifying it as gold i s r efin ed

,

i n the fu rna c e Th e s uff eri ng o f r egenera t i on s p rin gs from

.

thi s i ndi s p ens abl e pu rifyi ng .

Th en th e p s y c hi c v es tu re b egi ns to tak e on the col or of

th e S oul no l ong er s tai ne d b ut s u ff u s ed with g old en li ght
, ,

and th e man reg enerat e gl eam s with th e radia nc e of et ernity .

Th u s the S pi rit u al ' an p u t s on fai r raim ent ; for of thi s c l ea ns

i ng it i s s aid ' Tho u gh y ou r s i ns be as s c a rl et th ey S hall be
whit e as s now ; th ough t h ey be as c ri mson th ey S hall be as
,

w ool .

I IZ
 BOOK IV

2 4 . p s y c h i c nat u re wh i c h h as b een p ri nte d w i th mi nd

Th e ,

i mag es of i nnu m e ra bl e mat e ri al t h i ng s exi s ts now f or th e S p i ri t ,

u al ' a n s u b ord i na t e to h i m
, .

The mi nd onc e th e ty rant i s now th e S l av e r ec ogniz ed

, , ,

as ou tw ard s ep arat e
,
not S elf a w ell t rained i ns t rum ent of
,
-

,
-

th e S pi ritu al ' an .

'or it i s not ord ai ned for th e S pi ri t u al ' an th at findi ng ,

hi s high realm h e s h all ent e r alt og eth er th ere and p as s ou t of

, ,

th e vi s i on o f m anki nd I t i s t ru e th at he dw ell s i n h eav en but

.
,

h e al s o dw ell s on earth 'e has ang el s and a rc h angel s the

.
,

h os t s of th e j u s t mad e p erf ec t for h i s f amili ar f ri end s but h e

, ,

h as at the s am e ti me f ou nd a new k i ns hip with th e p rone c hil

d ren of men who s tu mbl e and S in in the d ark Fi ndi ng S in
,
.

l es snes s he find s al s o th at th e w orld s s in and s h am e are hi s

,
’
,

not to s h are but to at one ; fi ndi ng ki ns hip with a ng el s h e lik e

, ,

wi s e fi nd s hi s p art i n the t oil of a ngel s the t oil for th e red emp ,

ti on o f the w orld .

'or thi s Work h e wh o now s tand s i n the h eav enly realm

, , '
,

need s h i s i ns t ru m ent on earth ; and thi s i ns t rum ent h e fi nd s ,

ready to h i s h and and fitt e d and p e rf ec t ed by th e v ery s trug

,

gl es h c b as w aged agai ns t it i n th e p ers onality th e mi nd o f

.
, ,
' '

th e p ers onal man Thi s onc e ty rant i s now h i s s erv ant and
.

p erfect amb as s ad or b eari ng witnes s b e fore men o f h eav enly

, , ,

thi ng s and ev en i n th i s p res ent w orld d oi ng th e w ill and w ork

,

i ng th e w or k s of th e Fath er .
 ’
P A T A N J A L I S YOGA SUTRA S

2 5 . 'or h i m wh o d i s c erns b e t we en t h e M i nd and th e S p i ri t

u al ' a n, t h e re c o m e s p erf ec t f ru i t i on of t h e l ong i ng aft er t h e
re a l b ei ng of the S e lf .

' ow m any ti mes i n th e l ong t uggl e h av e the S oul s s r

’

a s pi rati ons s eeme d but a h op el es s imp o s s ibl e d ream a mad , ,

m an s c ou ns el of p erf ecti on Y et ev ery fin es t m os t impo s s i b l e

’
.
,

as pi rati on s hall be realiz e d and t en ti me s m ore th an realiz ed

, ,
' '
once th e l ong a rdu ou s figh t agai ns t th e
, mi nd and the mi nd s ,
’

w orld vi ew i s won A nd th en it will b e s een th at u nfaith and

-
.

de s p ai r w ere but w eap ons o f th e mi nd to d au nt th e S oul '

,
'
,
'
and put o ff th e d ay w h en th e nec k o f th e mi nd S hall be put
u nd er the f oot of th e S ou l .

H av e y ou as pi re d w ell nigh hop el es s after imm ortality '

,
-

Y ou S h all be p aid by ent e ri ng th e imm ort ality o f God .

Hav e yo u aspi red in mi s ery and p ain aft er c ons oli ng

, , ,

'
h eali g l ov e Y ou s hall be m ad e a di s p ens er of the divin e l ov e
n
o f God Him self to w ea ry s oul s .

Hav e y ou s ought a rd ently i n y our day of feeb l enes s aft er , ,

p ow er ' Y ou s hall wi eld p ow er immo rt al i nfinit e with God , ,

w orki ng th e w ork s o f God .

Hav e y ou i n l onely d ark nes s l onged for c ompa ni ons hi p

, ,

a d c o so a o
n n l ti n ' Y ou s h all h av e a ng el s and arc h ang el s for
'

y ou r f ri end s and all th e imm ort al h os t s of th e Daw n

,
.

Th es e are th e f ru it s o f vi c t ory T h ere fore ov erc ome

. . .

Th es e are th e p riz es of reg enerati on Th erefore d i e to self .

,

t h at y ou may ri s e agai n to God .

1 14
 ’
P A T A N J A L I S YOGA SUTRAS

2 8 . T h es e a re to b e o v erc ome as g
i t was tau h t t h at s orro

s h ou ld be o v erc ome .

Th es e new en emi es and f ear s are to be ov erc om e b y

l es s ly renewi ng th e figh t by a s t ead fast d ogged p ers i , ,

wh eth er in vi c t ory or d ef eat whi c h S hall put the s tu ,

o f th e roc k s to S ha me 'or the S oul i s o ld er m ore i nvi nc ibl e

.
,

th an al l thi ng s ; it i s o f th e v ery natu re of the S oul to be u n

c onqu erabl e .

Th ere fore fight on u ndau nt ed ; k nowi ng that th e s pi ritual

,

will onc e awakened will thr ou gh th e eff o rt o f th e c ont es t

, , , ,

com e to i ts full s t rength ; that g ro u nd gai ned c an be h eld p er

‘

manentl y th at g reat as i s th e d ead w eight of th e adv ers a ry it -

i s y et m eas u rabl e whil e h e wh o fight s for y ou h e for w h om

, ,

y o u fig h t i s i n m
,
ight i m m eas u rabl e i nvi nc ibl e ev erl as ti ng , , .

2
9 . 'e wh o , f ter h e h as attai ned i s wh olly fre e f rom s e lf
a , ,

is s et i n a c ou l d of h ol i ne s s w h i c h i s c all e d i ll u m i nati on Th is is .

t h e t ru e s p i ri tu al c ons c i ou s ne s s .

I t has b een s aid th at at th e b egi nni ng o f th e way we , ,

m u s t kill ou t ambiti on th e g reat c u rs e, th e gi ant w eed whi c h

,

g row s as s t rongly in th e h eart of th e d ev ot ed di sc ipl e as i n th e

m an of d es i re Th e remed y i s s a c rifi c e of s elf ob edi enc e h u
.
, ,

mi lity ; th at pu rity o f h ea rt whi c h giv es th e vi s i on o f God .

T h ereaft er he wh o h as attai ned i s w rapt ab out with h oli nes s

, ,

as wit h a c l ou d ; h e h as th at p erf ec t illumi nati on w h i c h i s th e

t ru e s pi rit u al c ons c i ou s nes s T h rough ob edi enc e to th e will .

o f God h e c om es i nt o onenes s of b ei ng with God ; h e i s i ni ti

,

at ed i nt o G od s vi ew of the u niv er s e s eeing all lif e as God

’

sees i t .

1 16
 B OO ' IV

30 . T h ere on c om es s u rc eas e f rom s orro w and th e b urd en

of toi l .

S u ch a one, id i s f ree f rom th e b ond of Karma

it is sa , ,

f rom the b u rd en of t oil f rom th at d ebt to w ork s whi ch c omes

,

f rom w ork s d one i n s elf l ov e and d es i re F ree f rom s el f will

-
.
-

h e i s f ree f rom s orrow too for s orrow com es f rom th e fight of

, ,

s elf will again s t th e divi ne will th rough th e c or rec ti ng s t res s

-

o f th e divi ne will w h i c h s eek s to c ou nt era c t th e evil w rought

,

by di s ob edi enc e W h en th e c onfli c t with th e divi ne w i ll

.

c eas es th en s orrow c eas es and h e who has g row n i nto ob ed

, ,

i enc e th ereby ent ers i nto j oy

, .

Wh en al l vei l s are rent al l s tai ns

31 .
, wa s h e d awa y , his
knowl ed ge b ec omes i nfi ni te ; l i tt l e remai ns f or hi m t o k now .

Th e fi rs t v eil i s th e d elu s i on t hat thy s ou l i s i n s ome p er

m anent way sep arat e f rom th e g reat S oul the divi ne E t ernal ,
.

Wh en t hat v eil i s rent th ou s h alt di s c ern thy onenes s with

,

ev erla s ti ng Li f e Th e s ec ond v eil i s th e d elu s i on o f endu ri ng

.

s ep arat ene s s f rom thy oth e r s elv es wh ere as in t ru th th e s oul ,

th at i s i n them i s one with th e s ou l th at i s in th ee Th e w orld s .

’

s i n and s h am e are th y s i n and s h am e 'i ts j oy al so .

Th es e v eil s rent th ou s h al t ent er i nt o k nowl edge of divi ne

,

th i ng s and human thi ngs Littl e will remai n unk now n to th ee

. .

1 17
 ’
P A T A N J A L I S Y O GA SUTRAS

32 . T h ere af t er co mes th e mpl e ti on

co of th e s eri es of t rans
f orma t i ons of t h e t h re e nat u re p ote nc i es , e
s i nc e th e i r p p
u r os e is
attai ne d .

I t i s a pa rt of th e b eauty and wi s d om of th e g reat I ndia n

t ea chi ngs th e V eda nta and th e Yoga ali k e to h old th at all life
, ,

exi s t s for th e pu rp os es of S oul for th e mak i ng of th e S pi ritual ,

' an Th ey d o not t ea c h a s alvati on w hi c h i s p r et ernatu ral

.
,

a s eem i ng vi olati on of the c ou rs e of natu re nor a s alvati on ,

w h i c h c om es t h rough a divi ne d ec ree alm os t a divine whim ,

.

Th ey t ea c h rath er that all nat u re i s an ord erly pr oc es s o f ev ol u

ti on l eadi ng up to thi s d es i gned for thi s end exi s ti ng only for
, , ,

thi s ' to b ri ng fo rth and p erfec t the S piritual ' an 'e i s th e .

c row n o f ev oluti on ; at h i s c omi ng th e g oal o f all d ev el opm ent ,

i s attain ed .

33 . Th e s e ri es of t rans f ormat i ons i s d i vi d e d i nt o mome nts ,

and i s to b e re ga d d
r e as th e cu l mi nati on of nat u re .

Thi s i s p erhap s a phil os ophi c al s ubtl ety lat er i ns ert ed i n

, , ,
'
th e t ea c hi ng in full e r exp ans ion o f th e w o rd s seri es o f t rans
,

f orm ati ons i n th e la s t s ut ra Th e id ea h ow ev er i s c l ea r and

' '

.
, , ,

i s w h o lly in h arm ony with th e res t o f the t eac h i ng T h e re are .

two ki nd s o f ete rnity s ay s th e c omm ent ary 'the et ernity of i m

,

m ortal li fe whi c h b el ongs to the S pi rit and th e et ernity o f

, ,

c h ang e whi ch i nh eres in N atur e ; i n all th at i s not S pi rit

, .
.

Whil e we are c ontent to liv e in and for N atu re i n th e Ci rc l e o f ,

N ec es s ity S an s a ra we doom our selv es to p erp etu al c h ang e

, ,
.

T hat w h i c h i s bo rn mu s t d i e and tha t w hi ch di es mu s t b e re ,

b orn I t i s c ha ng e ev erm ore a c ea s el es s s eri es of trans for

.
,

mati ons .

B u t th e S pi ritu al ' an ent er s a new ord er ; for him th er e ,

i s no l on ger et er nal c h ang e but et ernal B ei ng 'e h as ent er ed ,

.

i nt o th e j oy o f h i s Lord Thi s s p iritual b ir th w hich mak es.

,

him h eir of the Ev erla stin g s et s a t erm to chang e ; it i s the ,

c ulmina t i on the cr ow nin g tran s f orma t i on o f the w h ol e r ealm

, ,

o f c hang e .

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