C opy righ t
C 'A R L E S
by
J O 'N S T O N
19 12 ,
.
AT E '
C O R ' I A L R E GA R 'S
'E 'I C
WI
T'
TO
C 'A R L E S R O C K W
E LL
L AN ' AN
I nt rodu c t ion
I
'
Yoga S u t ras of
to Book I
in th em selve s exc eed
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
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
HE
P atanj al i
are
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P A T A N
’
A L I S
J
YOGA
TRAS
S U
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
th ey are in es s enc e s pi ritual ; that th e p s y c hical man i s
c hi c al
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
wh ereby we ent er ou r divi ne in
s pi rit u al f rom th e p s y c hi c al
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
'is
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
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
th e eme rgenc e of th e
c onc erned w ith the fi rs t g reat p robl em
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
The
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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
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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
,
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2
of
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th e
p i ri tual c ons c i ous nes s
v ers at i l e p s y c h i c nat u re
U ni on,
s
,
is
g
ai ne
d
g
th rou h
l
c ontro
.
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
Th e
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3
T h en th e
.
natu re
S
e er
mes
co
to
c ons c i ou s nes s
i n hi s
p rop er
.
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
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P A T A N
4
of
'ere tof ore th e
.
p
th e
J
yc h i c
s
natu re
'
’
YOGA
A L I S
S
e er
b
h as
S U
TRAS
mes h ed i n
ee n en
ac t i
th e
vi ti es
.
li fe w hic h are the h eritage o f the s pi ritual
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
I n st ead of th e
c ombativ e eg ot i s m i ts ha nd agai ns t ev e ry man
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
The pow er
and
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pl
5
Th e
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eas u re or
p s ych i c
ac t i
v i ti e s
are
fi v e ; t h ey
are
d d by
at t e n e
p ai n
.
p sychi c na t u re i s built up th rough the image ma k i ng
the pow er whi c h l i es beh i nd and dw ell s i n mi nd p i c
The
-
po w
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
er,
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6
v i ti es are ' S ou nd
ph antas y d ream memory
T h es e
.
l ec tion
,
i nte ll ec t i on,
ac t i
.
,
d
u ns ou n
i nte l
.
m ental and em oti onal pow er s ; o f
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
W e hav e h ere a li st
of
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8
I
BOOK
Th e e l e me nts of s ou nd i nte ll ec t i o n are ' d i rec t
7
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
b s erva
o
.
.
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
T ru stwo rth y t es tim ony th e s h ari ng o f one s ou l
o f the O ne
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
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’
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8
on a
U ns ou nd i nte ll ec t i on i s
.
p erc ep ti on
f al s e
g
th e t rue natu re of th i n
of
d i ng
d
u n ers ta n
,
not
g
res t i n
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
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P h antas y
re a l i t y
9
i ng
is
.
a
fi c t i on
of
m e re w ord s
,
wi t h
d ly
no u n er
.
O ne
p erh ap s th at th ere i s thi s di ff erenc e betw een
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
may
s ay ,
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P A T A N
’
YOGA SUTRAS
L I S
J A
'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
a l l m a t e r i al t h i ng e b e i ng a b s e nt
res
I O.
s
t at es
,
ts
on
m i nd
.
waki ng life we h av e two c u rrent s o f p erc epti on ; an
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 ;
Th e out er c u r
an i nner c u rrent o f mi nd i m ag es and t h ought s
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
In
,
-
.
,
-
,
'
'
.
M e mory
1 1
gf t
i s t h e h old i n
as
to
m i nd = i m ag es
of
g
t hi n
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
,
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-
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1 2
th e
ri
e nc e
.
gh t
Th e
l
c o nt ro
u s e of
th e
t h es e p s y c hi c
w i ll a nd t h rou g h
of
,
v i t i es c om es t h rou gh
c e as i ng f rom s el f i nd u l g
ac t i
=
=
.
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
in
s
3
gh t
l b i ng
Th e
.
p i ri t ua
ri
e
u s e of
th e w i ll i s t h e
s tea
dy effort
to
s
t and
.
W e h av e th ou gh t
lv es p erh ap s as c reatu res mov
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
o f ou rs e
,
,
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,
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b ec om es a fi rm re s ti ng pl ac e
4
p ers i s te nt ly w i t h ri gh t e ou s nes s
1
T hi s
.
=
,
f oll ow e d l ong
wh en
,
.
,
W e mu s t
k s pi rit u al li fe i n c onf ormity with th e l aw s
rity
o f s pi rit u al lif e with righ t eou s ne s s
n
tl
a
h u mi l i ty a
c
h
e
e
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
s ee
G
,
,
,
,
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,
,
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,
1
5
C e as i ng f rom
.
th e t hi rs t f or
s e ns u ou s
Rightly
s e l f = i nd u g enc e
pl eas u re h ere
is
or
c ons c i ou s
mas t ery
v
o er
h e reaf ter
.
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
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’
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I I
P A T A N
1
6
Th e
.
mod e of
s p i ri tu al man
a ny
p
c ons u
s
’
mmat i on
y c h i ca l
YOGA SUTRAS
A L I S
J
ac ti
th i s i s
of
v i ty
,
g
f ree d om f rom
t h rou h th e
t h i rs t f or
es tab l i s h me nt of
'
th e
.
d r to gai n a t ru e u nd ers t anding o f thi s t ea c hi ng
faith by
s tudy m u s t be s uppl eme nt ed by d ev ot ed p ra c ti c e
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
In
or e
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1
ta
k
es
me nt
.
.
,
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
fi rs t of exteri or reas oni ng th e n of i nt e ri or j u d g
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
T h at
7
t h e f orm
.
th e n of
s
,
.
,
pi ritual c ons c i ou snes s th er e are two c l ea rly m arke d
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
In
s
,
.
.
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
’
.
1
up
8
.
S pi
ri tua
l
gh t p ac ti
S piritual S il ence i s
to
by
th e
ri
l i mi ted i s
s p i ri tua l S i l e nc e
c ons c i ou s ne s s
r
c e of
th e
un
fi nal
t
s ta e
l ed
.
th e c row n and end o f
pu rifica t i on
.
It
t illing of all pa ss i onal and p s ychi c s torm s thos e d ramatic
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
i s the
s
'
,
,
,
,
.
12
BOOK I
1
9
.
Th e
e
xternal
q u e red b od i ly l u s ts
ne s s
,
ll d omi nates th os e wh o
i mmers e d i n th e s e ns e of
world
b ut
s ti
are
h av e
se
con
pa at
r
e
.
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
to
.
'or th e
by fai th val or
,
,
p i ri tu al c ons c i ou s nes s l ed up
mi ndf u l nes s one p oi nte d nes s p erc ep ti on
ot h e rs ,
ri
gh t
t h e re i s
s
,
-
,
.
,
w ell to ke ep in mi nd th es e s t ep s on the path to i ll umi
nati on ' faith v al o r right mi ndful nes s
one p oint ed nes s
r
e
p
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
It
is
-
,
,
,
,
.
.
,
,
-
,
,
.
2 1
.
S pi
i nte ns e wi ll
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 mag e u s ed i s the s wi ft i mp etu s of the t orrent ; 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
The
.
.
.
2 2
tens e
.
k
Th e w i ll may b e wea
,
mi ddl e
or of
gth
s tren
or
,
in
.
'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
2
3
Th e
.
w i ll
’
YOGA
A L I S
J
ma y
g
be
a i ne
d by
S
UTRAS
d ent
vi ce
ar
th e
of
s er
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
.
w,
s orro
M as t er
b ond age
Th e
is
th e
k
t o w or
,
a nd
man w h o h as c onq uere d
ac c u mu l a t i on of ev i l s
p i ri t ual
th e
,
.
M as t er th e L ord i s o f the s ame natu re as
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
s ou
l
of
th e
s
s
,
,
,
,
.
.
2
5
I n th e
.
i s th e
s ee
d
of
p erf ec t
O mni
s c i enc e .
M ast er i s i n es s enc e one with th e O v er
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
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
,
S ou l
M as t e r
Th e
and
of
th e
’
-
-
.
,
.
P A T A N
2
9
a nd t h e
T h e nc e
.
re
moval
co
J
A L I
me t h e
S YOGA SU
awa
b arri e rs
of
’
k
g
e ni n
TRAS
i nte ri or
of
c ons c i ous nes s ,
.
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
It c an only be
only b e u nd ers t oo d i n m ea s u re as it i s ente red
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
b arr i ers
Th e
.
t o i nt e ri or
p s yc h i c na t u re th i s w ay a nd th at
d ou b t l i gh t mi nd e d nes s l az i nes s
i nab i l i t y t o h old t h e g rou nd g ai ne d
=
,
,
a re
t h es e '
s ic
i nt e m p e ra nc e ,
,
,
wh i ch
c ons c i ou s nes s ,
,
t
u ns e a
d i nes s
kn
d ri ve
i nert i a ,
es s ,
fal s e
th e
not i ons ,
.
memb er th at we are c ons id eri ng th e s pi ritu al
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
W e mu s t
re
,
i
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
I t will be well for u s to
be a h elp as c utti ng o ff di s t rac ti ons
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
c ons c ou s ne s s ,
,
,
.
.
,
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
i ri tu al man
.
31
i ng i n
d ri v e
g d p nd n y b od i ly
nd i ng f o t h
f th
l if b
Gri e vi n
.
a nd
th e
se
ps ych ic
o
es
,
e
o
r
c
,
e=
e
l
re s t e s s nes s ,
l
re at h ,
a so
d raw
th e
c ont ri
b u te
to
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
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
.
y
,
,
.
,
.
,
.
-
.
p u l s es
.
P A T A N
32
s
t op
.
St
dy
ea
t o t h es e
a
J
’
YOGA
to
a
A L I S
ppl i c at i on
S U
TRAS
way to p ut
p ri nc i p l e i s t h e
.
will w hich in its pri s t i ne s ta te was full of vi gor h
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
The
,
,
,
,
-
,
’
.
.
,
,
,
.
,
33
wf ul ,
ro
t
na u re
By y mpat h y w i th th h ap py
d l i g h t i n th h oly d i g d of
mov
to g a i o
p ac
s
.
e
e
e
r c
es
us
,
s re
e
e.
,
ar
mp as s i on f or th e
co
ly
u nh o
th e
,
th e
s or
p s yc h i c
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
l
and c ont ro
p eac e
of
th e
may b e
l i f e b reath
-
reac h e
d by
th e
e
ve n
d i ng forth
s en
.
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
l et el y
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
a tt a i ne d
w i ll b i nd t h e mi nd to s t ead i nes s
.
,
m
co
.
,
We
if
,
till c ons ideri ng how to ov erc om e th e w av ering
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
are s
-
,
.
,
'
'
,
.
36
l
As
.
a so
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
S tu rdy and c ou rageou s eff ort will b ri ng
amenabl e to th e will
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
natu re
Or t h e
.
p u rg i ng
s el f = i nd u l g e nce
of
f rom
th e
p s yc h i c
.
gniz e th at the f all of man i s a reality
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
W e mu s t
rec o
,
.
,
-
,
.
,
.
,
.
I
9
,
P A T A N
38
a nd
.
Or
a
d ream l es s
’
A L I S
J
p ond eri ng
s l ee p
YOGA SUTRAS
p erc e p t i ons
th e
on
g
ai ne
d
d reams
in
.
ges d rea m s are it i s t ru e mad e u p of
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
'or the E as t ern
sa
,
,
,
,
~
.
,
,
-
,
,
.
-
,
.
,
,
,
’
,
,
.
,
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
th
with
l
v
r
o
n
e
e
i
n
o
e
e
g
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
at om
th e
fi
t o t h e I n ni t e
.
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
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
or t h e t h i ng p e rc ei v e d
c ei v i ng
41
.
,
,
,
,
,
.
,
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
Th e s ag e t ell s u s th at th e one
c ons c i ou s nes s f o rc e or m att er
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
,
.
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
.
,
,
.
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
d by th e nam e t h e i d ea and th e u nd ers tand i ng of wh at
oc c u p
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
42
ie
.
,
,
,
,
.
,
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
’
YOGA SUTRAS
A L I S
J
W h e n th e ob j ec t d well s i n th e mi nd c l ear
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
d i s tri b u t i ve p e rc e p ti on
43
.
,
,
,
,
of
memory
t h i s i s non
.
till c ons id eri ng ext ernal vi s ibl e ob j ec t s S u ch
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
We
are s
.
,
,
,
,
,
.
,
-
.
,
Th e
44
s t a nc e , are
.
su
b
mi nd
me t w o
sa
s ai
d
to b e
wh e n ref erri ng to t hi ng s of fi ner
w i t h or wi t h out , j u d i c i a l ac ti on of th e
s te
ps
,
,
.
p s y c hi c al ob j ec t s ' to images
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
r g eneral noti ons
e
t
u
o
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
We
now c ome to
mental
or
.
,
-
,
.
\
,
_
-
,
,
.
-
,
,
,
.
22
P A T A N
.
lf
YOGA SU
A L I S
TRAS
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
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
47
m i nd i s
se
J
’
,
.
tai n ty p es o f t h i s pu re p erc epti on '
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
A ll th ese are far adv anc ed
c ep tion o f s pi rit u al li f e and b ei ng
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
W e hav e i ns tanced
ce r
'
,
,
,
,
’
,
.
.
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 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
,
,
,
.
.
w
,
,
.
,
.
49
.
l earned f rom
p e rc e p ti on i s
b j ec t
p erc e p t i on i s
t h e s a c re d b ooks or by s ou nd
part i c u l ar
Th e
o
of
th i s
,
ot h er
th a n w h at i s
i nf e re nc e ,
s i nc e
th i s
.
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
.
p erc ep t i on
su
th e
on
p e rs ed es
al l
c ons c i ou s ne s s
s
i m p re s s i ons
p revi ou s
p ri ng i ng f rom
th i s
.
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
,
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
,
,
.
.
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
.
ly
n
t on
o
incertain
ek
n
o
w
w
n
o
w
w
ek
ue
lO
it tr
.
r
e
ev
I th
y
51
s i ons
Wh en
.
h av e
no s ee
d
c eas e
of s e
thi s
d
,
i m p res s i on
t h e re
ari s es
p arat enes s l ef t
c eas e s ,
t h en,
p u re s p i ri tu al
s i nc e al l
i m p re s
c ons c i ou s nes s
,
with
.
Th e
l as t p s y c h i c v eil i s d raw n a s ide
s t and s wit h u nv eil ed vi s i on pu re s erene
and th e s
,
,
,
.
pi ritu al man
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
A nd
now b egi n, i s th e B ook o f th e M eans of S oul G ro wth
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
'
n
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
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
.
p rac ti c es wh i c h make f or u ni on wi th th e S ou l are
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
1
.
Th e
,
,
.
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
T h ei r
2
ai
m is
,
’
J A L
I S
b
ri n
to
YOGA SUTRAS
g
s oul = v i s i on,
a nd
to
wear
awa
y
ferv or s piritu al r eadi ng and ob edi en c e to th e
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
The
of
aim
,
-
,
.
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
-
,
,
,
.
,
-
,
,
,
.
,
.
-
,
,
,
.
0
3
,
P A T A N
4
Th e
.
J
d ark nes s
YOGA SUTRAS
A L I S
of
may b e
b a rri ers
exp a nd e d
T h es e
’
u nw i s
d orma nt
d om
or
,
fi e ld
i s th e
w orn t h i n
of
th e o t h e rs
or s u s
,
p end ed
,
.
or
.
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
Thu s exp and ed
or th rough th e p res s ur e o f s t rong as pi rati on
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
.
,
,
,
.
-
.
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
.
,
,
—
,
,
,
.
d a rk nes s of i g noranc e i s ' h old i ng th at w h i c h
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
5
.
Th e
,
,
,
,
is
,
.
,
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
.
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
,
—
.
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
,
,
.
,
.
2
3
BOOK II
6
.
S el f = as s e rt i on
i ns t ru me nt
of
vi s i on
mes f rom th i nk i ng
f ormi ng one s el f
as
S
th e
of
co
eer and
th e
.
Thi s i s th e fu nd am ent al id ea o f the S ankhya phil osophy
To t rans l ate
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
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
g
re s t i n
j ym nt
S ens ation
ag ain
i n th e
s e ns e of
en o
e
.
Thi s has b een expl ai ned agai n and
as
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
g
res t i n
i n th e
s e ns e of
p ai n
.
m es for th e mos t p art f rom th e s trif e of p er
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
P ain
co
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
,
.
33
P A T A N
9
c arri e
A tt
.
ac h
ment i s
d f orward by
J A
YOGA SU
L I S
th e
ow n
i ts
’
d es i re
e nergy
toward
TRAS
l if e
ven
e
,
i n th e
.
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
The
,
.
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
,
.
T h es e
1 0.
su
btl e
b
arri ers
are
to b e
re
move d
by
a c ou nt
c u rrent .
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
Th e
,
,
,
,
,
.
.
‘
,
.
,
.
1 1
T h ei r
.
ac t i
ve
gs
tu rni n
are
to b e
moved
re
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
b u rd e n of b ond age t o s orrow h as i ts root i n
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
Th e
It
,
th es e
man
b ond ag e to s orrow has i ts root i n th e da rk
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
A ll th es e are i n th e l as t analy s i s ab s orpti on in
to sens ati on
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
m
n
e
t
a
i fes t
y
of
b u rd en
,
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
.
,
,
.
1
of
3
.
From
th e l i f e
c
th i s
root
t h e re
of al l t h at
s p a n,
mm ent
g
w
ro
and ri
p en th e f rui ts
i s tas t e d i n l i f e
of
bi rt h
,
.
thi s w ould be to w rite a t reati s e 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
Fully
to
co
on
,
,
,
,
,
.
,
-
,
.
,
1
are s
4
.
b ear f ru i ts of rej oi c i ng
f rom h oly or u nh oly w orks
T h es e
p ru ng
S inc e
or of
afl
i c t i on,
as
th ey
.
holi nes s i s ob edi enc e to divi ne law , to th e l aw of
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
y
,
.
,
,
-
birth
.
35
P A T A N
I
’
YOGA SUTRAS
A L I S
i
e
r
r
n
s
l
e
s
s
c
n
m
n
l
e
s
o
al
a
p
o
s
s
e
s
d
e
t
p
5
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
m ak es ev er new dy nam i c i mp res s es i n t h e
re s t l e s s ne s s
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
1
.
To h i m w h o
,
,
,
mi
,
.
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 ;
Th e
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
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
The fi re i s not
rath er th e w h ett e d h u ng er fo r m o re
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
and g ro w s by wh at it f eed s
eati ng
as th e p rov erb s ay 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
The
,
,
.
,
,
,
.
.
,
.
,
,
,
,
,
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
me
co
.
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
.
.
,
.
Th e c au s e of w h at i s t o b e
7
i on of t h e
ee r i n t h i n s s e e n
1
t
.
S
g
ward ed
off ,
i s th e
ab s or
.
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
.
,
.
,
.
II
BOOK
g
p rop erty mani f es tat i on act
8
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
i on i nert i a
p owers T h ey make f or exp eri e nc e and f or l i b erat i on
1
Thi n
.
s
h av e
s ee n
as
t h ei r
a=
,
.
,
.
s
.
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
p os se s s as t h ei r p ro p erty m anifes t ati on
of th e p h enom enal
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
g d
Th e
.
ra
es
d efi ned th e u nd efi ne d
d i s t i nc t i ve mark
,
or
,
l ay ers
t h at
of
d i s t i nc t i ve
wi t h
P ote nc i e s
t h e T h re e
mark
th e
ar e
t h at w i t h ou t
,
.
O r as we might s ay th ere
and two s t rat a o f th e p s y c h i c al
,
,
are two s ra a of th e
l ms
t t
p h y s i c al
,
I n eac h , t h ere i s th e
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
rea
.
.
,
.
.
—
,
,
,
image
,
now to
2 0.
g
Th e
th rou h th e
that
S
.
e er
ves ture
S eer
is
of
g
p u re vi s i on
th e mi nd
T h ou h
.
p u re
,
he
l ooks
ou t
.
pi ritu al man wh os e d eep es t
s c i ou s nes s i s
B ut
th e pu re lif e o f th e et ernal
s pi ritu al man as
n
i
rs on l ook s
n
u
s
n
r
i
g
p
p
p
e
e
e
i
h
e
r
e
t
s
o
y
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
Th e
,
alw ay s i s
pu re vi s i on
as
,
the
s
.
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
.
37
P A TA N
2 1
th e
S
Th e
.
very
YOGA SUTRAS
’
A L I S
J
es s enc e of
g
th i n
s
i s , th at th ey
s ee n
xi s t
e
ee r.
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
The
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
.
,
,
.
nqu ers hat e hate does not th ereb y
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
Wh en
of
one
co
us
,
.
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
2
3
.
c au s e of
th e
re a
,
Th e
the
l i z i ng
is
a s s oc i a
r ea
of
l i z i ng
t i on
of
of
th e
S
t
.
,
e er
s e en
g
and
t h e na u re of t h i n
S
t h e na t u re of t h e
gs
w i t h th i n
s
s ee n,
is
th
l
a so
e er.
du c ativ e A ll life s i nfi nit e va ri ety i s for
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
Li fe
’
e
.
.
,
,
,
-
.
,
,
,
.
.
P A TA N
2
7
Th e
.
venf old
se
s ou
J
’
YOGA SUTRAS
A L I S
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
.
v n fold c ons c i ou s nes s of th e s pi ritual man wh o
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
I n th e t ext we are not t old w h at th e
th e bli s s f u l th e pu re
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
Th e
se e
,
,
,
.
,
,
.
,
.
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
-
,
,
,
.
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
2
8
.
,
,
.
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
Ru l es ,
Th e
.
ri
gh t P
ei
gh t
oi s e ,
means
ri
g
Yo
of
gh t C ont ol
r
Conc e ntrat i on M e d i ta t i on
,
,
C ommand ments th e
l i f e f orc e W i t h d rawal
a are ' t h e
of
th e
,
s
,
,
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
Until one h as fulfill e d th e fi rs t it i s futil e to c onc ern
ord ers
A nd s o with al l th e m eans of Y og a
ones el f with th e s ec ond
T hey m u s t be t ak en in thei r ord er
,
.
,
,
.
.
,
.
.
.
C ommand me nts are
a b s t a i ni ng f rom s t ea l i ng f rom
Th e
30.
nes s ,
,
t h es e ' non i nj u ry ,
z
i m p u ri t y ,
f rom
t ru t hf u l
a
vetou s nes s
co
.
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
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
A nd i n th e s ame s pi rit i s th e ans w er m ad e to th e
v et
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
-
S
,
’
.
,
.
,
,
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
Fi rs t th e p s y c h i c al and th en th e
o f S p i ri t u al l i f 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
31
t i me
Th e
.
or ag e .
J
YOGA SUTRAS
’
A L I S
C ommand me nt s are
T h e y are u ni v e rs al ;
l i m i te d
t h e y a re t h
not
C omma ndm ent s form the b road
hu manity Ea c h one of th em res t s on a
Ea c h one of th em exp res s es an att ribut e
l aw
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
th e b
ou rs elv e s pa rt ak ers of th e s pi ritual p ow ers
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
The
.
.
,
.
,
,
,
.
.
,
,
32
t i on,
s
.
Th e Ru l es
.
p i ri tual
re a
are
d i ng
,
t h es e '
and
p
y s ere ni t y f ervent as p i
ob e d i e nc e t o t h e M as t e r
ur i t
p e rf ec t
,
,
.
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
o
g
q
II
To c on uer t rans res s i ns , t h e
33
os i t e s i
b e t h row n on t h e o
ti on s h ou
.
ld
pp
g
we i h t
de
of
g
th e i ma i na
.
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
I n s ome s u ch way d oes th e g reat L aw t eac h u s
c onvi c ti on
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
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
The c onqu es t of a s i n i s a matt er o f g rowt h and ev ol u
ex i s t
ti on rath er than of Opp os iti on
.
,
.
,
-
,
.
,
.
.
.
,
.
,
.
,
w
.
-
.
.
,
.
P A T A N
34
T ra ns
.
g
J
res s i o ns
’
A L I S
a re
YOGA SUTRAS
ju y f l
in
r
d
a s e h oo
,
,
vy w h e t h e r c om mi tt e d or c au s e d or
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
t i ne nc e ,
en
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
.
i nfatu ati o
th ei r eff ec t s ignorance and p ai n Th e c au s es are to be c u red
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
'or g reed c annot endu re b e fore th e realizati on t h at th e wh ol e
w orld b el ong s to the el f , whi c h el f we are ; nor c an we h old
w rath agai ns t one who i s one with the el f , and th eref ore with
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
H ere
are th e c a s es o f s i n '
u
,
,
greed w rath
,
,
.
y
S
S
S
.
S
.
S
35
.
p res e nc e
We
W h ere
non i nj u ry i s
hi m w h o
of
me
z
p os s es s es
p e rf ec t e d
it
,
mi t y
al l e n
.
c eas es
in
.
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
co
.
,
,
.
,
.
BOOK I
36
.
Wh ere
p erf ec t ed
t ru t h i s
,
I
b ri ngs
it
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
The p ow er of t ruth i n h i s s oul hi s
reward s wit h ou t rit e 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
,
.
,
,
,
,
.
W h ere c es s at i on f rom th ef t i s p erfect ed
pre sent t h ems el ves t o h i m wh o p os s es s es i t
37
.
,
al l
treas u res
.
whi c h may wa rn u s that bes id e the
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
H ere
is
a
t
s en enc e
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
.
,
38
.
or and
'or h i m wh o i s
vi ri l i ty
p erf ec t
in
c ont i ne nc e ,
th e
re
ward i s
.
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
th e
c on f erri ng on h im th e c reativ e will
s pi rit u al c h ild ren i ns t ead of b odily p rog eny
.
,
.
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
a new e oc h ,
,
.
,
,
.
45
,
P A T A N
YOGA
A L I S
S U
TRAS
W h ere t h e re i s fi rm c onq u es t of c ove t ou s nes s
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
39
h as
J
’
.
he
,
.
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
40
.
,
a
.
g p u i ty om
a i ng f om i nf
T h rou h
b od i ly l i f e
ot h ers
c ov eteou s nes s
ce
s
c
r
r
wi th d rawal f rom one s own
at u at i on w i t h t h e b od i ly l i f e
es
’
a
.
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
43
Th e
.
J
’
A L I S
p erfec t i on
t h rou g h t h e
ferv ent as p i ra t i on
c om es
YOGA SUTRAS
p owers of th e b od i ly
aw ay of i mp u ri t i es
a nd
th e
of
g
w eari n
t h rou
,
.
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
,
.
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
g
p
l
d
g
d
T h rou h s i ri tu a re a i n , t h e i s c i
44
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
.
d
P
S pi rit u al
pl e
g
ai ns c om m u ni on
s et .
di ng m ea nt for a nc i ent I ndi a s omethin
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
rea
,
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
’
,
,
.
BOOK
45
th e
S
.
ou
l vi s i on
-
is
p erf ec ted
II
g pe f
t h rou h
r ec t
b
o e
d i ence
to
M as ter
.
w and d ark nes s o f lif e c ome of the erri ng p er
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
Th e e rr or o f th e p ers onal will i s i nevitabl e s i nc e
at Lif 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
I n ' i s will i s ou r p ea c e A nd with that p ea c e c om es
om
t S oul vi s i on i s p erfec t ed through ob edi en c e
The
s orro
,
.
,
,
,
,
,
.
.
-
.
.
46
.
g
Ri h t
p oi s e
mu s t b e fi rm
and
wi th ou t
s trai n.
pp roa c h a s ec ti on of th e t eachi ng w hi c h h as
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
H ere we
a
.
-
.
,
,
.
,
,
,
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
47
e
ffort
,
g
p oi s e
by s e tt i ng
Ri h t
.
a nd
J
’
YOGA SUTRAS
A L I S
i s to b e
g
ai ne
t u p on
t h e h ear
d
by
th e
t eady and
ev e rl as t i ng
s
t e mp e
.
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
o
r
e s ti ng on end u ri ng t h i ng s
T
h
t
n
t
e
g
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
s h oc
k
s
Th e
.
f ru i t
of
i nf a t u at i on
of
ri
gh t p oi
se
gth
i s th e
s t re n
to
res i s t
or s orrow .
by
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
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
,
mai n
re
t h rou gh th e p ert u rb ati ons of exte rnal t h ing s and th e s to
Thi s i s the po
and whi rlwi nd s of th e p s y c hi c al w orld
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
.
,
,
.
II
BOOK
49
of
Wh e n
.
th i s i s
th e l i f e = c u rre nts ,
breath
g
the
d th ere f oll ows t h e ri gh t
c ont rol of t h e i nc om i ng and
ai ne
g id
o tg
,
u
a nc e
u
oi n
g
.
It
w ell
d t d
t hat mos t of ou r mal adi es
I t i s c omi ng to
come f rom i mpu re c o nditi ons o f th e bl oo d
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
Th os e
eth o u t o f th e m ou t h th i s d efi l eth a m an
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
t h e ft s f al s e witnes s bl as ph emi es Th erefore th e
c anne s s
t s t ep in p u ri fi c ati on i s to k eep the C om mandm ent s
is
un
e rs oo
to d ay
-
.
,
,
.
.
,
,
,
,
.
,
.
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
.
Th e l i f e = c u rre nt i s
50.
d;
it is
l ong
re
or s
g l
u at e
h ort
d
ac c or
e i t h er
d i ng
to
ou t war
pl ac e
,
d
or
,
t i me ,
i nward ,
nu m
or
b er ;
b al
it is
.
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
w h en th e ai r c omes i nto c ont ac t with th e
o f p au s e
ev en
and t h i s ag ai n f oll ow e d by righ t ou tb reathi ng
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
A nd th e numb er of
o f s ome regi on o f th e lu ng s
s o i mp ort ant s o c l os ely rel at ed to h ealth th at ev ery
he
,
.
,
,
,
,
,
.
.
,
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
51
t e rna
Th e
.
l ob j ec ts
J
’
fou rt h d eg ree
is
TRAS
YOGA SU
A L I S
c onc erne
d wi th
e
xternal
and
.
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
,
v forc es rela t ed to exc ep ti onal
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
whi c h
are ner e
-
,
,
,
,
,
.
52
T h ere by i s w orn
.
awa
y
th e
vei l
wh i c h
v
c o e rs
The v eil i s th e p s y chi c na t u re th e web of em oti ons ,
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
in
reck one d at t h e i r t ru e w orth
s e s s i ons o f th e S ou l ; wh en th e o
,
up
d es i
,
.
,
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
c eas e
,
,
,
,
,
.
.
II
BOOK
li gh t
53
c omes
T h enc e
.
th e
mi nd
’
s
p ower
ld
to h o
i ts e lf i n th e
.
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
e
u
n
n
n
n
n
i
r
i
u
l
p
w
r
wit
h
i
n
s
a
d
by
i
t
di
g
o
u
r
c
o
t
a
o
e
p
thu s by d eg rees t ra ns f erri ng th e c enter of
~
r
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
fi rs t
l ov e an d th en of att ent i on
,
,
’
,
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,
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,
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,
53
P A T A N
54
f rom
Th e
.
t
gl
en an
e
ri
A L I S
J
g h t W i th d
m ent i n
YOGA SUTRAS
’
t
ra
ou e r
wa l i s t h e
g
t hi n
s , a nd
d i s engagi ng
of
t h ei r
t o th e
ret u rn
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
,
,
.
,
,
-
,
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,
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,
,
.
55
T h e re u p on
.
mas te ry
f oll ows p erf e c t
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
l
m
r
h
i
r
e
t
e
a
s
t
e
y
f
p
o
w
s
s
o
e
p
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
Thu s h e gai ns the
o f h i s l ong and ardu ou s t rai nin g
,
,
,
,
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,
’
,
,
,
.
P A TA N
J A
’
L I S
YOGA SU
TRAS
pi ritual p ow er s th er e for e are th e p ow ers of the
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 '
a
s
e
n
u
t
m
d
g
hav
di
rn
d
taught
tha
t
s
u
r
o
e
r
n
s
e
s
e
c
e
a
d
a
s
o
J
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
s o co
c ern ed and taught th at all f orc e i s one and et e rnal
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
The
s
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56
BOOK
III
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
and c an i n no
c ati on and m oral att ai nm ent al ready d eta i l ed
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
T h es e m u s t be burnt away b efore an
or s elf S eeki ng d es i res
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 ;
n
r
a
e
v
e
n
wh
e
n
att
i
e
d
th
e
y
a
e
a
d
e
lu
s
i
o
n
h
v
e
ry
s
e
t
t
e
e
n
e
es
c
y
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
no
,
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52
,
.
BOO ' III
.
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
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
A tt enti on to
th e fi rs t and i nd i s p ens abl e s t ep i n all k nowl edge
S pi ritual thi ngs i s the fi rs t s t ep to s pi ritu al k now l edge
1
.
Th e
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-
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59
P A T A N
J
’
YOGA SUTRAS
A L I S
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
Th e fi rs t i s the foc u s s i ng o f th e s ea rc hli gh t
co uld p erc eiv e
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
u ntil
or one may h old th e c ons c i ou s nes s s t eadily up on th em
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
2
A
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,
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
c
et t h rough the eff o rt o f a tt enti on
Th en thi s att endi ng c on
j
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
3
.
=
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60
BOOK III
W h e n t h es e
a re exe rc i s e d at
4
t i on,
tat i on
.
( s any am a)
t h ree ,
Att
onc e ,
th i s is
t i on C ontempl ati on M e d i ta
p e rf ect ly c onc entrate d M e d i
en
,
,
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
'or geni u s i s th e vi s i on of th e
ev e r p ai ns t aki ng th e eff ort
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
rig h
c ont i nu e d
th an p res ent eff o rt ; t h ough righ t eff o rt
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
and s t eady th e w h ol e natu re and will i n
c onc e rns and c ares
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
O nc e again th e O v er soul
of th e mat eri al s o f th e u niv ers e
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
-
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61
P A T A N
5
By
.
c om es
t h e re
J
’
A L I S
g
m as t e ri n t h i s
t h e i ll u m i nat i on
YOGA SUTRAS
p erf ec t ly c onc e nt rat e d M e d i tat 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
,
s
lave
.
62
us,
a
M a st er
’
o er
a
P A T A N
7
Th i s
.
,
YOGA SUTRAS
A L I S
f ld p ow er
i nt e ri or t h an
t h re e o
i s more
M ed i t ati on
d es c ri b e d
J
’
,
Att
of
means
th e
Contemp l ati on
growth p revi ous ly
enti on,
of
,
.
V ery
b ec au s e the m ean s of g row th prev
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
natu rally s o ;
,
8
Bu t t h i s t ri ad i s
.
d i t i oned f ree f rom
is
u nc on
ll exteri or to t h e
th e s e e d of menta l
s ti
,
l vi s i on
a naly s i s
wh
s ou
.
thi s ' The t h reef old p ow er we hav e
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
Th e
is
a
re s on
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
,
—
.
,
,
'
,
.
,
.
.
,
,
,
,
,
.
,
.
,
,
,
’
,
.
BOOK III
d i ng d egrees i s th e d evel op ment of
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
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
exc i ta t i on
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
of C o nt rol
mome nt of C ont rol
T h i s i s t h e d eve l op ment of C ont rol
One
of
the
as c e n
-
.
-
.
.
.
.
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
.
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
.
,
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-
.
.
,
,
.
,
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
.
,
.
.
,
,
,
.
P A T A N
J
YOGA SUTRAS
’
A L I S
g
f req u ent re p eti ti on of th i s p roc es s th e mi
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
T h rou h
1 0.
b ec ome s
p erc ei vi ng
,
,
c ons c i ou s nes s .
C ont rol
by the mi nd
ti on
mi nd by th e S oul lik e c ont rol of the mu
c om es b y p rac ti c e and c ons ta nt v olu nta ry re
o f th e
,
,
,
.
xampl e of c ont rol of th e mu s c l es b y th e mind
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
To him that i s faith
e ff ort to liv e t h at d ay for th e S oul
u nt o d eath th e M a s t er giv es th e c row n of li fe
As
an e
,
,
.
-
,
.
,
,
.
,
,
,
.
.
,
1 1
f rom
o ne
ma k e
g d al
Th e
.
th e
ra
u
q u es t
c on
of
th e
b j e c t to a not h e r and th e
d evel op ment of M e d i tat i on
o
m i nd s
p ower of
’
,
d enc y
t en
to
one= p oi nte d n
.
ill u s t rati on o f th e m i nd s t end enc y to flit fr om
obj ec t to anoth e r t ak e a s m all bo
r
n
n
e
l
i
g
a
ithm
ti
e
r
c
a
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
AS
’
an
.
,
,
—
,
,
,
—
-
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
-
.
,
.
66
BOOK
III
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 i s i s t h e d ev e l op me nt of one
t h e p e rc e i vi ng c ons c i ou s ne s s
p oi nted nes s
1 2
.
,
,
=
,
.
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
d
3
g
T h rou h t h i s , t h e i nh ere nt
.
d i ti ons of b e i ng
a re ma d e c l e ar
and
c on
t,
p owe rs
,
d i s ti nc ti ve marks
t o t h e i r d eve l op
c h arac t er,
d i ng
ac c or
.
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
4
1
Eve ry
.
q u i es c e nt
d efi nab l e
t h os e
,
bj
o
J A
ec t
wh i c h
’
L I S
YOGA SUTRAS
h as i ts
c h a rac teri s ti c s
are ac t i
ve
,
t h os e
and
whi c h
whi c h
l
dy
a re a rea
y et
are not
.
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
Th e man has i n hi s p as t th e a nimal ; in h i s futur e the
terfl y
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
v e l op
5
.
.
ment
'i fferenc e i n
g
s ta
i s th e
e
of
c au s e
d i ff erenc e i n
de
.
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
1
6
th ree
g
s ta
g
es
of
p
f ly
d evel op ment
T h rou h
.
er ec t
I
d M ed i tati on on
knowl ed ge of pas t
th e
c oncentrate
mes
co
a
and
future
.
W e hav e ta k en
illu s trati on s from natural s c i en c e
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
ou r
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
.
,
,
,
-
.
,
.
,
-
,
,
-
,
,
.
.
,
.
P A T A N
1
7
So
d
YOGA SUTRAS
L I S
mea ni ng
a nd
un
.
J A
’
a nd
g
t h e t h ou h t
ca
ll ed
up
by
a
d e d b ec au s e th ey are al l b l u rre d togeth er i n th e
By p erfec t ly c onc e nt rated M ed i tat i on on e ach s e p arately
mi nd
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
w ord
f
a re c on ou n
,
.
.
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
m es
.
an
co
W h e n th e mi nd i mp res s i ons b ec ome vi s i bl e
u nd ers tand i ng of p rev i ou s b i rth s
=
t h ere
,
.
impl e en ough i f we g ras p the t ruth o f r ebirth
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
Thi s
,
is
s
.
,
,
,
.
,
,
.
P A TA N
22
.
mp as s
co
wi th
J
By p e f tly
i on a nd k i nd n
’
A L I S
YOGA SUTRAS
c onc e nt rate
r ec
g
is
es s ,
ai ne
d M ed i tat i on
d
the
on
p ow
er of
s
y mpath y
i nt eri or
,
u ni on
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
s uc h
3
.
p ow
By p f
er e c t
ly
c onc e nt rat e
th at of t h e
e r as
l
e e
d M ed i tati on
p h ant
may b e
g
on
ai ne
d
p ow
e r,
e
ve n
.
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
c omes
4
.
a
B y b end i ng u p on th
knowl d g of th i ng
A s was
e
e
s
e
m th e
su
btl e
awa
k
ene
g
d
i nner l i h t , t h ere
b
or o s c u re ,
,
or re mot e .
a h c ons c i ou s nes s i s r elat ed
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
An
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
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
s
aid at
th e out s et ,
,
e c
,
,
.
.
,
.
ted
ela
s
n
tio
BOO K
2
5
By
.
know l d g
a
e
p erf ec tly
world s
the
e of
c onc e nt rat e
III
d M ed i tati on
on
th e
mes
s un c o
.
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
mes
co
6
.
a
By p f
k nowl d g
e r ec t
e
ly
of
e
c onc e nt rate
th e
d M e d i tati on
mans i ons
l u nar
on
moon
the
.
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
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
,
,
,
,
.
,
'
f
,
.
_
,
-
.
,
,
,
.
2
t
7
s ar c o
.
By p f t ly
a k now l d g
e r ec
me s
e
c onc e nt rat e
e of
the
d M ed i tati on on th e fixe d p ol e
m ot i ons
of
A dd res s i ng D u ty s t ern d au gh t er
Word s w orth fi nely s aid '
,
th e
of
s tars .
th e
V oi c e
of
God
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
s t rong
,
,
and
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
’
A L I S
J
YOGA SUTRAS
P e rf e c t ly c onc e nt ra t e d M e d i ta t i on on
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
t h e b od i ly p owe rs
2
8
.
th e
of
t
ord er
c e n er
th e
of
of
.
mi ng to a vitally im p orta nt part of the tea c hi ng
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
b ehi nd and ab ov e th e natu ral man I n
c ons c i ou s i ndividu al
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
I n d u e tim e wh en th e s pi ritu al man h as begu n to tak e
o f lif 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
i s abat ed 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
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
I t i s p rim arily d ue to
an ab norm al not a nat u ral c onditi on
S pi ritu al bli ndnes s to blind nes s regardi ng th e s pi ritu al man
W
e are c o
’
,
‘
,
.
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
,
.
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
-
,
,
-
.
,
,
,
,
,
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,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
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,
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,
,
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,
.
,
,
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
l vi s i on s pi ritu al as p i rati on s ac ri
ery and S h am e but s pi ritua
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
I n thi s way only s h all we g ai n t h at i ns igh t
u s s eek th e ligh 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
,
,
,
.
-
,
'
,
,
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,
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,
,
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.
,
.
75
,
P A T A N
2
forc e
g
h un
By p e f ect ly
9
i n th e
.
er a nd
r
wel l
t h i rs t
of
J A
’
YOGA SU
L I S
c onc e nt rate
th e t h roat ,
TRAS
d M ed i tati on
on
mes th e
t h ere
co
th e
cente r
c e s s at i on
.
continui ng th e s t udy of the b odil y p o
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
Thi s em oti onal p ow er thi s d i s
the em oti ons of h i s h ear ers
'
'
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
We
are
.
,
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
,
-
,
,
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,
,
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,
,
,
'
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,
,
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,
,
,
—
,
,
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'
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,
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,
,
.
BOOK III
30
By p f
ly c onc e ntrate d M ed i tati on
c h anne l c all e d t h e
er ec t
.
forc e i n
fas tnes s
th e
on
th e
c ente r of
mes
co
s t ea
d
.
We
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
hunger and thi rs t
Th ereaft er th es e forc es or th eir
of
s pi ritu al p rot oty p es are tur ned to th e building of f h e s pi ritual
are
c onc erne
d
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
,
,
-
,
'
'
.
,
,
,
man
.
A lway s it mu s t be rem emb er ed
s pi ritual one
only lat er d oes it bri ng
p ow ers
,
,
.
77
vi c t ory i s fir s t a
c ont rol of th e bo dil y
th e
P A T A N
l ight
31
g
T h rou h
.
i n t h e h ea d
f a i ne
d
J A L
I S
p erf ec t ly
c om e s
th e
YOGA SUTRAS
’
t d M ed i tati on
t h e M as t ers wh o
c onc e nt ra e
v i s i on
of
on
th e
h av e
at
.
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
w h i c h vi ew s S p iritu al
th e b ac k o f th e mi nd
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 '
'
,
'
'
,
,
—
,
,
,
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,
,
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,
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'
,
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'
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,
,
,
,
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,
'
'
-
.
,
,
,
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
34
Th e
.
p
e rs ona
l
J A
se
’
YOGA SUTRAS
L I S
lf
s ee
k
to
s
f eas t
l i fe
on
,
g
t h rou h
a
f ai l
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
u re
to
.
.
,
,
.
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 bl endi ng with it
and s pi ritual b ei ng o f th e fi rs t
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
i
o
n
n
e
t
h
a
h
l
f
n
i
u
c
o
r
t
i
dividu
lity
th er
s
s
t
e
e
c
o
sc
o
s
c
e
e
a
f
h
s
o
y
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 nly th rough failu re to s ee t h i s d oes h e
o f th e s pi rit u al man
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
o fferi ng b oth f ea s t s and hi s v e ry b ei ng on th e
s ac ri fi c i al l y
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
The
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
-
.
,
,
,
,
—
,
,
,
,
,
-
,
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'
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'
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'
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,
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,
,
.
80
BOOK III
p
.
th e
s
b
p
d
T h ereu on are orn t h e i v i ne ow er of i ntu i t i on, and
35
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
g
me ll
of
th e
p
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
T hu s th e c ons c i ou snes s of the S pi ritu al
ot h er c ons c i ou s nes s
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
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
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,
,
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,
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,
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,
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,
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,
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,
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,
81
P A T A N
36
s
T h es e
.
p i ri tu al
v i s i on.
YOGA SUTRAS
A L I S
J
p owers
In
’
d i n c ontrad i s t i nc t i on to th e
mani f es ta t i on t h ey a re c all e d mag i cal
s tan
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 en th e di s c ipl e b ec om es a M a s t er The
th e natu ral man
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
B ut
a ba rri er to th e far h igh er p ow ers o f th e divi ne man;
vi ew ed f rom bel ow , f rom th e s t andp oint of normal phy s i c al
th ey are p ow ers t ru ly m agi c al ; as th e p ow ers
e xp eri enc e
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
.
by l ea rni ng t h e m et h od
f e rre d t o t h e ot h er b ody
ti me
k
of
g
e ni n
of
p as s i ng
,
of
b ond age
th e
c au s e s
th e
c ons c i ou s nes s
,
a nd
i s t rans
.
m ed
ft er th e s pi it u al man h as b een f
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
T he re f ore it i s s ai d ' Lay not u p for y ou rs elv es
s onal ity
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
I n d ue
,
a
or
r
and
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
.
,
.
,
'
.
,
.
,
,
,
,
,
'
.
,
,
,
,
'
,
.
1
P A T A N
38
g
T h rou h
.
YOGA SUTRAS
’
A L I S
J
mas t ery
of
th e
f rom t h e d ang ers of water moras s
p ow er of as c ens i on i s gai ned
,
up
wa rd l i f e
and
,
e
mes
freed om
co
y pl ac es
t h orn
,
and
th e
.
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
I t m eans th e s t rong p ow er of a s pi rati on of upwa rd
obj ec t s
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
Th erefore it i s s aid
i s not pi erc ed by th e t h orns i n th e p ath
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
.
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
Th e L ord s h all c h ang e ou r vil e b ody
has th u s d es c rib ed '
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
I n the
-
,
-
-
,
'
'
.
,
,
,
'
-
,
.
,
,
,
,
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'
,
'
'
'
_
,
.
,
-
,
-
,
,
.
,
P A T A N
40
l ati on
g
A L I S
J
F rom p e rf ec t ly
.
g
of
h ea ri n
’
h e ari n
a nd
YOGA SUTRAS
t t d M ed i tat i on on th e corre
c o m e s t h e p owe r of s p i ri t u a l
e t h er
c onc e n ra e
the
,
.
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
m e di u m
s wift
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
divi ne h eari ng of th e s pi ritu al man ; as
earli e s t f orm o f th e
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
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
way
i n p erf ec tly d efi nit e w ord s and s ent enc es
,
,
,
,
,
.
,
'
,
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
.
,
'
'
,
,
,
,
'
.
'
'
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
.
86
P A T A N
’
YOGA SUTRAS
A L I S
J
M 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
43
.
,
,
.
,
,
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
,
,
.
,
,
,
,
'
,
'
.
,
,
'
,
,
,
.
.
p
T h e re u on wi
44
a nd ot h er
owe rs , w hi c h
.
p
w i t h i ts
me
ll
co
are
l bl e f orc e
u nas s ai a
th e
m ani f es tat i on
e nd owme nt of t h e
th e
of
the
b ody
,
atomi c
g
to
et h e r
.
qu es ti on i s of c ou rse the eth eri c b ody of th e
' e i s s aid to p os s es s eight p ow ers 'th e atomi c
S pi ritu al man
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
T h es e are th e end ow m ent s o f th e s pi ritual
o f c reativ e will
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
Th e
b ody
in
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
,
,
'
,
,
.
.
.
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
.
88
III
BOOK
45
Sh
.
p el i nes s b eau ty f orc e th e
e nd owme nts of t h at b ody
a
th es e are t h e
,
,
,
te m
p er
of t h e
d i am ond
.
pi ritu al man i s s h ap ely b eautiful s t rong fi rm as th e
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
Th e
s
,
,
,
'
.
,
,
,
.
y
p erc e pt i on and act i on
g p f ly c onc entrated M e d i tati on on t h e i r fi v e
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
M as ter over
46
er ec t
c omes t h rou h
.
th e
p owers
of
»
,
,
,
=
,
,
,
.
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
S o wit h
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
P e rfec tly c onc ent rat ed M editat i on on eac h
th e oth er s enses
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
'
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
'
-
,
,
'
,
,
,
.
.
,
,
,
.
me th e p owe r s w i f t as
a nd mas tery ov er matt er
T h e nc e
47
of i ns t ru me nt s ,
.
co
g
d ep end enc e
th ou h t , i n
.
furth er enum erati ng th e end owm ent s of th e
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
T hought h as now b ec om e h i s means o f l oc omoti on 'e i s
is
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
We
are
.
,
,
,
.
.
,
,
.
,
89
,
P A T A N
J A
YOGA SUTRAS
’
L I S
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
48
.
,
.
pi ritual man i s enmesh ed i n the web 0
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
w orki ng t og eth er with divi ne C om p ani ons To s u c h
ene rgy
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
Th e
s
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
.
,
'
,
,
,
,
,
-
,
'
.
,
49
s ee
ds
b ei ng
of
is
By b
a
.
s e nc e of al l
b o nd a g e
at t ai ne d
to
s el f = i nd u l g e nc e at
w
s orr o
are
d e s t roy e d
,
th i s
p
p ure
and
the
l
s p i ri t u al
oi nt , a s o,
.
k i ng of i nd u l genc e for the p ers onal s elf wh eth er
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
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 n c ommon
Bu t c eas i ng f rom s elf
i ts c onfi ni ng b ond ag e to s orrow
i ndulgence b rings pu rity lib erati on s pi rit u al life
Th e
s ee
,
.
,
-
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
‘
.
,
,
90
.
.
BOOK III
50
.
p ri d e
T h e re
s h ou
ld
i n t h e i nvi tat i ons
g
vl
nt t o t hi n s e i
pl ete overc omi ng of all u rement
t h e d i ffe rent re g i ons of l i f e l e s t
c om
be
of
,
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
To th e s ec ond
e wh o s t and fi rm i n pu re S pi ritual lif e
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
'
'i m th at ov er
on s wi ftly i nt o th e i nner c h amb 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
m ore
n
o
o
g
51
.
out
'
.
F rom p e rf ec t ly
of
ti me
of
d i s c e rnment
and
t h ei r
d M e d i tati on
c onc ent rat e
s u c c e s s i on
mes
co
on
t h at w i s om
d
th e
d i vi s
=
wh i c h i s
.
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
T h i s w ou ld s eem to be th e s ame t hou gh t and to
ernal
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
.
,
-
’
'
.
.
I
9
.
P A T A N
52
of
or
'enc e
.
l i ke nat u re
p os i ti on
TRAS
YOGA SU
A L I S
J
d i s c ernme nt b etween t hi ng s
d i s t i ngu i s h ed by d i fference of k i nd
c ome s
not
,
’
.
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
,
,
,
-
-
.
-
,
,
,
,
.
,
b orn of d i s c e rnment
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
wi th ou t s uc c es s i on ' s i mu l ta neou s ly
53
.
Th e w i s d om wh i c h i s
,
,
is
li
s tar
it d is ce
.
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
t h en
.
W h en
p erf ec t
v es tu re
s p i ri t ual l i f e i s
th e
and
th e
at t ai ne
d
s
pi
l man are a l i ke p ure
ri t u a
,
.
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
.
2
9
I ntrodu c t i o n t o Book I V
.
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
'
mi nd at
W h eth er that c an be a good path whi c h t hu s s et s
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
The
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
.
,
,
,
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.
,
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'
,
,
.
,
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'
,
,
,
,
.
.
93
P A T A N
’
A L I S
J
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
o
n
n
o
r
e
s
s
o
Th
f
b
ut
y
u
l
r
o
r
o
u
a
s
e
a
e
e
t
e
e
c
t
y
y
fight A nd thu s y ou will t ru ly l earn 'o r h e who woul
l i fe d oi ng
will
hi s
th e d oc t ri ne mu s t l ead
whi ch
H eav en
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
.
.
,
.
94
P A T A N
J A L
’
YOGA SUTRAS
I S
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
pu re c onditi ons
b ei ng
divin e
s pi ritu al l aw
r ealm
,
.
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
.
,
,
-
,
,
-
.
,
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,
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,
,
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,
BOOK IV
2
Th e trans f er
.
g
p owe rs f rom one pl ane
nat u ral c reat i v e f orc e s
of
t h rou h t h e fl ow of t h e
to
anot h er c omes
.
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
e
wh
e
r
p
ill the t reas u re be al s o
the h eart 1 8 th ere w
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
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
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,
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,
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,
,
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’
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'
,
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-
,
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,
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,
97
P A T A N
3
of
th e
fi eld
Th e
.
c re a
i t ta
,
k
a
pp are nt
t i ve
es
J A
,
’
L I S
i mme d i at e
nat u re = p ow ers ;
b s tac l es
o
YOGA SUTRAS
awa
y
b ut,
c au s e
l i ke
is
not t h e
t h e h us
b
true
d man
an
in
.
hu s ba ndman till s h i s fi eld b r eak i ng up the c l od s
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
I t i s fir s t the
th e hu s b andm an wh o m ak es th e m g row
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
Th e hu s b andm an but rem ov es the ob s t a c l es
s ou rc es o f li f e
'e pl ant s and w aters but God g i v es th e i nc reas e
' e till s
S o with th e fi ner hu sb and man o f divi ner fi el d 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
new
f orth for th e m a ni f es t ati on of i ts p ow ers
fi ner
v es tu re the b ody of th e s pi ritu al man
Th e
,
,
,
,
-
,
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,
‘
.
,
,
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,
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,
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-
-
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,
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,
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,
,
,
.
P A T A N
5
J
’
YOGA SU
A L I S
d i fferent fi eld s of
i s t h e eff ec t i ve
one
I n th e
.
g
ne s s , t h ou h
,
TRAS
mani f es tat i on th e C ou s e
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 one C ons c i ou s nes s i s th e eff ec tiv e c au se of
th e Light
stat es of c ons c i ou s nes s on ev e ry pla ne
.
.
,
.
,
,
,
.
,
,
,
,
.
.
,
6
A mong
.
M ed i tati on
s t at e s
f ree f rom
is
c ons c i ou s nes s ,
of
th e
s ee
d
of
f u t ure
th at w hi c h i s
w
s orro
bo n
r
.
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
In
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
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
D es ire c a rri es b ondage in i ts w omb
the seed of futur e s orr ow
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
Th e good
I ts g row th and s p l end or hav e no limit
to gl ory
p a s ses to b etter b est
,
.
.
.
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,
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’
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1 00
BOOK IV
7
ri h t
k
Th e wor
.
b
g
f or
pl eas u re
pl eas u re
nor
.
p ai n
or
,
The man
f oll owers aft er U nion make nei th er f or
f or d ark p a i n
Th e works of ot h e rs mak e
or a m i ng l i ng of t h es e
of
s
.
d es i re wi ns f rom h i s w ork s th e r ewa rd 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
' e fears no h ell and d es i res no
be gai ne d i ns pi res h i s w ork
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
th e Et ernal ; all h i s des i res are s et
fear ' i s h eart dw ell s
th e Et ernal
of
,
,
,
,
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-
.
,
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.
I OI
P A T A N
8
.
t i on of
ri
YOGA SUTRAS
’
A L I S
J
F rom th e f orc e i nh ere nt i n works c omes th e mani f es ta
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
-
p eni ng
ou t of eac h of
th e s e
work s
.
g en eral m ec ha ni s m of K arma
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
r ep rodu c i ng
o f th e f o rc es w hi c h built u p th e p ers onal man
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 o the man will be
s till th ere b odily ti s s u e will b e built up
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
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
We
are now to c ons
id er
th e
,
,
.
,
.
,
,
.
,
,
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.
,
’
,
,
-
.
,
,
,
,
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,
,
h
.
-
,
,
.
1 02
P A T A N
Th e
1 0.
s e ri es
'es i re i s
b e c au s e
Th e
e
YOGA SUTRAS
’
A L I S
J
dy nami c
of
verl as ti ng
mi nd i ma
-
g
es
b gi nni ngle
is
e
ss ,
.
wh ol e ri es of
mind ima g es w hi c h mak e
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
dy nami c
se
-
,
,
,
,
,
-
-
-
,
.
,
-
,
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,
,
,
.
,
.
dy nami c mi nd i mages are h eld togeth er b y
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
by th e s u pp ort of outer th i ngs d es i red ;
s t rat u m of m e nt a l h ab i t
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
1 1
Sin
ce
.
th e
a
,
,
,
,
-
,
mi nd i mag es
s
c e as es .
till c onc ern ed with th e p ers on al life in its b odily
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
We
-
'
are s
,
,
,
.
,
-
-
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-
.
,
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,
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1 04
BOOK IV
d i ffere nc e b etwee n th at wh i c h i s p as t and th at
d e p end s on
a c c ord i ng t o t h ei r nat u re s
c h i s not y et c ome
d i ffere nc e of p h as e of th ei r prop e rti es
1 2
Th e
.
,
,
.
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
and ag ai n
I am with y ou alw ay u nto the end of th e
am
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
pa s t p res ent
tated at havi ng to u s e th es e th ree c lu m s y w ord s
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
r el at ed to tim e as th e p erf ec t to th e imp erf ec t
en c e
' an as an entity for him s elf mu s t hav e th e natu ral li mitati ons
C onc eiv ed by God man i s et ernal i n th e divi ne
for th e part
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 et ernal i s a c ons tant pr es ent
th e limit ati ons we c all tim e
w ith out b eg inning or end without p a s t or futu re
,
,
,
,
,
,
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,
'
,
'
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,
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'
,
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'
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'
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'
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—
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-
,
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‘
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’
,
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'
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1 05
P A T A N
1
3
T h es e
.
t h e nat u re
of
p p
ro
J
A L I S
e rt i es ,
t h e T h ree
YOGA SUTRAS
’
wh eth er mani f es t
P ote nc i es
or
latent
are of
,
.
thr ee man if est ed mod ifica
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
Th e Th ree P ot enc i es
ti ons o f the one p rimal
.
the
are
,
.
,
,
,
,
,
.
.
.
,
,
,
,
,
.
j
Th e exte rna l m ani f e s tat i on of an ob ec t ta
4
w h en t h e t rans f ormati ons are i n t h e s ame h as e
1
.
p
W e S h ould be i nc li ned
ke p lace
s
.
xp res s the s am e law by s ayi ng
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
to
e
,
,
,
,
,
'
.
,
,
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’
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'
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'
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'
,
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,
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,
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,
1 06
P A T A N
bj
p
YOGA SUTRAS
A L I S
ga
erc e i v e d , or not p erc e i v e d , a c c ord i n
A n o ec t i s
7
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
1
th e
J
’
.
g
j
s
.
'
The s impl es t
O u r mi nd s
mani fes tati on o f thi s i s the ma t t e r o f atten
ti on
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
r
a
i
i
e
n
o
es
u
s
s
d
e
ad
h
v
e
ry
w
ll
aliv
e
n
r
o
h
n
n
r
P
ul
n
o
t
e
s
'
o
o
J
J
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
'
.
,
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,
1 08
BOOK IV
8
1
o
bj ec ts
t h e m,
Th e mov em ents
.
p erc e p ti on
of
re
,
mai ns
of
s i nc e
gi ng
u nc h an
th e
p
yc h i c nat ure are
S p i ri tual ' an wh o i s
th e
s
,
p
p etu ally
th e l ord of
er
.
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
al l h opi ng and f eari ng
d es i re and h at e ' the thi ngs
em oti on
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
l ook s d ow n s erene upon thi s turmoil of the
o f th e Et ernal
ou t er lif e
by thu s
One fi rst ma s t ers the p ers onality the mind
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
Thi s st andi ng ba c k i s th e fi rs t s tep d eta c hm ent
th e real S el f
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
,
.
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-
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-
,
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I O9
P A T A N
1
9
Th e
.
b j ec t
an o
M i nd
YOGA SUTRAS
’
J A
L I S
i s not
se
lf l u mi nous
-
,
s i nc e
it
can
be
s een as
.
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
Thi s
'
.
,
,
,
,
,
,
.
—
,
,
,
.
2 0
g
th i n
N or
.
c ou
xt e rnal
e
s
Th e
ld
to i t
M i nd
th e
at
th e
me t i me
sa
know
i ts elf
and
.
is
that the mind k now s n eith er ext ernal thi ng s
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
M u c h l es s c an th e mi nd k now it self the m or e s o
th e mi nd
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
B ut th e truth i s divi ned l on g
o f p s y c hi c f orc es th at i t t ruly i s
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
I ts h onor root ed i n di s h onor
for i ts s up rem ac y
c raftily
s ta nd s and fait h u nfaithful m ak es it fal s ely tru e
t ruth
.
,
,
,
,
,
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‘
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'
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'
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,
1 10
P A T A N
2
3
Th e
.
l
c o or e i t h er of
p s yc h i c
g
thi n
s
J A
f
L
S Y OG A S U TR A s
v
nat u re , u ni ers a
s e e n, or of
t he
S
lly ad ap ti ve
ke
ta
,
s
on
the
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
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,
fi
.
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
’
eac
,
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I IZ
BOOK IV
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
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
s ep arat e
not S elf a w ell t rained i ns t rum ent of
as ou tw ard
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
Thi s onc e ty rant i s now h i s s erv ant and
th e p ers onal man
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
2
4
Th e
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-
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P A T A N
2
u al
re a
5
.
' a n,
l b ei ng
'or h i m wh o
t h e re c o m e s
of
the
S
e
lf
J A
’
YOGA SUTRA
L I S
S
d i s c erns b e t we en t h e M i nd and th e S p i ri t
p erf ec t f ru i t i on of t h e l ong i ng aft er t h e
.
t uggl e h av e the S oul s
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
'
n
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
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
'
Y ou s h all h av e a ng el s and arc h ang el s for
n
l
ti
n
n
a d c o so a o
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
' ow m any ti mes i n th e l ong
’
s r
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1 14
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,
P A T A N
2
s h ou
8
ld
T h es e
.
be
a re
v erc ome
o
J
’
A L I S
to b e
YOGA SUTRAS
v erc ome
o
as
g
i t was tau h t t h at
s orro
.
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
rabl e i nvi nc ibl e ev erl as ti ng
i
m
m
a
s
h
i
n
fig
t
ight
i
m
e
u
o
u
s
y
,
,
,
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,
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,
‘
-
,
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,
,
2
is
9
s et i n
'e wh o
.
t h e t ru e
l
a c ou
s
d
,
of
p i ri tu al
,
.
f ter h e h as attai ned i s wh olly fre e f rom s e lf
Th is is
h ol i ne s s w h i c h i s c all e d i ll u m i nati on
a
,
,
.
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
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1 16
IV
B OO '
30
of
toi l
.
c om es
T h ere on
f rom
s u rc eas e
w
s orro
and
th e
b urd en
.
S u ch a
id i s f ree f rom th e b ond of Karma
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
it
one,
is
sa
,
,
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-
-
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,
,
-
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,
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,
Wh en al l vei l s are rent al l s tai ns
knowl ed ge b ec omes i nfi ni te ; l i tt l e remai ns f or
31
.
,
wa s h e d
hi m t o
awa
y
k now
,
his
.
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
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1 17
P A T A N
32
T h ere af t er
.
f orma t i ons
attai ne d
of
’
mes
co
SUTRAS
Y O GA
A L I S
J
mpl e ti on
th e
co
t h e t h re e nat u re p ote nc i es ,
of
th e
s i nc e
e
s eri es of
th e i r
p
t rans
p
u r os e
is
.
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
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33
and
Th e
.
s e ri es
of
ga d d
i s to b e
re
r
t rans f ormat i ons i s
as
e
th e
cu
l mi nati on
d i vi d e d
i nt o mome nts ,
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
whi ch i nh eres in N atur e ; i n all th at i s not S pi rit
c h ang e
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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1 18