Friday, 31 March 2023

त्रयमेकत्र संयमः।।

संस्कारसाक्षात्करणात् पूर्वजातिज्ञानम्।।१८।।

(पातञ्जल योग-सूत्र -- विभूतिपाद) 

--

महर्षि वाल्मीकि की अद्भुत कथा

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

उस लुटेरे ने दुर्भाग्यवश कुसंग के दुष्प्रभाव से बुद्धि के दूषित हो जाने पर परिवार के भरण पोषण के लिए यह सरल सा प्रतीत होनेवाला मार्ग अपना लिया था। बीहड़ सुनसान वन से आते जाते हुए पथिकों को वह डरा-धमका कर लूट लिया करता था। उनका धन और दूसरी सामग्रियाँ जैसे कि अन्न, पशु आदि भी!

सनातन काल से ही ध्रुव तारे की नित्य परिक्रमा करते हुए भृगु, मरीचि, अत्रि, पुलस्त्य, पुलह, क्रतु, वसिष्ठ आदि सप्तर्षियों की दृष्टि उस पर पड़ी, तो उनके मन में उस के प्रति करुणा उमगी। वे पथिक का रूप लेकर उसकी ओर जानेवाले मार्ग की दिशा में चल पड़े। जब वे उसके समीप जा पहुँचे, तो उसने ललकार कर उन्हें रोका और उनसे कहा :

"यदि तुम्हें अपने प्राणों से प्यार है, तो तुम्हारे पास जो कुछ भी मूल्यवान वस्तुएँ हैं, उन्हें यहाँ लाकर सामने रख दो!"

ऋषि बोले : हमारे पास जो कुछ मूल्यवान है वह तुम्हें दिखलाई ही नहीं देता, और न तुम हमसे वह सब छीन या लूट सकते हो! अब रहा अपने प्राणों से प्यार होने का प्रश्न, तो जैसे तुम्हारे, वैसे ही हमारे प्राण भी विधाता ने हमें दी हुई आयु पूरी होने तक हमें कभी नहीं छोड़ेंगे, इसलिए यह सब कुछ मूल्यवान हमारे पास जो पाथेय और वस्त्र आदि हैं, उन्हें तुम अवश्य ही रख लो, और चाहो तो हमारे प्राण भी ले लो! किन्तु क्या हमारे एक प्रश्न का उत्तर दोगे!

"कौन सा प्रश्न?"

उसने धृष्टता और उपहास भरी कठोर वाणी में उनसे पूछा।

"यही, कि क्या आजीविका और परिवार का भरण पोषण करने के लिए तुम्हारे पास और कोई तरीका नहीं है? तुम जो कर रहे हो वह जघन्य पाप है, क्या तुम्हें नहीं दिखाई देता? आयु बीत जाने पर जब तुम वृद्ध, रुग्ण, और बहुत दुर्बल हो जाओगे, मृत्यु जब तुम्हारे जीवन का अन्त करने के लिए तुम्हारे सामने आकर खड़ी होगी तब क्या यह सब वस्तुएँ तुम्हें मृत्यु से बचा सकेंगीं?"

 "तुम कहना क्या चाहते हो?"

उसने उग्रतापूर्वक किन्तु कुछ डरते हुए पूछा!

"यही, कि यदि अभी जब तुम्हारा शरीर स्वस्थ और बलवान है, तो अपनी आजीविका श्रमपूर्वक क्यों नहीं कमाते? उससे तुम्हें नींद भी अच्छी आएगी और तुम सुख से रह सकोगे। अभी क्या तुम सुखपूर्वक जी रहे हो? क्या तुम्हारा मन चिन्ता और भय से व्याकुल नहीं होता?"

"हूँ..., तो परिवार को प्रसन्न रखने के लिए क्या यह सब करना जरूरी नहीं है? मेरी पत्नी, बच्चे क्या वे सब मुझसे प्यार नहीं करते? क्या उनकी खुशी के लिए यदि मैं पापकर्म से धन संपत्ति अर्जित करता भी हूँ, तो क्या वे भी मेरे इन पापों के भागी नहीं होंगे?"

"ठीक है, तुम घर जाकर उनसे पूछकर आओ, तब तक तुम्हारी प्रतीक्षा करते हुए हम यहीं रुके रहेंगे!"

"नहीं,  मुझे तुम पर भरोसा नहीं है, मैं तुम सबको पेड़ से बाँध देता हूँ!"

इसके बाद उसने सब को एक साथ पेड़ से बाँध दिया और फिर  परिवार से पूछने के लिए अपने घर पहुँचा। जब उसने यह घटना अपनी पत्नी और बच्चों को कह सुनाई और उनसे पूछा कि क्या उस के इन पापों के फलों को भी वे नहीं बाँट लेंगे, तो सभी ने कहा : "हम तो केवल वही बाँटेगें, जिससे हमें प्रसन्नता होती है, पापों के फलों को नहीं।"

तब वह घबरा गया और दौड़ता हुआ उस पेड़ के पास जा पहुँचा जिससे उसने उन पथिकों को बाँध रखा था। उसने अपने कृत्यों के लिए उनसे क्षमा माँगते हुए पूछा, कि इन पापों का प्रायश्चित क्या है?

तब उन्होंने उससे कहा :

"बहुत ही सरल है इसका प्रायश्चित ! तुम निरंतर राम के नाम, "रामनाम" का अर्थात् इस राम-मन्त्र का जप करो। तब तुम्हारे सारे पाप धुल जाएँगे, और तुम संसार के दूसरे भी सभी क्लेशों से छूट जाओगे।"

चूँकि धन संपत्ति और परिवार और संसार से तो उसका मोहभंग पहले ही हो ही चुका था, अतः वह कन्द-मूल, फल आदि खाते हुए अपनी भूख मिटाता। गर्मी, सर्दी आदि के कष्टों को धैर्य से सहन करता हुआ इस मन्त्र का श्रद्धापूर्वक जप करने लगा। रामनाम का जप करते हुए उसने अनायास ही, न जानते हुए भी योग की विधि अर्थात् धारणा, ध्यान और समाधि आदि के क्रम का यथा-रीति पालन और अनुष्ठान अनुभव किया। योगाभ्यास के तीन फल अर्थात् तीन परिणाम - पहला : निरोध परिणाम, दूसरा : एकाग्रता परिणाम, तीसरा : समाधि परिणाम, तब उस पर घटित हुए। इन तीनों परिणामों के प्रभाव से "संयम" नामक सिद्धि की प्राप्ति उसे प्राप्त हुई और अन्ततः भगवान् श्रीराम के साकार और निराकार तत्व का केवल साक्षात्कार ही नहीं हुआ, बल्कि संसार के कल्याण के लिए उसने भगवान् की लीला की गाथा रामायण की रचना भी की।

***


Thursday, 30 March 2023

नया टेक्स्ट / नई इबारत!!

Writings

--

Writing on the Posts on :

Patanjala Yoga-Sutra / पातञ्जल योग-सूत्र 

completed on 28-03-2024.

Today wrote another post on my blog:

vinayvaidya.wordpress.com

This was an answer to a question :

What's something most people

don't understand? 

Prompted by this, I wrote down this piece about :

Consciousness and Understanding the same.

--





 


Tuesday, 28 March 2023

तदा विवेकनिम्नं

Patanjala Yoga-Sutra : vibhUtipad --

26-27-28-29-30-31-32-33

पातञ्जल योग-सूत्र : विभूतिपाद २६-२७-२८-२९-३०-३१-३२-३३

--

This is the last post in this sequence on the Patanjala Yoga-Sutra.

These are my study-notes only. I would say that in order to have an elementary and introductory knowledge of this text, the reader may go through all these posts in this blog. Still it is very likely, there may be some errors like that of interpretation, grammar, punctuation and typographical, but I think, I may go through it again and again.

That is the only objective presently in my mind.

तदा विवेकनिम्नं कैवल्यप्राग्भावं चित्तम् ।।२५।।

(तदा विवेकनिम्नं कैवल्य-प्राक्-भावं चित्तम्।।)

पाठान्तरं --

तदा विवेकनिम्नं कैवल्यप्राग्भारं चित्तम्।।२५।।

(तदा विवेकनिम्नं कैवल्य-प्राक्-भारं चित्तम्।।)

The above योग-सूत्र / Aphorism was dealt with in the last post. The next one is : 

तच्छिद्रेषु प्रत्ययान्तराणि संस्कारेभ्यः।।२६।।

(तत् छिद्रेषु प्रत्यय-अन्तराणि संस्कारेभ्यः।।)

The चित्त / chitta is defined as 

विवेकनिम्नं कैवल्यप्राग्भावम् / कैवल्यप्राग्भारम्  vivekanimnaM KaivalyaprAgbhAvaM / KaivalyaprAgbhAraM

This is the ordinary चित्त / chitta / mind, prior to attaining the कैवल्यम् / KauvalyaM. When one develops वैराग्य / vairAgya / dispassion by means of practicing the विवेक / viveka i.e. the discrimination, one deserves and becomes अधिकारी / पात्र / eligible / qualified for कैवल्यम् / the KaivalyaM.

This mind has still drawbacks, shortcomings and defects that are here referred to as the छिद्र / chhidra. Within those defects there are different संस्कार / samskAra in the form of the प्रत्यय / वृत्ति / vritti.

हानमेषां क्लेशवदुक्तम्।।२७।।

(हानं एषां क्लेशवत् उक्तम्।।)

The annihilation of these defects is done in the same way as of the क्लेश / Klesha that is described in the 

साधनपाद योग-सूत्र :

२, ३, ४, ५, ६, ७, ८, ९, १०, ११ .

Sadhanapada Aphorisms :

2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11.

प्रसङ्ख्यानेऽप्यकुसीदस्य सर्वथा विवेकख्यातेर्धर्ममेघः समाधिः।।२८।।

(प्रसङ्ख्याने अपि अकुसीदस्य सर्वथा विवेकख्यातेः धर्ममेघः समाधिः।।)

One who is ripe enough, earnest and has no attraction whatsoever towards the pleasures and enjoyments etc. in this life or even in the next life, neither for any of the सिद्धि / siddhi, attains the samAdhi state that is known as the धर्ममेघः समाधिः / dharmamegha samAdhi. 

ततः क्लेशकर्मनिवृत्तिः।।२९।।

(ततः क्लेश-कर्म-निवृत्तिः।।)

Having attained this, all क्लेश / Klesha and the कर्म / karma comes to an end. 

तदा सर्वावरणमलापेतस्य ज्ञानस्यानन्त्याज्ज्ञेयमल्पम्।।३०।।

(तदा सर्व आवरण मल अपेतस्य ज्ञानस्य आनन्त्यात् ज्ञेयं अल्पम्।।)

The such a one whose all impurities and the defects have been removed, who is free from misery and sorrow attains the bliss eternal.  He has the infinity of the knowledge and the  wisdom and in comparison there is little for him to know further.

ततः कृतार्थानां परिणामक्रमसमाप्तिर्गुणानाम्।।३१।।

(ततः कृतार्थानां परिणाम क्रम समाप्तिः गुणानाम्।।)

Such a man who has nothing more to do in order to attain anything, abides in the state of perfect bliss and ultimate, lasting peace, because the परिणाम-क्रम / chain of कर्म / karma and the consequences, and the क्लेश / Klesha of the गुण / attributes has come to end. This chain क्रम is defined in the following योग-सूत्र / Aphorism :

क्षणप्रतियोगी परिणामापरान्तनिर्ग्राह्यः क्रमः ।।३२।।

(क्षणप्रतियोगी परिणाम अपरान्त निर्ग्राह्यः क्रमः।।)

The endless sequence of cause and effect of attributes being dissolved, there is no more any role left to be played by प्रकृति / Prakriti.

पुरुषार्थशून्यानां गुणानां प्रतिप्रसवः कैवल्यं स्वरूपप्रतिष्ठा वा चितिशक्तेरिति।।३३।।

(पुरुषार्थ-शून्यानां गुणानां प्रतिप्रसवः कैवल्यं स्वरूपप्रतिष्ठा वा चिति शक्तेः इति।।)

This dissolution of attributes in their source is called प्रतिप्रसवः / prati-prasavaH while their manifestation is called प्रसवः -- the beginning of the world and the ignorance of the Self.

When one has been freed from the grip of those attributes that cause the birth, death, rebirth and the endless chain of misery, it is indeed the liberation.

The प्रतिप्रसवः / prati-prasavaH is the कैवल्यम् / KaivalyaM : abiding in the स्वरूप / Self, that is सत् / sat चित् / chit and आनन्द / Ananda.

***

।।ॐ नमो महर्षये पतञ्जलये।।

***




सदा ज्ञाताश्चित्तवृत्तयस्तत्प्रभोः

Patanjal Yoga-Sutra : Kaivalyapada --

17-18-19-20-21-22-23-24-25

पातञ्जल योग-सूत्र : कैवल्यपाद

१७-१८-१९-२०-२१-२२-२३-२४-२५

--

सदा ज्ञाताश्चित्तवृत्तयस्तत्प्रभोः पुरुषस्यापरिणामित्वात्।।१७।।

(सदा ज्ञाताः चित्तवृत्तयः तत् प्रभोः पुरुषस्य अपरिणामित्वात्।।)

The वृत्ति / vritti-s are known by one who is the knower and owner of them. This knower is changeless while the vritti-s keep changing all the time. This knower who claims "I know the vritti-s" is the individual पुरुष / purusha,  associated with those vritti-s, and is covered by and hidden, gets identified with another  वृत्ति / vritti that is the "I" sense. Who exactly is there that knows this I-sense? This I-sense is itself the consciousness, the knower of the vritti-s, yet assumes the form of something that is called उपाधि / upadhi / the adjunct. This adjunct could be a name, the memory,  the states of mind, This assumes existence in the four forms namely :

1  कर्तृत्व -- the sense of doer-ship -- The वृत्ति / vritti that is संकल्प / samkalpa like I do,  I did, I have to, I don't have to, I will do, etc. 

2 भोक्तृत्व -- the sense of enjoying, suffering and experiencing. Such as I am hungry, I'm thirsty,  I'm tired, I'm in pain. 

3 स्वामित्व -- the sense of being the owner, the one who possesses :  my house,  my family,  my money, my wealth, 

4 ज्ञातृत्व -- the sense "I know". All Knowledge is memory only. Because of the memory one remembers the knowledge.

Even in the absence of memory there is the sense that prevails in the form  : "I am".

So there is this knowing even without the knowledge of any object. This is the pure consciousness of just being, but it's not in the form of memory or knowledge. Once this knowing is overlapped by knowledge, there is the knower, the qualifying sense,  - as the adjunct. But the pure consciousness is the knower the individual, or the पुरुष / purusha. 

न तत्स्वाभासं दृश्यत्वात्।।१८।।

(न तत् स्व आभासं दृश्यत्वात्।।)

This individual, the पुरुष  / purusha is not the Self, but the inherent understanding "I am". 

एकसमये चोभयानवधारणम्।।१९।।

(एकसमये च उभय अनवधारणम्।।)

Because the चित्त / the chitta or the mind can't  grasp the both : the Self (I) and the identity as the knower / the पुरुष / the purusha, at the same time.  

चित्तान्तरदृश्ये बुद्धिबुद्धेरतिप्रसङ्गः स्मृतिसङ्करश्च।।२०।।

(चित्तान्तर-दृश्ये बुद्धि-बुद्धेः अतिप्रसङ्गः स्मृतिसङ्करश्च।।)

The chitta in transition between the interval from one to another वृत्ति / vritti, therefore becomes kind of a mental construct memory because of the intellect.

चितेरप्रतिसङ्क्रमायास्तदाकारापत्तौ स्वबुद्धिसंवेदनम्।।२१।।

(चितेः अप्रतिसङ्क्रमायाः तदाकारापत्तौ स्वबुद्धिसंवेदनम्।।)

As the चित् / chit or the pure knowing, the awareness of just being only, identified with the intellect is the consciousness of the pure Self, 

द्रष्टृदृश्योपरक्तं चित्तं सर्वार्थम्।।२२।।

(द्रष्टृदृश्य-उपरक्तं चित्तं सर्वार्थम्।।)

Such a चित् / chit, consciousness of the being only without the division of the observer and the observed, 

तदसङ्ख्येय वासनाभिश्चित्रमपि परार्थं संहत्यकारित्वात्।।२३।।

(तत् असङ्ख्येय वासनाभिः चित्रं अपि परार्थं -- संहति--- अकारित्वात्।।)

As if like a picture made of the innumerable desires, this knowing without essence is the Self as is realized in the state of mind by one,

विशेषदर्शिन आत्मभावभावनाविनिवृत्तिः।।२४।।

(विशेषदर्शिनः आत्मभावभावनाविनिवृत्तिः।।)

Is verily the Awareness "चित् / चैतन्य" / the chit, while the consciousness associated with the memory is  चेतना / the consciousness of being someone -- अहंकार, the ego or the self. 

तदा विवेकनिम्नं कैवल्यप्राग्भावं चित्तम्।।२५।।

(तदा विवेकनिम्नं कैवल्य-प्राक्-भावं चित्तम्।।)

पाठान्तरं  --

तदा विवेकनिम्नं कैवल्यप्राग्भारं चित्तम्।।२५।।

(तदा विवेकनिम्नं कैवल्य-प्राक्-भारं चित्तम्।।)

This चित्त / स्व आभास / चिदाभास, the inferior kind of the consciousness of the self is the state prior to कैवल्यम् / KaivalyaM, when there is विवेक / viveka - discrimination born of वैराग्य / dispassion.

***


Monday, 27 March 2023

अतीतानागतं स्वरूपतो

Supplement to the earlier post.

पिछले पोस्ट के लिए पूरक

Patanjala Yoga-Sutra : Kaivalyapada 12, 13

पातञ्जल योग-सूत्र : कैवल्यपाद १२, १३

--

अतीतानागतं स्वरूपतोऽस्त्यध्वभेदाद्धर्माणाम्।।१२।।

(अतीत-अनागतं स्वरूपतः अस्ति अध्वभेदात् धर्माणाम्।।)

This is about how past and future basically are only the विकार / vikAra, aberration and distortion of  - गुणानाम् / धर्माणाम् / of the three attributes as Dharma, namely : the सत् / सत्त्व / sattva, the रज / raja  and the तम / tama. As the three attributes follow different paths, the past and future appear / result as प्रत्यय / pratyaya (what appears though neither real nor unreal but hypothetical only).

ते व्यक्तसूक्ष्मा गुणात्मानः।।१३।।

(ते व्यक्तसूक्ष्माः गुणाः आत्मानः।।)

They past and future are the manifest form of the three subtle attributes of the आत्मन्  / the self / Self.

(To be read with the last post)

To be continued. ...

***


Sunday, 26 March 2023

कैवल्यपाद

Patanjal Yoga-Sutra : Kaivalyapada --

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17

पातञ्जल योग-सूत्र : कैवल्यपाद --

१-२-३-४-५-६-७-८-९-१०-११-१२-१३-१४-१५-१६-१७

--

This Chapter कैवल्यपाद / Kaivalyapada begins with the following :

योग-सूत्र १, २ / Aphorisms 1 and 2 --

जन्मौषधिमन्त्रतपः समाधिजाः सिद्धयः।।१।।

(जन्म-ओषधि-मन्त्र-तपः समाधिजाः सिद्धयः।।)

जात्यन्तरपरिणामः प्रकृत्यापूरात्।।२।।

(जाति-अन्तर परिणाम प्रकृत्यापूरात्।।)

The word "जन्म" / janma in the first refers to the birth of an individual, while the second, the word "जाति-अन्तर" in the next is about the पुनर्जन्म / punarjanma rebirth.

The first tells about how one has or acquires सिद्धि / siddhi / the miraculous occult powers. One can have these powers from the very  जन्म / the birth itself, or through the drugs, अनुष्ठान  / incantation of मन्त्र / certain words / mantra, by performing तपस् / the austerities, and finally through the समाधि / samAdhi.

The समाधि / samAdhi, according to the योग-सूत्र १, २, ३ /  Aphorisms 1, 2, 3 accordingly as is defined in the विभूतिपाद ३ / vibhUtipada 3 :

तदेवार्थमात्रनिर्भासं स्वरूपशून्यमिव समाधिः।।३।।

The first is because of those various deeds one might have done in the past life and that have started giving the effects. Of the संस्कार / samskAra, or from the parents. One can also  acquire such powers by the use of the drugs / रसायन / chemicals. There are certain mantra with or with no meaning, a combination of certain vocal words / sounds pronounced. The mantra are either  the वैदिक / vaidika or the many other kinds of them. They change from place to place and people to people. "Abracadabra" is such an example. In the आयुर्वेद / Ayurveda, which is a part of अथर्ववेद / Atharvaveda, भूत-विद्या is about the drugs and the mantra both. भूत is kind of the material aspect, while the प्रेत is the  kind of the spirit associated or is supposed to be the ethereal form of someone dead.

The जाति-अन्तर / jAti antara in the योग-सूत्र २ / Aphorism 2 refers to the transition from one birth to the next. This is facilitated by प्रकृति  /  Prakriti .

निमित्तमप्रयोजकं प्रकृतीनां वरणभेदस्तु ततः क्षेत्रिकवत्।।३।।

(निमित्तं अप्रयोजकं प्रकृतीनां ततः क्षेत्रिकवत्।।)

The word प्रकृतीनां / PrakritinAM in the योग-सूत्र ३ / Aphorism 3 is plural implying of multiple kinds. The example given is of the kind of a peasant who arranges the facilities to grow a crop in the field. So everyone is like a  क्षेत्रिक / क्षेत्रज्ञ / peasant as referred to in the श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता / the Shrimadbhagvad-gita :

इदं शरीरं कौन्तेय क्षेत्रमित्यभिधीयते।।

एतद्यो वेत्ति तं प्राहुः क्षेत्रज्ञ इति तद्विदुः।।१।।

क्षेत्रज्ञं चापि मां विद्धि सर्वक्षेत्रेषु भारत।।

क्षेत्रक्षेत्रज्ञयोर्ज्ञानं यत्तज्ज्ञानं मतं मम।।२।।

(अध्याय १३ / Chapter 13 - Stanza 1, 2)

निर्माणचित्तान्यस्मितामात्रात्।।४।।

(निर्माणचित्तानि अस्मिता-मात्रात्।।)

The many कर्ता / kartA / agents are those who prompted by the sense of the अस्मिता / asmitA - the "I am" factor arrange and possess these various means  चित्त / chitta, which has been defined in the समाधिपाद / Samadhipad, योग- सूत्र  २ / Aphorism 2 :

योगश्चित्तवृत्तिनिरोधः।।२।।

The word "चित्तवृत्ति" / चित्तरूपा वृत्तिः / chitta-vritti is a समास / a compound word where the two words are synonymous and have the same strength and sense. चित्त is the वृत्तिः, and the  वृत्तिः is चित्त itself. This means the both are the same : the चेतना / consciousness / मन / mind.

The consciousness is the individual who has many a kind of modes chitta or the vritti. All these together are under the control of the  अस्मिता / the sense I am. Accordingly the self is well-defined.

These many different and various kinds of चित्त / the chitta together constitute the  मन / the mind. The One who knows these various kinds of वृत्ति / vritti is again a वृत्ति / vritti that is called variously as अहं-वृत्ति, अहं-प्रत्यय, अहंकार, अहं-संकल्प and is the very "I am"-sense only. This is like a thread upon which are strung all those other  वृत्ति -vritti . Therefore these are called निर्माण-चित्तानि / nirmANa chittAni. The same is elaborated in the following next योग-सूत्र / Aphorism :

प्रवृत्तिभेदे प्रयोजकं चित्तमेकमनेकेषाम्।।५।।

(प्रवृत्ति-भेदे प्रयोजकं चित्तं अनेकेषाम्।।)

According to the particular tendencies / the inclination, प्रवृत्ति / pra-vritti of one-self / the individual, the unique चेतना / consciousness alone, itself assumes all these many different and various forms that together are called the चित्त / chitta वृत्ति / vritti.

This चेतना / consciousness therefore plays the role of one that sponsors all those other  वृत्ति / vritti. 

तत्र ध्यानजमनाशनम्।।६।।

(तत्र ध्यानजं अनाशनम्।।)

Out of these many चित्त / वृत्ति  there is this one that is अनाशवान / अविनाशी / that is neither born nor dies. In comparison, all other वृत्ति / chitta keep on repeatedly emerging from this one,  merging into it and re-emerging.

This one अनाशवान / indestructible that is ever so imperishable वृत्ति / vritti, is and born from the ध्यान / attention. Attention or awareness is therefore the one ground where-from  मन / the mind / other vritti-s keep emerging and where-to get merged repeatedly. Therefore  मन / mind is but a flow of वृत्ति vritti-s only, but the ध्यान / attention is the only ground and the support of all them. The ध्यान / attention is not a vritti, though "I sense" is such a vritti.

कर्माशुक्लाकृष्णं योगिनस्त्रिविधमितरेषाम्।।७।।

(कर्म अशुक्ल-अकृष्णं योगिनः, - त्रिविधं इतरेषाम्।।)

Such a man who could have discovered this fact is indeed a योगी / Yogi in the true sense of the word.

Those who have yet to discover are "other than him".  The three types of कर्म / actions of those others are auspicious, inauspicious or of the mixed kind. They are different from a योगी / Yogi. A Yogi has no sense of "I do", He is aware that everything happens according to the three गुण / the attributes of प्रकृति / Prakriti only.  

ततस्तद्विपाकानुगुणानामेवाभिव्यक्तिर्वासनानाम्।।८।।

(ततः तत् विपाक-अनुगुणानां एव अभिव्यक्तिः वासनानाम्।।)

But the others who believe that they are free to do whatever they want, desire or can do, determine and decide, have this inherent वासना / vAsanA / the desire, hope or the fear about what they could achieve through the  कर्म / action. This idea of a achieving is there  because of being prompted by the three  गुण / attributes of प्रकृति / Prakriti, in the dorm of :

जातिदेशकालव्यवहितानामप्यानन्तर्यं स्मृतिसंस्कारयोरेक-रूपत्वात्।।९।।

(जाति-देश-काल-व्यवहितानां अपि आनन्तर्यं स्मृतिसंस्कारयोः एकरूपत्वात्।।)

तासामनादित्वं चाशिषो नित्यत्वात्।।१०।।

(तासां अनादित्वं च अशिषः नित्यत्वात्।।)

Because of the all the apparent factors like the जाति / the birth,  देश / place, काल / time and those many other innumerable such things that form the स्मृति / memory, and the संस्कार / the accumulated tendencies together. These are without a beginning and without an end, and appear to exist always. So the apparent world is thought of as if it is there having its permanent existence always. It is basically a wrong notion and needs to be enquired into. 

हेतुफलाश्रयालम्बनैः संगृहीतत्वादेषामभावे तदभावः।।११।।

(हेतुफल-आश्रय-लम्बनैः संगृहीतत्वात् एषां अभावे तत्-अभावः।।)

This world becomes and is accepted as the purpose that prompts one to make effort to achieve something goal, some objective to be fulfilled. Once this notion of an independent and separate world is enquired into and is found to be baseless and untrue, all desire, fear, hope and anxiety comes to end. 

अतीतानागतं स्वरूपतोऽस्त्यध्वभेदाद्धर्माणाम्।।१२।।

(अतीत अनागत स्वरूपतः अस्ति अध्वभेदात् धर्माणाम्।।)

ते व्यक्तसूक्ष्मा गुणात्मानः।।१३।।

(ते व्यक्तसूक्ष्माः गुणाः आत्मानः)

परिणामैकत्वाद्वस्तुतत्त्वम्।।१४।।

(परिणाम-एकत्वात् वस्तु-तत्त्वम्।।)

ते आत्मानः (प्रथम विभक्ति, nominative case, plural of आत्मा / the 'self')

वस्तुसाम्ये चित्तभेदात्तयोर्विभक्तः पन्थाः।।१५।।

(वस्तु-साम्ये चित्तभेदात् तयोः विभक्तः पन्थाः।।)

+न चैकचित्ततन्त्रं वस्तु तदप्रमाणकं तदा किं स्यात्।

(+न च एकचित्त तन्त्रं तत् अप्रमाणकं तदा किं स्यात्।।)

Though they are verily the आत्मन्  / Atman, they assume the form of attributes of प्रकृति /  Prakriti :

ये चैव सात्त्विका भावा राजसास्तामसाश्च ये।।

मत्त एवेति तान्विद्धि न त्वहं तेषु ते मयि।।१२।।

त्रिभिर्गुणमयैर्भावैरेभिः सर्वमिदं जगत्।।

मोहितं नाभिजानाति मामेभ्यः परमव्ययम्।।१३।।

देवि ह्येषा गुणमयी मम माया दुरत्यया।।

मामेव ये प्रपद्यन्ते मायामेतां तरन्ति ते।।१४।।

(श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता अध्याय ७, Shrimadbhagvadgita Chapter 7 - stanza 12, 13, 14)

तदुपरागापेक्षितत्वाच्चित्तस्य वस्तु ज्ञाताज्ञातम्।।१६।।

(तत् उपराग अपेक्षितत्वात् चित्तस्य वस्तु ज्ञात-अज्ञातम्।।)

Because of this association of the गुण / the 3 attributes with the assumed आत्मन / the self, the चित्त / chitta appears in terms of the ज्ञात / known and the अज्ञात / the unknown.

सदा ज्ञाताश्चित्तवृत्तयस्तत्प्रभोः पुरुषस्यापरिणामित्वात्।।१७।।

(सदा ज्ञाताः चित्तवृत्तयः तत् प्रभोः पुरुषस्य अपरिणामित्वात्।।)

But the ज्ञाता / the knower is always the owner and the स्वामी / the lord of all those वृत्ति / vritti-s because the पुरुष / purusha, आत्मन् /  Atman is ever so अपरिणामी, and अविकारी / unaffected and changeless, while the वृत्ति / vritti (either the known or the unknown, and whatever that is that known or the unknown in वृत्ति / vritti) is always constantly subject to change)

***






Friday, 24 March 2023

स्थूलस्वरूपसूक्ष्मान्वयार्थ

Patanjal Yoga-Sutra : vibhUtipada --

45-46-47-48-49-50-51-52-53-54-55-56

पातञ्जल योग-सूत्र : विभूतिपाद --

४५-४६-४७-४८-४९-५०-५१-५२-५३-५४-५५-५६

--

स्थूलस्वरूपसूक्ष्मान्वयार्थवत्त्वसंयमाद्भूत जयः।।४५।।

(स्थूलस्वरूपसूक्ष्म-अन्वय-अर्थवत्त्व-संयमात्-भूतजयः।।)

The Matter could be categorized in the three forms : स्थूल - The Gross, स्वरूप - The Substance and essence, and सूक्ष्म / The Subtle,

Whatever has existence is viewed in any one or the other of these three forms.

अन्वय / anvaya -- classification / analysis, अर्थ -- अर्थवत्वं -- हेतु -- the essential sense, meaning / purpose (of whatever that exists).

Application of the संयम / samyama over these gross, substance and essence, and the subtle elements results in having total control over the भूत - whatever that is manifest, has come into existence i.e. the elements.

भूतजयः therefore implies transcending the material-aspect of existence, and realization of the conscious-aspect -- the consciousness.

ततोऽणिमादिप्रादुर्भावः कायसम्पत्तद्धर्मानभिघातश्च।।४६।।

(ततः अणिमा* आदि प्रादुर्भावः काय-सम्पत् तत् धर्म-अन्-अभिघातः च।। *अणिम अणिमः अण्-इमः आदि) 

अनभिघातः -- non-obstruction

Once the material or the matter aspect has been transcended one has the perfect and the complete understanding of the material existence, its evolution, manifestation and the transformation that it goes through all the time. This results in the eight siddhi-s (the occult powers)  namely :

अणिमा : of the smallest, महिमा : of the biggest, गरिमा : of the heaviest, लघिमा : of the lightest, प्राप्ति : of the accomplishment, प्राकाम्य : of the wish / desire,  ईशित्व : of The Lordship, वशित्व : of the control.

रूपलावण्यबलवज्रसंहननत्वानिकायसम्पत्।।४७।।

(रूप लावण्य बल वज्रसंहननत्वानि कायसम्पत्।।)

रूप : form and appearance,  लावण्य : charm and attraction,

बल :strength, power, force,

वज्र संहननत्व : tough, powerful, strong, harsh like the thunder-bolt or condensed / compressed, hard like the diamond.

These are --

कायसम्पत्  : the bodily prosperity. 

ग्रहणस्वरूपास्मितान्वयार्थवत्त्वसंयमदिन्द्रियजयः।।४८।।

(ग्रहण स्वरूप अस्मिता अन्वय अर्थवत्त्व संयम आदि इन्द्रियजयः।।)

ग्रहण : accepting, acquiring owning, assuming the existence.

स्वरूप  -- The Essential Reality. 

अस्मिता - अस्मि-ता - The sense "I am", pure being only.

अन्वय : assemble, classify, arrange, combine as and into the elemental or the compound aggregate forms.

अर्थवत्वं : The Accomplishment of purpose and the sense.

ततो मनोजवित्वं विकरणभावः प्रधानजयश्च।।४९।।

(ततः मनो-जवित्वं वि-करण-भावः प्रधान-जयः च।।)

Having understood all them in and under control,

ततः Then one has, मनो-जवित्वं : the speed like that of the mind that can go and reach every-where in the very moment. 

वि-करण-भावः : having split up dismembered into parts,

One attains all that prosperity and riches.

सत्त्वपुरुषान्यताख्यातिमात्रस्य सर्वभावाधिष्ठातृत्वं सर्वज्ञातृत्वं च।।५०।।

(सत्त्वपुरुष* अन्यता ख्यातिमात्रस्य सर्वभाव-अधिष्ठातृत्वं सर्व-ज्ञातृत्वं च।। --- * सत्त्वपुरुषयोः)

सत्त्व - the pure consciousness, पुरुष - the I am sense, अन्य-ता - the notion that these two are altogether quite different from each other, is verily सर्वभाव अधिष्ठातृत्वं : The foundation of all and everything manifest / latent unmanifest as well. This is also the सर्वज्ञातृत्वं / all-knowing, The Omniscience.

This has reference to the योग-सूत्र २३, २४ / the Aphorisms 23,24 of समाधिपाद /  Samadhipad :

ईश्वरप्रणिधानाद्वा।।२३।।

क्लेशकर्मविपाकाशयैरपरामृष्टः पुरुषविशेषः ईश्वरः।।२४।।

तद्वैराग्यादपि दोषबीजक्षये कैवल्यम्।।५१।।

(तत् वैराग्यात् अपि दोष-बीज-क्षये कैवल्यम्।।)

तत् वैराग्यात् अपि -- When because of the वैराग्य  / vairAgya / dispassion born of the practice of the attention given upon नित्य - अनित्य / nitya - anitya all the interest and the attraction to these attributes like -- having control and the power,  knowledge of all and everything -- is no more,  One abides content in (स्वरूप) one's own Self - The Only Reality. This is verily the दोषबीज-क्षयं - the destruction of the very seed of अविद्या / avidyA, -the only error / ignorance. This is what is the : कैवल्यम् 

स्थान्युपनिमन्त्रणेसङ्गस्मयाकरणं पुनरनिष्टप्रसङ्गात्।।५२।।

(स्थानि उपनिमन्त्रणे-सङ्गस्मय-आकरणं पुनः अनिष्ट प्रसङ्गात्।।)

स्थानि : For the individual having the notion : "I am this or that" as true, 

उपनिमन्त्रणे : Because of something that stirs in the सङ्ग association with  स्मय the memory, and आकरणं पुनः is revealed so again, assumed to be real, अनिष्टप्रसङ्गात् : per chance, owing to the unwanted evil incidences or situation one may again come across to the state of ignorance for the time being. Therefore one has to practice the :

नित्य अनित्य विवेक / the nitya-anitya viveka,

as much long as the अविद्या  / the  ignorance  persists. The next योग-सूत्र / Aphorism is about this :

क्षणतत्क्रमयोः संयमाद्विवेकजं ज्ञानम्।।५३।।

(क्षण-तत्-क्रमयोः संयमात् विवेकजं ज्ञानम्।।)

During the passing of a moment, if one is  aware of the movement of (assumed and imagined) time and keeps attention fixed  upon the kind of the time that is not subject to this passing time, rather is devoid of all (वृत्ति/ vritti / movement and is the foundation and the support only, one attains the understanding born of  विवेक / discrimination / viveka the wisdom. 

जातिलक्षणदेशैरन्यताऽनवच्छेदात्तुल्ययोस्ततः प्रतिपत्तिः।।५४।।

(जाति लक्षण देशैः अन्यता अनवच्छेदात् तुल्ययोः ततः प्रतिपत्तिः।।)

जाति-लक्षण-देशैः : With respect to differences of birth (race, family etc.), the appearance and  place, and because unable to distinguish the similarities and the dissimilarities, one just fails to understand their true worth.

This causes the sense and conflict between what is the real and the unreal, but when out of the विवेक / viveka / discrimination - 

अन्य-ता अन्-अवच्छेदनात् तुल्ययोः तयोः ततः प्रतिपत्तिः।।

The similarities and the dissimilarities are compared discarding the transient as unreal, and holding upon the changeless, abides for ever, as only support and the foundation of them is seen, one is free from all conflict and attains peace ultimate.

तारकं सर्वविषये सर्वथाविषयमक्रमं चेति विवेकजं ज्ञानम् ।। ... ।।५५।।

(तारकं सर्वविषये सर्वथा विषयं अक्रमं च इति विवेकजं ज्ञानम्।।)

Therefore this wisdom -the Intelligence born of discrimination is called  तारकं / tArakaM, that liberates one from all bondage. 

सत्त्वपुरुषयोः शुद्धिसाम्ये कैवल्यमिति।।५६।।

(सत्त्व-पुरुषयोः शुद्धिसाम्ये कैवल्यम् इति।।)

When the  सत्त्व (consciousness / the mind) and the sense of  the पुरुष / the "I am" - sense are both purified and are seen as one and the same Reality, this is called "कैवल्यम्" / the "KaivalyaM".

The last Chapter deals with this in details.

To be continued.  ...

***






ततः प्रातिभश्रवणवेदनादर्श

Patanjal Yoga-Sutra : vibhUtipad --

37-38-39-40-41-42-43-44

पातञ्जल योग-सूत्र : विभूतिपाद --

३७-३८-३९-४०-४१-४२-४३-४४

--

ततः प्रातिभश्रवणवेदनादर्शास्वादवार्ता जायन्ते।।३७।।

(ततः प्रातिभ श्रवण वेदना दर्श आस्वाद वार्ता जायन्ते।।)

Before going through the योग-सूत्र ३७-४४ / the Aphorisms 37 to 44, let us take a glance over The योग-सूत्र ३४, ३५, ३६ / Aphorism 34, 35, 36 :

प्रातिभाद्वा सर्वम्।। ३४।।

हृदये चित्तसंवित्।।३५।।

सत्त्वपुरुषयोरत्यन्तसंकीर्णयोः प्रत्ययाविशेषाद् भोगः परार्थत्वादन्यस्वार्थसंयमात् पुरुषज्ञानम्।।३६।।

The above are about how a योगी / yogi who has attained this stage and level, not only has those occult and miraculous powers, but has deeper subtle experiences of the kind of higher लोक / realms / spheres of देवता / devatA. There are such references in पुराण / PurANa, रामायण / Ramayana, महाभारत / Mahabharata, even in those texts : रघुवंशम्  / Raguvamsham of Kalidas that describe such events when these many celestial देवता / devatA, like गन्धर्व / gandharva / किन्नर / kinnara /अप्सरा / apsarA / यक्ष / YakSha etc. appear, sing, dance, and rejoice, shower flowers from the heavens.

Though a ऋषि /  Rishi like वाल्मीकि / Valmiki has already described them in the रामायण / Ramayana in great details the mortals like us can't comprehend how that happens. 

ततः प्रातिभश्रवणवेदनादर्शास्वादवार्ता जायन्ते।।३७।।

(ततः प्रातिभ श्रवण वेदना दर्श आस्वाद वार्ता जायन्ते।।)

Having attained this level a योगी / Yogi comes to experience this and such phenomenon. He can hear those sounds, music, and feel like a participant there. These experiences apart from the miraculous powers are obstacle to samAdhi but at the ordinary level, the state of waking, are  सिद्धि / siddhi  known to him but not to others.  

ते समाधावुपसर्गा व्युत्थाने सिद्धयः।।३८।।

(ते समाधौ उपसर्गाः -- व्युत्थाने सिद्धयः।।)

बन्धकारणशैथिल्यात् प्रचारसंवेदनाच्च चित्तस्य परशरीरप्रवेशः।। ।।३९।।

(बन्धकारण शैथिल्यात् प्रचारसंवेदनात्  च चित्तस्य पर-शरीर-प्रवेशः।।)

If required, such an accomplished योगी / YogI could gather the प्राण / prANa and through the nADi-s, with the help of mind / consciousness (चेतना) leave his physical body and can go and enter into the physical body of a dead one / corpse or even someone alive but in a stage of trans like mental state. This has been also often experienced by many of the aboriginal cults, everywhere in the world. 

उदानजयाज्जलपङ्ककण्टकादिष्वसङ्ग उत्क्रान्तिश्च।।४०।।

(उदान जयात् जल पङ्क कण्टक आदिषु असङ्गः उत्क्रान्तिः च।।)

Having controlled the उदान / udAna the force that lifts one above in the direction opposite to gravity one can walk upon waters, marshy lands, land full with thorny bushes etc. 

समानजयात्प्रज्वलनम्।।४१।।

(समान-जयात् प्रज्वलनम्।।) 

One having control संयम / samyama over the समान / samAna could emanate light from the body. This is precisely what तेजस् / tejas, and the ओजस् / ojas. He may look like the shining,  luminous beings.

श्रोत्राकाशयोः संबंधसंयमाद्दिव्यं श्रोत्रम्।।४२।।

(श्रोतृ-आकाशयोः संबंध  संयमात् दिव्यं श्रोत्रम्।।)

A योगी  / YogI Through the संयम / samyama over the relation between the ear (the power of hearing) and the आकाश  / ether / AkAsha, can hear the divine sounds and voices and this gives us a clue how Veda is called श्रुति / the  shruti. That is again why Veda are the word of ईश्वर / Ishvara / ब्रह्मा / BrahmA. Therefore, the Veda is / are of immaculate birth. A ऋषि / Rishi is one who first heard it.

कायाकाशयोःसम्बन्धसंयमाल्लघुतूलसमापत्तेश्चाकाशगमनम् -- ।।४३।।

(काया आकाशयोः सम्बन्ध संयमात् लघु तूल समापत्तेः च आकाशगमनम्।।)

As said about the relationship between the ear / hearing and the AkAsha in the योग-सूत्र ४२ / Aphorism 42, this योग-सूत्र ४३ / Aphorism 43 points out how by applying संयम / samyama over the relation between the body ( लघुतूल / light or heavy)  and the sky / AkAsha / space,  one can move in the sky (or the space) 

बहिरकल्पिता वृत्तिर्महाविदेहा ततः प्रकाशावरणक्षयः।।४४।।

(बहिः अकल्पिता वृत्तिः महाविदेहा ततः प्रकाशावरण-क्षयः।।)

Lastly, the महाविदेहा वृत्ति / mahAvidehA vritti, that is beyond कल्पना /  imagination / thought of, at the बहिः / external world of the sensory perceptions, is reached by such an exalted / योगी / YogI, where the cover that shields the light, is finally and totally destroyed forever. 

To be continued. ...

***





Wednesday, 22 March 2023

प्रवृत्त्या लोकन्यासात्

Patanjal Yoga-Sutra : vibhUtipada 

26-27-28-29-30-31-32-33-34-35-36

पातञ्जल योग-सूत्र : विभूतिपाद

२६-२७-२८-२९-३०-३१-३२-३३-३४-३५-३६

--

प्रवृत्त्या लोकन्यासात् सूक्ष्मव्यवहितविप्रकृष्टज्ञानम्।।२६।।

(प्रवृत्त्या लोकन्यासात् सूक्ष्म-व्यवहित-विप्रकृष्टज्ञानम्।।)

This योग-सूत्र / Aphorism and onwards up-to योग-सूत्र३६ Aphorism 36 are an extension of the योग-सूत्र ३५ / the Aphorism 35 :

विषयवती वा प्रवृत्तिरुत्पन्ना मनसः स्थितिनिबन्धिनी ।।३५।।

of the समाधिपाद / Chapter on Samadhipada, where it has been pointed out that विषयवती  वृत्ति / viShayavatI vritti is the outward and the outgoing tendency of the mind, the one that binds the mind with the विषयात्मक जगत् / the objective world / reality of matter and the mind / the consciousness.

In the following, this could be understood :

भुवनज्ञानं सूर्ये संयमात्।।२७।।

(भुवनज्ञानं सूर्ये संयमात्।।)

The nature and knowledge of the objective world could be acquired by means of संयम / samyama upon the Sun.

चन्द्रे ताराव्यूहज्ञानम्।।२८।।

(चन्द्रे ताराव्यूहज्ञानम्।।)

The nature and knowledge of the celestial stars, planets and all the other such material bodies and their relative position in the sky and the Zodiac is known by means of  संयम  / samyama upon the Moon.

This is how the वैदिक ज्योतिष / the Astronomy of the Veda is discovered and learnt.

ध्रुवे तद्गतिज्ञानम्।।२९।।

(ध्रुवे तद्गतिज्ञानम्।।)

The संयम / samyama applied to the ध्रुव नक्षत्र / the Polar star / North gives the knowledge of the movement of these heavenly bodies (the material as well as that of the  देवता / devatA / the Divine element associated with them.) 

नाभिचक्रे कायव्यूहज्ञानम्।।३०।।

(नाभिचक्रे कायव्यूहज्ञानम्।।)

The संयम / samyama applied upon the नाभिचक्र / the navel centre in the body results in the knowledge of the anatomy, the physiology and the Neuroscience.

This is the basis of शारीरिक / शारीरक आयुर्वेद the Ayurveda.

कण्ठकूपे क्षुत्पिपासा निवृत्तिः।।३१।।

(कण्ठकूपे क्षुत्पिपासा निवृत्तिः।।)

The संयम / samyama applied over upon to the throat-centre helps one in freeing from the hunger and the thirst.

कूर्मनाड्यां स्थैर्यम्।।३२।।

(कूर्मनाड्यां स्थैर्यम्।।)

The संयम / samyama over the कूर्म-नाडी / त्रिकास्थि / the sacral / secrum plexus helps in making  the posture stable.

मूर्धज्योतिषि सिद्धदर्शनम्।।३३।।

(मूर्धज्योतिषि सिद्धदर्शनम्।।)

Applying the संयम / the samyama on the light in the मूर्धा / सुषुम्ना नाडी / the cerebrum / or the brain connects with the सिद्ध / siddha.

Refer : श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता / Shrimadbhagvadgita 

अश्वत्थः सर्ववृक्षाणां देवर्षीणां च नारदः।।

गन्धर्वाणां चित्ररथः सिद्धानां कपिलो मुनिः।।२६।।

(अध्याय १०, Chapter 10, Stanza 26)

प्रातिभाद्वा सर्वम्।।३४।।

(प्रातिभात् वा सर्वम्।।)

The संयम / samyama helps in so many ways accordingly, but with the awakening of the प्रातिभ ज्ञान / the Intelligence, all these सिद्धि / powers are available to a योगी / YogI.

हृदये चित्तसंवित्।।३५।। 

(हृदये चित्तसंवित्।।)

The heart is the abode of emotions and the feelings, while the brain; -of thoughts and thinking. The two together are variously called as the मन, बुद्धि, चित्त अहं / the mind, the intellect, the consciousness and the ego.

This is collectively known as the चित्त-संवित् / अन्तःकरण / अन्तःकरण चतुष्टय / the four mental inner organs of the mind / the individuality.

Practicing संयम / samyama over this collective heart one can understand the nature and the role of mind with respect to the body. 

सत्त्वपुरुषयोरत्यन्तसंकीर्णयोः प्रत्ययाविशेषाद् भोगः परार्थत्वादन्यस्वार्थसंयमात् पुरुषज्ञानम्।।३६।।

(सत्त्व-पुरुषयोः अत्यन्त-संकीर्णयोः प्रत्यय विशेषाद् भोगः परार्थत्वात्-अन्य स्व-अर्थ-संयमात् पुरुषज्ञानम्।।)

With the extreme closeness / vicinity of the mind and the individuality (the soul) and the sense of the (अस्मिता)  / the self, the individual  पुरुष / purusha goes through various kinds of स्व-अर्थ / worldly experiences (भोगः), but when the same संयम / samyama applied over the  परार्थ / the spiritual, it helps in attaining the knowledge of the ब्रह्मन्  / Brahman. 

***


 

Tuesday, 21 March 2023

सोपक्रमं निरुपक्रमम्

Patanjal Yoga-Sutra : vibhUtipada --

Aphorisms 23-24-25

पातञ्जल योग-सूत्र : विभूतिपाद

योग-सूत्र २३-२४-२५

--

In the last post : कायरूपसंयमात् ...

विभूतिपाद  /  vibhUtipada -- योग-सूत्र २१-२२, and  Aphorisms 21 and 22 have been dealt with.

The relevant words are in bold, to indicate how this happens with one who follows the path of practicing the  योग / Yoga. One can see the text श्रीरमण गीता अध्याय १२, अध्याय १४ referred to there.

Presently let us go onto the next :

सोपक्रमं निरुपक्रमं च कर्म तत्संयमादपरान्तज्ञानमरिष्टेभ्यो

वा।।२३।।

(स-उपक्रमं निर्-उपक्रममं च कर्म तत्संयमात् अपरान्त ज्ञानं अरिष्टेभ्यः वा।।)

कर्म - deeds / action is of two kinds --

स उपक्रमं  The one in steps and planning that is about and at the worldly level. This could be managed in advance and according to the  knowledge of the worldly things. 

निर् उपक्रमं - One where one is prompted by the forces beyond one's control.  Time is such a factor. Destiny is another one. As is indicated in the श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता / Shrimadbhagvad-gita :

The five factors that govern and determine the fate / consequences of कर्म / deed / action that happens is described here :

अनिष्टमिष्टं मिश्रं च त्रिविधं कर्मणः फलम्।।

भवत्यत्यागिनां प्रेत्य न तु संन्यासिनां क्वचित्।।१२।।

पञ्चेमानि महाबाहो कारणानि निबोध मे।।

साङ्ख्ये कृतान्ते प्रोक्तानि सिद्धये सर्वकर्मणाम्।।१३।।

अधिष्ठानं तथा कर्ता करणं च पृथग्विधम्।।

विविधाश्च पृथक्चेष्टा दैवं चैवात्र पञ्चमम्।।१४।।

शरीरवाङ्मनोभिर्यत्कर्म प्रारभते नरः।।

न्याय्यं वा विपरीतं वा पञ्चैते तस्य हेतवः।।१५।।

(अध्याय १८, Chapter 18, Stanza 12-13-14-15)

These consequences are beyond knowledge and control of anyone who is not योगी / Yogi or संन्यासी / sannyAsI.

A योगी / yogi may have however, premonition of the same. He can see the exact moment of अपरान्तम्  / death, or its signs, indicative of the imminent death through and by means of applying संयम / samyama, if so desires.

मैत्र्यादिषु बलानि।।२४।।

(मैत्री आदिषु बलानि।।)

This has reference to योग-सूत्र ३३ / Aphorism 33 of साधनपाद / Sadhanapada :

मैत्रीकरुणामुदितोपेक्षाणां सुखदुःखपुण्यापुण्यविषयाणां भावनातश्चित्तप्रसादनम्।।३३।।

Through संयम / samyama (as is pointed out in योग-सूत्र ४ / Aphorism 4 - साधनपाद Sadhanapada, one can understand the strength / power of a relationship, - like the friendship etc. in the same way as we understand about the other many things of strength.

The strength / power is thus understood (and may or may not be physically acquired also) as is estimated. This has been clarified in the next Aphorism :

बलेषु हस्तिबलादीनि।।२५।।

(बलेषु हस्तिबल आदीनि।।)

Just as one can easily understand / estimate the strength / force of an elephant or such.

Just like the one who rides and has control over an elephant, has control over the same and could be thought of to be more powerful than the elephant, a योगी / Yogi too may have subtle control over the subtle powers ( प्राण / prANa) and that explains how a योगी / Yogi, if so needs can defy gravitational force as well, could walk upon water and fly through air. As is described in the text रामायण / Ramayana about हनुमान / Hanumana.

But for us presently this is all hypothetical fancy only!

***





कायरूपसंयमात्

Patanjal Yoga-Sutra :

vibhUtipada 21-22,

पातञ्जल योग-सूत्र :

विभूतिपाद योग-सूत्र २१-२२,

-------------------------------------

कायरूपसंयमात् तद्ग्राह्यशक्तिस्तम्भे चक्षुःप्रकाशासंयोगेऽन्तर्धानम्।।२१।।

(काय-रूप-संयमात् तत् ग्राह्यशक्ति-स्तम्भे चक्षुः प्रकाश असंयोगे अन्तर्धानम्।।)

एतेन शब्दाद्यन्तर्धानमुक्तम्।।२२।।

(एतेन शब्देन आदिना अन्तर्धानम् उक्तम्।।)

In this योग-सूत्र २१ / Aphorism 21, and the next योग-सूत्र २२ / Aphorism 22 it is described how a योगी / yogi sometimes attains this सिद्धि / विभूति / vibhUti either during while he is practicing the योग / Yoga or maybe even after attaining the ultimate and final goal; - the spiritual Realization.

Here destiny plays the crucial and the most important role, because as is suggested in the

श्री रमण गीता द्वादशः अध्यायः --

Sri Ramana Gita : Chapter 12,

परिपाकेन काले स्युः सिद्धयस्तात पश्यतः।।

प्रारब्धं यदि ताभिः स्याद् विहारो ज्ञानिनोऽपि च।।२०।।

(परिपाकेन काले स्युः सिद्धयः तात पश्यतः। प्रारब्धं यदि ताभिः स्याद् विहारः ज्ञानिनः अपि।।)

अध्याय १४ / Chapter 14,

मुक्तो भवति जीवन्यो महात्माऽऽत्मनि संस्थितः।।

प्राणाः समवलीयन्ते तस्यैवात्र नरर्षभ।।८।।

(मुक्तः भवति जीवन् यः महात्मा आत्मनि संस्थितः। प्राणाः समवलीयन्ते तस्य एव अत्र नरर्षभ।।)

जीवन्मुक्तस्य कालेन तपसः परिपाकतः।। स्पर्शाभावोऽपि सिद्धः स्याद्रूपे सत्यपि कुत्रचित्।।९।।

(जीवन्मुक्तस्य कालेन तपसः परिपाकतः। स्पर्शाभावः अपि सिद्धः स्यात् रूपे सति अपि कुत्रचित्।।)

भूयश्च परिपाकेन रूपाभावोऽपि सिद्ध्यति।।

केवलं चिन्मयो भूत्वा स सिद्धो विहरिष्यति।।१०।।

(भूयश्च परिपाकेन रूपाभावः अपि सिद्ध्यति। केवलं चिन्मयः भूत्वा सः सिद्धः विहरिष्यति।।)

भेदमेतं पुरस्कृत्य तारतम्यं न सम्पदि।।

देहवानशरीरो वा मुक्त आत्मनि संस्थितः।।११।।

(भेदं एतं पुरस्कृत्य तारतम्यं न सम्पदि। देहवान् अशरीरः वा मुक्त आत्मनि संस्थितः।।)

नाडीद्वारार्चिराद्येन मार्गेणोर्ध्वगतिर्नरः।।

तत्रोत्पन्नेन बोधेन सद्यो मुक्तो भविष्यति।।१२।।

(नाडीद्वारा अर्चिरा आद्येन मार्गेण ऊर्ध्वगतिः नरः।  तत्र उत्पन्नेन बोधेन सद्य मुक्तः भविष्यति।।)

उपासकस्य सुतरां पक्वचित्तस्य योगिनः।।

ईश्वरानुग्रहात्प्रोक्ता नाडीद्वारोत्तमा गतिः।।१३।।

(उपासकस्य सुतरां पक्वचित्तस्य योगिनः। ईश्वर-अनुग्रहात् प्रोक्ता नाडीद्वारा-उत्तमा।।)

सर्वेषु कामचारोऽस्य लोकेषु परिकीर्तितः।।

इच्छयाऽनेकदेहानां ग्रहणं चाप्यनुग्रहः।।१५।।

(सर्वेषु कामचारः अस्य लोकेषु परिकीर्तितः। इच्छया अनेक देहानां ग्रहणं च अपि अनुग्रहः।।) 

कैलासं केऽपि मुक्तानां लोकमाहुर्मनीषिणः।।

एके वदन्ति वैकुण्ठं परे त्वादित्यमण्डलम्।।१६।।

कैलासं के अपि वदन्ति मुक्तानां लोकं आहुः मनीषिणः। एके वदन्ति वैकुण्ठं परे तु आदित्यमण्डलम्।।) 

मुक्तलोकाश्च ते सर्वे विद्वन् भूम्यादिलोकवत्।।

चित्रवैभवया शक्त्या स्वरूपे परिकल्पिताः।।१७।।

मुक्तलोकाः च ते सर्वे विद्वन् भूमि आदि लोकवत्। चित्रवैभवया शक्त्या स्वरूपे परिकल्पिताः।।) 

।।इति चतुर्दशोऽध्यायः।।

Summarily in this text Sri Ramana Gita, it is said that a योगी / yogi who begins practicing eventually attains these various सिद्धि / siddhi / the occult mysterious powers if it is in the destiny.  Accordingly, may become invisible or even acquire so many forms and appear at different places and at the same moment.

These two योग-सूत्र २१, २२ / Aphorisms 21, 22 therefore indicate this much only :

-how this happens.

and could neither be proved nor needs to be proved or claimed by any-one who-so-ever or how-so-ever great योगी / yogi one is.

***






Sunday, 19 March 2023

प्रत्ययस्य परचित्तज्ञानम्।।

Patanjal Yoga-Sutra : vibhUtipad 19, 20

पातञ्जल योग-सूत्र : विभूतिपाद १९, २०

प्रत्ययस्य परचित्तज्ञानम्।।१९।।

(प्रत्ययस्य परचित्त-ज्ञानम्।।)

(न च तत् स आलम्बनं तस्य अविषयीभूतत्वात्।।२०।।

योग-सूत्र १९ / Aphorisms 19 points out that the प्रत्यय / expressions and gestures reveal about the state of one's चित्त / mind. प्रत्यय / pratyaya is therefore the mirror where-in a योगी yogi can see what is on the mind of someone else as if in a mirror, by one who can apply the  संयम / samyama on the प्रत्यय / pratyaya. In a way it is, kind of the reading another's mind.

(The present-day Body-language may be just a crude underdeveloped form of this only.) 

In the योग-सूत्र २० / Aphorism 20 it is further explained that though what is on someone's mind could be read in this way, the cause of the same couldn't be known, as that cause is not the विषय / object of the धारणा-ध्यान-समाधि-संयम or the holding and fixing the attention, contemplation and the rest -- samAdhi and samyama.

(Refer to the योग-सूत्र ४ / Aphorism 4 विभूतिपाद / vibhUtipada : त्रयमेकत्र संयमः।।४।।)

***

अतीतानागतज्ञानम् ...

Patanjal Yoga-Sutra : vibhUtipada -- 16+18

पातञ्जल योग-सूत्र : विभूतिपाद -- १६+१८,

--

परिणामत्रयसंयमादतीतानागतज्ञानम्।।१६।।

संस्कारसाक्षात्करणात् पूर्वजातिज्ञानम्।।१८।।

Though the two  योग-सूत्र / Aphorisms have been already dealt with, how I interpreted them together some three years ago was like this :

अतीत is the past, अनागत is the future,

The simple meaning is that the past life and the future life of a man could be known by reading the two together, with regards to his present life. 

How one goes through in life may point out that in the past life he might have thought of or desired the life that he is presently living.

That is so, because the next life depends on what state of mind one has, at the time of death. According to :

श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता / अध्याय ८,

Shrimadbhagvadgita / Chapter 8 : 

अन्तकाले च मामेव स्मरन्मुक्त्वा कलेवरम्।।

यः प्रयाति स मद्भावं याति नास्त्यत्र संशयः।।५।।

यं यं वापि स्मरन्भावं त्जत्यन्ते कलेवरम्।।

तं तमेवैति कौन्तेय तदा तद्भावभावितः।। ६।।

तस्मात्सर्वेषु कालेषु मामनुस्मर युध्य च।।

मय्यर्पितमनोबुद्धिर्मामेवेष्यस्यसंशयः।।७।।

The next life depends on according to the state of one's mind at the time of death.

Now the Aphorism 16 viewed in this light suggests what one had in mind while one died in the past birth. That could explain how / why one is born in certain situation,  conditions, family and to parents, while the another in quite different another situation, conditions, family and to parents. Because this was there in one's mind. So just looking at one's life it could be understood what kind of one's state of mind had been at the time of death in the previous life.

There are people extremely rich or poor, or of another kind.

Accordingly we can also see and think that when someone dies the state of one's mind may point out how one will be living in the next life. If one dies in anxiety, fear, hope or such state of mind maybe such a one be like this in the next life.

This is how I tried to interpret together these two योग-सूत्र / Aphorisms.

***




Saturday, 18 March 2023

संस्कारसाक्षात्करणात्

Patanjal Yoga-Sutra : vibhUtipad 18

पातञ्जल योग-सूत्र : विभूतिपाद १८

--

संस्कारसाक्षात्करणात् पूर्वजातिज्ञानम्।।१८।।

(संस्कार-साक्षात्करणात् पूर्व-जाति-ज्ञानम्।)

This is really interesting that this योग-सूत्र १८ - Aphorism 18 has several implications! The first and the direct is the knowledge of the past incarnations.

How so many past reincarnations may have been, this present incarnation / birth is the one only, the authentic one, every-one is aware of, beyond doubt. Now, what is the meaning of this birth? Either the I-sense appeared only after coming into existence of this body, or there was an earlier birth and a body where the I-sense was, and the same I-sense discarded that body and acquired this present one. In any case, this I-sense always is there, and the same keeps going through various changes that is precisely the  संस्कार / samskAra. Whatever be the cause of this birth of the body or the organism, it could be attributed either to the appearance of the  consciousness / sentience into this body, or because of the manifestation of the I-sense in it. Once this body is possessed by the I-sense, or the consciousness gets identified with this I-sense, this I-sense assumes its existence as an independent entity in a world relative to itself. This comes across the world and many external influences upon it keep it changing all the time. This is संस्कार /  samskAra. This  संस्कार / samskAra is the very first memory of this I-sense. Then further impressions keep on accumulating upon this I-sense. One can see this fact oneself directly, every moment.  Why / How this I-sense comes into existence? That is the core-question. It is because of the In-attention only. In-attention to the fact that the sense of I, and (the sense of) the world  exist together and none of them exists in the absence of the other. With the appearance of an organism / the body,  the consciousness associated with it gives rise to the idea "I am this body and its form". This idea of oneself of being "I am" too is no more as soon as one goes to sleep. Alongwith, the world relative to itself too disappears for a while. Only after getting up one finds oneself in a world.

The above योग-सूत्र १८ / Aphorism 18 helps one immensely in understanding : Why / How I or the individual comes into life. Even if we do not know anything about if there was or was not any past birth, we can start the self-enquiry from this point onwards.

There is yet another classical way where one believes without adequate enquiry that one had one or more past births, deaths and the subsequent births, rebirths, the incarnations and reincarnations, and one can focus the attention on the memory, can enter it, trace it back to remember what one had done, one was, and then may realize what were the  संस्कार / that resulted into all these births and  rebirths.

This is called "जाति-स्मरण" /  "jAti-smaraNa".

***

Friday, 17 March 2023

शब्दार्थप्रत्ययानामितरेतराध्यासात्

Patanjal Yoga-Sutra : vibhUtipad - 17

पातञ्जल योग-सूत्र - विभूतिपाद - १७,

ब्दार्थप्रत्ययानामितरेतराध्यासात् संकरस्तत्प्रविभागसंयमात् सर्वभूतरुतज्ञानम्।।१७।।

(शब्द-अर्थ-प्रत्ययानां इतर-इतर-अध्यासात् संकरः तत्- प्रविभाग-संयमात् सर्वभूत-रुत-ज्ञानम्।।)

This योग-सूत्र १७ / Aphorism 17 is about how the various languages originated / come into existence.

शब्द - The voice / the sound of the spoken word, अर्थ - the intended sense as expressed, and the apparent meaning of the same, as is envisaged / understood, प्रत्ययः (प्रतीयते विधीयते इति प्रत्ययः) प्रत्ययानां of such words, इतर इतर - the mutual अध्यासात् superimposition of one upon the another of them, संकरः this compounded sense, तत् प्रविभाग their sub-division, संयमात् the 'संयम' / samyama applied over them helps in understanding / knowledge of, सर्वभूतरुत - the various and different languages spoken by different creatures.

Summarily : Observation and understanding the relation between the true intended sense and the apparent sense and meaning of the spoken words makes the learning / having the knowledge of various and the different living beings.

(May be rephrased again if one feels / would like to do.) 

To be continued  ...

***




धर्मलक्षणापरिणामाः

Patanjal Yoga-Sutra : vibhUtipad

13-14-15-16,

पातञ्जल योग-सूत्र : विभूतिपाद

१३-१४-१५-१६,

--

Presently, let us refer to the :

योग-सूत्र ९,१०,११,१२ / Aphorisms 9, 10, 11, 12 :

निरोध-परिणामः :

व्युत्थाननिरोधसंस्कारयोरभिभवप्रादुर्भावौ निरोधक्षण-चित्तान्वयो (चित्तस्य) निरोध-परिणामः।।९।।

तस्य प्रशान्तवाहिता संस्कारात्।।१०।।

समाधि-परिणामः :

सर्वार्थतैकाग्रतयोः क्षयोदयौ चित्तस्य समाधिपरिणामः।।११।।

एकाग्रता-परिणामः :

शान्तोदितौ तुल्यप्रत्ययौ चित्तस्यैकाग्रतापरिणामः।।१२।।

--

The three different characristics (लक्षण) of the attention that is the light of consciousness, (चेतना) could be used as a tool of perception / sentience, and the specific and different characteristics respectively, - the प्रवाह / the movement, एकाग्रता / the one-pointedness and निमग्नता / the quality of getting synchronized /  attuned / assimilated with the object could be effectively enhanced and optimised too. These three characteristics / लक्षण are called धर्म / Dharma/ aspects of the चित्त / mind, and the three ways through which these three attributes could be improved and enriched are परिणाम / pariNAma. These three परिणाम / pariNAma could be effected independently or one after the another. अवस्था is the state of the mind. This is what has been said in the following, the next योग-सूत्र १३  / Aphorism 13 : 

एतेन भूतेन्द्रियेषु धर्मलक्षणावस्थापरिणामा व्याख्याताः।।१३।।

(एतेन भूतेन्द्रियेषु धर्म-लक्षण-अवस्था-परिणामाः व्याख्याताः।।)

The subject (the चेतना / चित्त / sentient-being is called the धर्मी / DharmI , the consciousness, the sentience that possesses these attributes. The next योग-सूत्र / Aphorism is about how the अवस्था / state of this subject / धर्मी / DharmI varies according to the अवस्था (state of the) of  the धर्म / the Dharma : 

शान्तोदिताव्यपदेश्यधर्मानुपाती धर्मी।।१४।।

(शान्त-उदित-अव्यपदेश्य-धर्मानुपाती धर्मी।।)

The subject / धर्मी assumes the अवस्था / the state peaceful, activated or अव्यपदेश्य - that couldn't be pointed out, so is different, from the two according to the state of the धर्म / Dharma.

The three लक्षण / attributes / characteristics may be applied one after another and in this way result in different परिणाम / pariNAma. The next योग-सूत्र Aphorism :

क्रमान्यत्वं परिणामान्यत्वे हेतुः।।१५।।

(क्रम-अन्यत्वं परिणाम-अन्यत्वे हेतुः।।)

points out this. 

परिणामत्रयसंयमादतीतानागतज्ञानम्।।१६।।

(परिणाम-त्रय-संयमात् अतीत-अनागत-ज्ञानम्।।)

Being applied in this क्रम / krama / sequence, 

The three are interdependent. And give out a composite result that is in terms of the अतीत / the past, and the अनागत / the anAgata - what has not happened not so far.

This past and future is not in the sense of the physical, nor the psychological "Time". It is rather about the nature of the "Time" itself. What is this "Time" that is claimed either is "experienced" or is in terms of an experience only? Either the physical / according to the Physics, or the felt in mind and made a part of the memory? The one is the physical, that could be measured too in comparison only to the time-span of some other event, or as and in terms of the memory that is psychological only. 

Patanjali has already pointed out that both the two forms of "Time" are वृत्ति / vritti only :

प्रमाणविपर्ययविकल्पनिद्रास्मृतयः।।५।।

(समाधिपाद ६ / Samadhipad 6)

Having given an example of संयम / samyama in the योग-सूत्र १६, Aphorism 16, we proceed now to the next, in the next posts.

To be continued ...

***



Wednesday, 15 March 2023

तस्य भूमिषु विनियोगः।।

Patanjal Yoga-Sutra : vibhUtipad --

6-7-8-9-10-11-12

पातञ्जल योग-सूत्र : विभूतिपाद --

६-७-८-९-१०-११-१२

तस्य भूमिषु विनियोगः।।६।।

(तस्य भूमिषु विनियोगः।।)

साधनपाद २६ / Sadhanapada 26 

विवेकख्यातिरविप्लवा हानोपायः।।२६।।

तस्य सप्तधा प्रान्तभूमिः प्रज्ञा।।२७।।

One has to apply the attention upon the धारणा / dhAraNA ध्यान / dhyAna, and समाधि / samadhi in the field of प्रज्ञा / wisdom with the help of the विवेक / viveka. प्रज्ञा / Wisdom refers to the  earlier योग-सूत्र ६ / Aphorism 5 of this Chapter : तज्जयात् प्रज्ञालोकः।।५।।

The three, namely the धारणा / dhAraNA, the ध्यान / dhyAna and the समाधि / samAdhi are inner practices / aspects of योग / while the earlier five namely :

The यम / Yama, the नियम / niyama, the आसन / Asana, the प्राणायाम / PrANAyama and the प्रत्याहार / pratyAhAra are the outer aspects / practices of योग / Yoga. This has been pointed out in the next following योग-सूत्र / Yoga-Sutra :

त्रयमन्तरङ्गं पूर्वेभ्यः।।७।।

(त्रयं अन्तरङ्गं पूर्वेभ्यः।।)

त्रयं - The 3 - dhAraNA dhyAna and samAdhi are the -

अन्तरङ्गं - inner, 

पूर्वेभ्यः - in comparison to the earlier :

Yama niyama Asana prANAyama and pratyAhAra. 

तदपि बहिरङ्गं निर्बीजस्य।।८।।

(तदपि बहिरङ्गं निर्बीजस्य।।)

Still these 3 aspects are external / outer to the higher aspect of the Yoga that is called the निर्बीजः / nirbeejaH, because in that kind of Yoga the very seed of ignorance and the क्लेश / Klesha is burnt down.

The 3 aspects are external in this way that practicing them has the limited benefits. At this state where the ignorance and क्लेश / Klesha still persist, the practicing of these 3 doesn't reveal the light of प्रज्ञा / Wisdom. The  संस्कार SanskAra is the latent, hidden very बीज / beeja / seed that keeps and preserves the ignorance and the क्लेश / Klesha, -intact.

परिणाम-त्रयं 

संस्कार / sanskAra -  the cumulative effect of the tendencies that remain as the residual consequence is the seed that is to be dealt with in order to attain the Realization / मुक्ति / the desired result.

व्युत्थाननिरोधसंस्कारयोररभिभवप्रादुर्भावौ निरोध-क्षण-चित्तान्वयोनिरोध-परिणामः।।९।।

(व्युत्थान-निरोधसंस्कारयोः अभिभव-प्रादुर्भावौ निरोध-क्षण-चित्त-अन्वयः निरोध-परिणामः।।)

व्युत्थान  - the arising of the sanskAra is called the अभिभव - प्रादुर्भाव, because they are the वृत्ति  / vritti, of the repetitive kind. 

निरोध - the cessation of the effect of the संस्कार / sanskAra is called निरोध / nirodha / stoppage.

By regular practicing of this निरोध / nirodha, the exact point where and whenever it is  required, it is the निरोध-क्षण-चित्त अन्वयः or the निरोध-परिणामः / the nirodha pariNAmaH (of the  चित्त / the mind) 

Having attained this skill, one can control and check the flow of latent tendencies or the SanskAra. This is kind of harmony of the mind with respect to tendencies. 

तस्य प्रशान्तवाहिता संस्कारात् ।।१०।।

(तस्य प्रशान्तवाहिता संस्कारात्।।)

This harmonic flow of sanskAra is what is meant by  प्रशान्तवाहिता  / prashAnta-vAhitA.

This was about the :

निरोध परिणामः / nirodha PariNAmaH. 

The next is about the :

समाधि-परिणाम: / samAdhi pariNAmaH.

सर्वार्थतैकाग्रतयोः क्षयोदयौ चित्तस्यसमाधिपरिणामः।।११।।

(सर्वार्थता-एकाग्रतयोः क्षय-उदयौ चित्तस्यसमाधि-परिणामः।।)

सर्वार्थता - sarvArthatA - inclusiveness of all aspects,

एकाग्रता - ekagratA - one pointd attention, 

क्षय - loss,  dissolution, 

उदय - Arising.

When the attention (mind)  is focused, and one-pointed this is called समाधि परिणाम: / the samAdhi-pariNAmaH (of the चित्त / the mind)

The next and the third is described in the following  योग-सूत्र / Yoga-Sutra :

शान्तोदितौ तुल्यप्रत्ययौ चित्तस्यैकाग्रतापरिणामः।।१२।।

(शान्त-उदितौ तुल्यप्रत्ययौ चित्तस्य एकाग्रतापरिणामः।।)

शान्त / shAnta उदित / udita, तुल्यप्रत्ययौ / tulya-pratyayau.

When the mind stays peaceful, unaffected in the case of arising or dissolving of वृत्ति / vritti, it is called :

एकाग्रता परिणामः / the ekAgratA pariNamaH of  the चित्त / the mind). 

These three aspects of परिणाम / pariNAm  attributes could be explained by the analogy of Cricket. An expert cricket-player may be expert in batting, bowling or fielding.

These three skills, batting, bowling and the fielding are independent of one- another. While batting, a batsman may not be a good bowler, while a good bowler may or may not be a good batsman. Again a fielder may or may not be either equally good a batsman or a bowler. But all could be a good player. 

In comparison, as is said in The योग-सूत्र ४ / Aphorism 4 of this विभूतिपाद / vibhUtipad :

त्रयमेकत्र संयमः।। ४।।

The synthesis of the three attributes परिणाम /  pariNAma together is संयम / samyama.

Another analogy could be of an artist of the drama or the cinema. Such an artist could be either a singer, dancer or actor. One may or may not have all the three skills. A rare one may have all the three and could assemble them too. Such an artist is प्रवीण / maestro.

संयम / samyama is such a skill.

बुद्धियुक्तो जहातीह उभे सुकृतदुष्कृते।।

तस्माद्योगाय युज्यस्व योगः कर्मसु कौशलम्।।५०।।

(श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता, अध्याय २, Shrimadbhagvadgita - Chapter 2, Stanza 50) 

***

Sorry!

I sincerely apologize for the post previous to this one. I too felt it was rather boring. I had in mind that I would translate and then edit the same into Hindi, so as to help me write again in a simple way. I had least idea that this will be going to be viewed by so many!

Still I think hardly someone might have tried to go through it! Thanks, if you have already skipped it!!

Sorry, yet Again!

🙏



Tuesday, 14 March 2023

वृत्ति और चेतना

The चेतना / the consciousness is the static, local aspect of energy, and  the mind, the वृत्ति vritti / consciousness is the dynamic aspect of the same. The awareness or चित् / the चैतन्य / The Consciousness is only pure energy. Individuality is at the same time, the yet another aspect of  Consciousness. The Individuality is the Purusha element of the Consciousness, while the Prakriti is the collective existence. Attention is the individual aspect of Purusha, Ishvara is the Purusha that manifests as the Whole, Entire, Total Existence.

(Note : This is but a tentative approach only, and not the ultimate, complete and / or the perfect.)

Identification of the individual with the collective existence is the individuality. This manifests as the "I am"-sense as and in a  sentient being. This sense of being "I am" again resumes as the person. 

Energy is प्राण / the prANa, confined within the Time and space, is also beyond This Time and Space too. The assumed Present is this प्राण / prANa, the exact point where the individuality is experienced.

The experience is the phenomenon, an 'activity', while the consciousness is the (assumed) one who is supposed to go through the experience. The memory / information creates the illusion of past and future and the 'Time' appears to take place, as if it assumes its independent existence, whereas it is phenomenal, - for the time being only. 

The individual awareness, the चित् / चैतन्य / attention associated with the memory causes the illusion of one-self as a being and a person. The idea of birth is again attributed to this person and because we see others are 'born' and subsequently 'die'. This notion of being 'born' at some point in the assumed past is the beginning of 'ignorance' of the Self, -of the Reality, that was never born nor shall die at any point of time in the assumed future. This is the true, very 'witness' unaffected by assumed Time and Space. This is there, in all and every individual, and through the insight and attention one can understand and grasp this truth. And the 'person' is though a formal fact at the level of the collective existence.

वृत्ति / प्रत्यय / thought / prANa / consciousness, or the mode / movement of the mind in a person is the very foundation upon which the world (of the individual) appears to exist independent and apart from the individual 'self'.

Maharshi Patanjali presumably defines this "Ishvara" as the पुरुष / Purusha / the individual that is ever so untouched and unattached with the कर्म / the action and the consequences / conflict or the क्लेश / Klesha of the same :

ईश्वरप्रणिधानाद्वा।।२३।।

क्लेशकर्मविपाकाशयैरपरामृष्टः पुरुषविशेषः ईश्वरः।।२४।

तत्र निरतिशयं सर्वज्ञत्व-बीजम् बीजम्।।२५।।

In the ऐतरेयोपनिषद्, it is narrated, how This same assumed Ishvara is supposed to have desired, and out of that desire, the will, and  the determination existence was "created" :

ॐ आत्मा वा इदमेक एवाग्र आसीत्। नान्यत्किञ्चन मिषत्। स ईक्षत लोकान्नु सृजा इति।। १।।

श्वेताश्वतर उपनिषद् ३/३/१५ :

पुरुष एवेद्ँ सर्वं यद्भूतं यच्च भव्यम्।।

उतामृतत्वस्येशानो यदन्नेनातिरोहति।।१५।।

पुरुषः and ईशानः is to be noted.

***



तज्जयात् प्रज्ञालोकः।।

Patanjal Yoga-Sutra : vibhUtipada

1-2-3-4-5.

पातञ्जल योग-सूत्र : विभूतिपाद

१-२-३-४-५.

साधनपाद :

तस्मिन् सति श्वासप्रश्वसयोर्गतिविच्छेदः प्राणायामः।।४९।।

बाह्याभ्यन्तरस्तम्भवृत्तिः देशकालसंख्याभिः परिदृष्टो दीर्घसूक्ष्मः।।५०।।

बाह्याभ्यन्तरविषयाक्षेपी चतुर्थः।।५१।।

ततः क्षीयते प्रकाशावरणम्।।५२।।

धारणासु योग्यता मनसः।।५३।।

स्वविषयासम्प्रयोगे चित्तस्वरूपानुकार इवेन्द्रियाणां प्रत्याहारः।। ।।५४।।

ततः परमावश्यतेन्द्रियाणाम्।।५५।।

--

स्थिरसुखमासनम् ।।४६।।

Once having settled comfortably in आसन / Asana without any disturbance that may distract the attention, one has to practice the प्राणायाम / prANAyama / controlling the breath according to the Aphorisms cited above.

Either by some rule learned from someone or by one's own. The goal is to let the breath be very normal and no pressure is exerted. Just as in sleep it becomes spontaneously so. Then there is the fourth kind where one has to fix attention on the flow of breath. From where it begins and at what part of the body it leaves the body. One can try this how it is suitable for oneself.

While practicing in this way one has to fix attention on the breath. This attention is the प्रत्यय / pratyaya. 

विभूतिपाद / vibhUtipad :

देशबन्धचित्तस्य धारणा।।१।।

(देशबन्धचित्तस्य धारणा।।)

चित्त / mind has two aspects - the movement, and the ध्यान / attention.

The movement aspect is वृत्ति / vritti, ध्यान / attention is consciousness.

Thought, feeling, memory, are the वृत्ति / vritti, and the attention is awareness. First one has to gather attention from all other objects and bring it upon the one chosen for the practice of Yoga.

The one example is attention over the breath as is done in प्राणायाम / prANAyama. The same energy that is engaged in वृत्ति / vritti is also the one that is awareness.

चित्तवायवश्चित्क्रियायुताः।।

शाखयोर्द्वयी शक्तिमूलका।।१२।।

लयविनाशने उभयरोधने।।

लयगतं पुनर्भवति नो मृतम्।।१३।।

(श्री रमण महर्षि कृत : उपदेश-सारः)

From Upadesha Sarah point out to the same. Consciousness and the vritti are two forms of the same power. As much the awareness / attention becomes stronger, the वृत्ति / vritti is weakened. When the attention is maximum, the वृत्ति / vritti is at the minimum, or as well even निरुद्ध  / niruddha also. That is an ideal situation only.

So प्रत्यय / pratyaya is though attention, it is at the same time, also the वृत्ति / vritti. अहं प्रत्यय, अहं वृत्ति, अहं संकल्प, अहंकार, are synonymous of one-another and indicate the I-sense. This could be called the ego or self also.

The योग-सूत्र १ / Yoga-Sutra 1 above is about the धारणा / dhAraNA. When the attention is fixed upon an object and the object stays in the mind for a while, it is धारणा / dhAraNA. Thus even thinking about anything is itself this धारणा / dhAraNA.

तत्र प्रत्ययैकतानता ध्यानम्।।२।।

(तत्र प्रत्यय-एकतानता ध्यानम्।।) 

When this state continues comparatively for a long time without break, it is called the ध्यानम्  / dhyAnaM. This not the वृत्ति / vritti but the प्रत्यय / pratyaya in the sense of attention. As is pointed out in the योग-सूत्र ५४ / Aphorism 54 of साधनपाद Sadhanapada :

स्वविषयासम्प्रयोगे चित्तस्वरूपानुकार इवेन्द्रियाणां प्रत्याहार:।।  ।।५४।।

(स्वविषय-असम्प्रयोगे चित्तस्वरूप अनुकार इव इन्द्रियाणां प्रत्याहारः।।)

When the attention is fixed in this way upon an object and the flow of attention continues without break, it is प्रत्यय एकतानता /  pratyaya ekatAnatA, uniformity of the attention.

प्रत्याहार  is thus withdrawal if attention from the objects and bringing back to Where-from it originally started (the source, that is Heart) itself.

तदैवार्थमात्रनिर्भासं स्वरूपशून्यमिव समाधिः।।३।।

(तत् एव अर्थ मात्र निर्भासं स्वरूपशून्यं इव समाधिः।।) 

Such a state of the attention when it is fixed upon an object and continues for such a long time that there is अर्थमात्र- निर्भासं  true sense of the object only, but the object as such is no more, is समाधि / samAdhi.

So it could be said that समाधि / samAdhi is but an elevated and enhanced state of attention / consciousness .

त्रयमेकत्र संयमः।।४।।

(त्रयं एकत्रः संयमः।।)

When the three

धारणा / dhAraNA, ध्यान / dhyAna and समाधि / samAdhi happen together in such a way that one couldn't be distinguished from the other it is called संयम / samyama.

तज्जयात् प्रज्ञालोकः।।५।।

(तत् जयात् प्रज्ञालोकः।।) 

Having won this state, one is said to have entered प्रज्ञालोकः / prajnAlokaH, the sphere of wisdom.

To be continued  ...!

***



Monday, 13 March 2023

असंशयं महाबाहो!

Patanjal Yoga-Sutra : vibhUtipada 

पातञ्जल योग-सूत्र : विभूतिपाद 

--

The Reference :

Shrimadbhagvad-gita - Chapter 6,

Stanza 35-36-37-38-39-40-41

श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता - अध्याय ६

श्री भगवानुवाच : --

असंशयं महाबाहो मनो दुर्निग्रहं चलम्।।

अभ्यासेन तु कौन्तेय वैराग्येण च गृह्यते।।३५।।

असंयतात्मना योगो दुष्प्राप इति मे मतिः।।

वश्यात्मना तु यतता शक्योऽवाप्तुमुपायतः।।३६।।

अर्जुन उवाच --

अयतिः श्रद्धयोपेतो योगाच्चलितमानसः।।

अप्राप्य योगसंसिद्धिं कां गतिं कृष्ण गच्छति।।३७।।

कच्चिन्नोभयविभ्रष्टश्छिन्नभ्रमिव नामयति।।

अप्रतिष्ठो महाबाहो विमूढो ब्रह्मणः पथि।।३८।।

एतन्मे संशयं कृष्ण छेत्तुमर्हस्यशेषतः।।

त्वदन्यः संशयस्यास्य छेत्ता न ह्युपपद्यते।।३९।।

श्री भगवानुवाच --

पार्थ नैवेह नामुत्र विनाशस्तस्य न विद्यते।।

न हि कल्याणकृत्कश्चिद्दुर्गतिं तात गच्छति।।४०।।

प्राप्य पुण्यकृतां लोकानुषित्वा शाश्वतीः समाः।।

शुचीनां श्रीमतां गेहे योगभ्रष्टोऽभिजायते।।४१।।

This refers to one who though earnest and devoted to Yoga-practice, drifts away from it, because of certain tendencies that lets him not progress. Such a man could may attain certain occult spiritual powers, may not go further and attain the Ultimate goal, The Realization.

Such a one is said to have attained certain विभूति / vibhUti only. 

विभूतिपाद / vibhUtipada describes about these सिद्धि / siddhi / occult powers and exhorts that such powers are hurdle to मुक्ति / Realization. The simple reason is that they keep the ego intact and so long as the ego persists, there could not be the Realization.

People longing for attaining occult powers often tend to follow Yoga in order to achieve those सिद्धि / siddhi. But before the practicing proper understanding of the method is very important. Even occasionally one may come across such a siddhi it lasts not.

The last Chapter कैवल्यपाद / Kaivalyapad of this text begins with :

जन्मौषधिमन्त्रतपः समाधिजाः सिद्धयः।।

clearly points that such occult powers could be achieved either by any of the means such as by birth, the drug, incantation of mantra, following certain ritual or through samAdhi as is taught in the Yoga-scriptures or by some Guru.

The text of Yoga of Patanjali deals basically with how to attain Realization by means of Yoga. Yoga is only one of attaining samAdhi.  While occult power could be obtained by all these means. 

-- 

To be continued  ...

***




Chapter 3 - ।।विभूतिपाद।।

।। विभूतिपाद / vibhUtipada ।।

The Third chapter of this treatise upon the पातञ्जल योग तत्व दर्शन / The Elements of the Yoga by Maharshi Patanjali is about the विभूति / the  vibhUti, a state one comes across in the योग / Yoga.

This state of mind that is another name for भविता / 'becoming' may divert the mind of the seeker from the true objective of योग / Yoga.

श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता / Shrimadbhagvad-gita declares that there are only two apparently different ways to attain the Supreme Reality.

One is the साङ्ख्य / sAmkhya, another is the कर्म-योग / Kriya-yoga / Yoga. Though the two appear to be two  different disciplines, lead invariably to the one and the same Reality -the Immutable State of Being Oneself, - the Ultimate and the final Reality, as is variously named also as the आत्म-ज्ञान / आत्म-साक्षात्कार / Realization, or the ईश्वर-साक्षात्कार / मोक्ष / मुक्ति / ईश्वर-प्रणिधान / आत्म-निष्ठा, Ishvara-sAkShtkAra / Liberation, Ishvara- niShThA, Ishvara-praNidhAna, Self-Realization are unique and one in essence :

साङ्ख्ययोगौ पृथग्बालाः प्रवदन्ति न पण्डिताः।।

एकमप्यास्थितः सम्यगुभयोर्विन्दते फलम्।।४।।

(श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता अध्याय ५, Shrimadbhagvad-gita Stanza 4, Chapter 5)

साङ्ख्य (साङ्ख्ययोग) Sankhya or the sAmkhya-Yoga is the approach followed by the सिद्ध / siddha like कपिल मुनि / Kapil muni and other such ज्ञानी / JnAnI, and is there-fore called ज्ञान / jnAna also, while the other approaches that insist upon कर्म / Karma resolve to the Yoga of Action.

विभूति / vibhUti, on the other hand is a stage one comes across while following the way of the कर्म-निष्ठा / karma-nishtha.

Therefore a सिद्ध / Siddha in the lineage of कपिल मुनि / Kapila doesn't need to achieve the सिद्धि / siddhi or these mystic, occult spiritual  powers, while one devoted to the कर्म / Yoga of Action may get attracted to such powers. For whatever reasons such a man knowingly or unknowingly attains these powers that are called विभूति / vubhuti. Therefore these  occult powers may pose hurdle also, in the way of attaining the main goal of practicing Yoga.

The योग-सूत्र ५३ / Aphorism 53 of the साधनपाद / Sadhanapada is introductory to the Chapter विभूतिपाद / vibhUtipada in that, it speaks of the धारणा / dhAraNA :

धारणा च योग्यता मनसः।।५३।।

स्वविषयासम्प्रयोगे चित्तस्वरूपानुकार इवेन्द्रियाणां प्रत्याहारः।। ।।५४।।

Having reached this stage is the threshold to success in योग / Yoga.

Shall be dealt with in the next post.

To be continued. ...

***


Sunday, 12 March 2023

आसन Asana,

आसन /Asana

प्राणायाम / prANAyama,

प्रत्याहार / pratyAhAra.

--

Patanjal Yoga-Sutra : sadhanapad --

46-47-48-49-50-51-52-53-54-55

पातञ्जल योग-सूत्र : साधनपाद  -- ४६-४७-४८-४९-५०-५१-५२-५३-५४-५५

--The last 2 posts were about यम / Yama and नियम / niyama -- with reference to :

शौचसन्तोषतपःस्वाध्यायेश्वरप्रणिधानानि नियमाः।।३२।।

(sadhanapad 32)

This post is about the other 3 योगाङ्ग / Yoga-Practices. In comparison to the next 3, which are to be practiced at the level of the अन्तरङ्ग / antaranga / mind, These five 5 are called the बाह्य-अङ्ग / external / at the level of the body. 

The next योग-सूत्र / Aphorisms are as follows :

स्थिर सुखमासनम्।।४६।।

(स्थिरः / स्थिरं सुखं-आसनम्।।)

Sitting comfortably in relaxed repose for long hours is : आसनम् / Asana.

स्थिर - stable, established,

प्रयत्नशैथिल्यानन्तसमापत्तिभ्याम्।।४७।।

(प्रयत्नशैथिल्य-अनन्त-समापत्तिभ्याम्।।)

This happens if the body is healthy and the mind is calm, collected yet alert.

प्रयत्नशैथिल्यः the body -- In an easy and relaxed effortless way, and the mind :

अनन्त-समापत्तिः - contemplating the limit-less.

Attention together upon these two aspects, according to : सूत्र ४१ समाधिपाद : Samadhipad Aphorism 41

क्षीणवृत्तेरभिजातस्येव मणैर्गृहीतृग्रहणग्राह्येषु तत्स्थतदञ्जनता समापत्तिः।।४१।।

ततो द्वन्द्वानभिघातः।।४८।।

(ततः द्वन्द्व-अनभिघातः।।)

This results in staying unaffected by the pairs of the opposites, such as heat and cold, pleasure and pain and the like.

ततः thereby,  द्वन्द्व pair of opposite, अनभिघातः undisturbed, unaffected by - as in विभूतिपाद ४६ / vibhUtipad 46.

तस्मिन्सति श्वासप्रश्वासयोर्गतिविच्छेदः प्राणायामः।।४९।।

(तस्मिन् सति श्वास-प्रश्वासयोः गतिविच्छेदः प्राणायामः।।)

Once a repose is attained, attention is to be given to breath. There is a force behind the  breath that keeps control over breathing. This means breathing happens accordingly and in its own way, maintained by that force without any conscious effort. Exactly Who is  the authority that arranges this force?

This force is called प्राण prANa.

The One Conscious Intelligence that keeps control over प्राण / prANa is the ईश्वर / Ishvara is described in the invocation of the : ईशावास्य उपनिषद् / Ishavasya upanishad :

ईशिता सर्वभूतानां सर्वभूतमयँश्च यत्।।

ईशावास्येन संबोध्यमीश्वरं प्रणमाम्यहम्।।

This is the direct proof of that Conscious and  Unique, Supreme Intelligence Principle, that Governs the whole existence; the व्यक्त जगत् / the manifest phenomenal, and the other that is अव्यक्त / hidden to us.

One can directly control the breath within a certain limit, but no-one knows exactly Who prompts the force that maintains and keeps the breath in proper order, as it is.

Therefore the breath is the only means that one could regulate and when this is properly done, there is harmony in the flow of breath. This is done by paying attention to breath, - the exhalation and the inhalation process.

There is a certain practice that is called :

The नाडी-शुद्धि / nADI shuddhi. nADI is the pulse, and accordingly the heart-beat. The frequency of this pulse (say per minute) in a normal person is fixed. आयुर्वेद / Ayurveda is the medical science that has this Principle as the very basis for diagnosis and treatment of the illnesses.

Once the attention is given to breath and the exhalation / inhalation is practiced, breath-control helps in stilling the mind.

बाह्याभ्यन्तरस्तम्भवृत्तिः - bAhyAbhyantarastambhavrittiH,

Keeping the breathing stopped, retaining of the breath for a time, either outside or inside the body, 

देशकालसंख्याभिः -

deshakAlasamkhyAbhiH, 

According to place (inside or outside of the body) and counting the time / duration in minutes.

परिदृष्टः - paridriShTaH,

In this order, 

दीर्घसूक्ष्मः - deerghasUkShmaH

Where the length (long / short) of the breath is also kept fixed in terms of time and  गति / pace - slow or fast, (-as in the earlier Yoga-Sutra 49).

बाह्याभ्यन्तरस्तम्भवृत्तिः देशकालसंख्याभिः परिदृष्टो दीर्घसूक्ष्मः।।५०।।

(बाह्य-आभ्यन्तर-स्तम्भवृत्तिः देशकालसंख्याभिः परिदृष्टः दीर्घ-सूक्ष्मः।।)

बाह्याभ्यन्तरविषयाक्षेपी चतुर्थः।।५१।।

(बाह्य-आभ्यन्तर विषय-आक्षेपी चतुर्थः।।

There is yet another kind, the 4th.

In the Shrimadbhagvadgita, Stanza 29, 30, Chapter 4, This has been elaborated in the following way :

अपाने जुह्वति प्राणं प्राणेऽपानं तथापरे।।

प्राणापानगती रुद्ध्वा प्राणायामपरायणाः।।२९।।

अपने नियताहाराः प्राणान्प्राणेषु जुह्वति।।

सर्वेऽप्येते यज्ञविदो यज्ञक्षपितकल्मषाः।।३०।।

(श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता -अध्याय ४)

Both the Stanza cited above, and the योग-सूत्र ४९ - Aphorism 49 point out to the same.

The Aphorism 51 read alongwith the 50-51 too describe how this practice is to be done.

As said earlier, one can't directly control or regulate प्राण / prANa, but one can try doing this, through the breat-control.

परिदृष्टः / paridruShTaH  implies one may also try observing the breath (that is how it is done in विपस्सना / vipassana practice).

Then the obstruction that hides the light (of wisdom) is removed as is said in this next योग-सूत्र / Aphorism :

ततः क्षीयते प्रकाशावरणम्।।५२।।

(ततः क्षीयते प्रकाश-आवरणम्।।)

§ विभूतिपाद / vibhUtipada,

योग-सूत्र ४४ Aphorism 44 :

बहिरकल्पितावृत्तिर्महाविदेहा ततः प्रकाशावरणक्षयः।।४४।।

--

धारणासु च योग्यता मनसः।।५३।।

(धारणासु च योग्यता मनसः।।)

This helps two aspects of meditation 1. निरोध-परिणाम  and 2. the एकाग्रता परिणाम, and also in fixing the mind on one object and holding onto the same - धारणा / dhAraNA.

In this way by practicing prANAyAma, mind attains the skill (योग्यता).

स्वविषयासम्प्रयोगे चित्तस्वरूपानुकार इवेन्द्रियाणां प्रत्याहारः।। ।।५४।।

(स्व-विषय-असम्प्रयोगे चित्तस्वरूप-अनुकारः इव इन्द्रियाणां प्रत्याहारः।।)

When the mind has become so expert, one can successfully withdraw it from the sense-objects and mind gets attuned with and like the sense itself without its object. This is the very purport of the योग- सूत्र ५४ / Aphorism 54. 

§योग-सूत्र १३-१४-१५ समाधिपाद / Samadhipad - Aphorisms 13-14-15 indicate this :

तत्र स्थितौ यत्नोऽऽभ्यासः।।१३।।

स तु दीर्घकालनैरन्तर्यसत्कारासेवितो दृढभूमिः।।१४।।

दृष्टानुश्रविकविषयवितृष्णस्य वैराग्यम्।।१५।।

--

ततः परमावश्यता इन्द्रियाणाम् ।।५५।।

(ततः परमा वश्यता इन्द्रियाणाम्।।)

Thereby results the perfect control over the senses.

--

Thus concludes the Chapter 2 :

साधनपाद / sadhanapad

Of पातञ्जल योग-सूत्र / Patanjal Yoga-Sutra.

***

ॐ नमः महर्षये पतञ्जलये।।

***




Saturday, 11 March 2023

शौचसन्तोषतपःस्वाध्यायेश्वरप्रणिधानानि

Patanjal Yoga-Sutra : 

sadhanapad -- 40-41-42-43-44-45

पातञ्जल योग-सूत्र :

साधनपाद -- ४०-४१-४२-४३-४४-४५

--

[Refer to : 

शौचसन्तोषतपःस्वाध्यायेश्वरप्रणिधानानि नियमाः।।३२।।]

--

शौचात् स्वाङ्गजुगुप्सा परैरसंसर्गः।।४०।।

(शौचात् स्व-अङ्ग-जुगुप्सा परैः असंसर्गः।।)

Observing the purification of the body and mind results in apathy towards one's body and aversion towards meeting the others.

सत्त्वशुद्धिसौमनस्यैकाग्र्येन्द्रियजयात्मदर्शनयोग्यत्वानि च।।४१।।

(सत्त्वशुद्धि-सौमनस्य-एकाग्र्य-इन्द्रियजय-आत्मदर्शन- योग्यत्वानि च।।)

When the mind has been properly purified, it becomes silent, peaceful and there prevails a sense of total wellness of being and light-ness. The attention becomes focused, one-pointed, and the senses of actions are well controlled. Attention turns inwards, towards one-self, and Self-Awareness is the result of  योग-अनुष्ठान / Yoga practice.

सन्तोषादनुत्तमः सुखलाभः।।४२।।

(सन्तोषात् अनुत्तमः सुखलाभः।।)

Then there is sense of satisfaction, fulfilment contentedness. When one accepts whatever life provides and feels grateful to Providence / the Life one feels within oneself immense, deep and uncaused bliss and happiness.

कायेन्द्रियसिद्धिरशुद्धिक्षयात्तपसः।।४३।।

(काया-इन्द्रियसिद्धिः अशुद्धिक्षयात् तपसः।।)

The impurities within the body and the mind are removed and they are purified by means of performing austerities / तपस् / tapas.

स्वाध्यायादिष्टदेवतासम्प्रयोगः।।४४।।

(स्वाध्यायात् इष्टदेवता सम्प्रयोगः।।)

स्वाध्याय / swAdhyAya : 

स्व अधि अय् -- implies enquiry into the स्व / swa -- the 'self' the आत्मन्  / Atman. This helps in discovering and associating with the देवता / devatA, the Divine within one's own being. 

समाधिसिद्धिरीश्वरप्रणिधानात्।।४५।।

(समाधिसिद्धिः ईश्वरप्रणिधानात्।।)

समाधि / samAdhi - entering into, and merging / absorption into the deeper recesses of the being is  समाधि / samAdhi. This is discovered when there is Ishvara-NishThA. When one has a firm understanding of the ईश्वर / Ishvara / the One Unique Supreme Conscious Reality that Controls the whole existence, the idea of oneself being an independent doer, enjoyer,  knower and the owner is no more. This is the result of ईश्वर निष्ठा / Ishvara-nishThA or the ईश्वर प्रणिधान / Ishvara praNidhAna.

योग-सूत्र ४०-४५ Aphorisms 40-45 indicate about what happens when the योग-अनुष्ठान / Practice of Yoga is correctly and properly done.

***






वितर्कबाधने प्रतिपक्षभावनम्।।

Patanjal Yoga-Sutra : Sadhanapada --

33-34-35-36-37-38-39-40.

पातञ्जल योग-सूत्र : साधनपाद --

३३-३४-३५-३६-३७-३८-३९-४०.

योग-सूत्र Aphorisms 29-30-31-32 of साधनपाद / sadhanapad point out : Practicing Yoga implies one has to observe the यम / Yama and नियम / niyama carefully with due care and attention, without negligence, because the old habits pose obstructions in the path to this. Now, before coming upon the next योग-सूत्र / Aphorisms, let us once have a quick look on the Aphorisms 29-30-31-32 :

यमनियमासनप्राणायामप्रत्याहारधारणाध्यान-समाधयोऽष्टावङ्गानि।।२९।।

अहिंसासत्यास्तेयब्रह्मचर्यापरिग्रहाः यमाः।।३०।।

जातिदेशकालसमयानवच्छिन्ना सार्वभौम महाव्रतम्।।३१।।

शौचसन्तोषतपःस्वाध्यायेश्वरप्रणिधानानि नियमाः।।३२।।

Now we should go through the following:

वितर्कबाधने प्रतिपक्षभावनम्।।३३।।

(वितर्कबाधने प्रतिपक्षभावनम्।।)

While practicing यमाः / Yama, one may face  obstacles in the form of the old conditioning and thinking habits of the mind, and without examining how they are contrary to the fair and just approach to Yoga one can not have any real progress. These contrary mind-set habits and conditioning are called :

वितर्क / vitarka,

This has been pointed out in the next योग-सूत्र / Aphorism :

वितर्का हिंसादयः कृतकारितानुमोदिता लोभक्रोधमोहपूर्वका मृदुमध्याधिमात्रा दुःखाज्ञानान्तफला इति प्रतिपक्षभावनम् - - -  ।।३४।।

(वितर्काः हिंसा-आदयः कृत-कारिता-अनुमोदिता लोभ-क्रोध-मोहपूर्वकाः मृदु-मध्य-अधिमात्रा दुःख-अज्ञान-अनन्तफलाः इति प्रतिपक्षभावनम्।।)

हिंसा / hinsA - The enmity towards any one is called HinsA / hinsA. This is quite different from "non-violence". There is no हिंसा / hinsA as such in the nature. There are needs and motives and all beings spontaneously follow their धर्म / Dharma only. हिंसा / hinsA happens when you kill because of hostility / enmity to any one. When you are not afraid, you will  not like to die / getting killed, and neither / try to kill anyone unnecessarily. The animals too follow this simple understanding.

So हिंसा / hinsA is because of fear and hatred, while अहिंसा / is the intelligence.

हिंसा / hinsA done by one-self or perpetrated through others is equally forbidden for one who is practicing and following the Yoga. 

अहिंसाप्रतिष्ठायां तत्सन्निधौ वैरत्यागः।।३५।।

(अहिंसा-प्रतिष्ठायां तत्-सन्निधौ वैरत्यागः।।)

One who has no hatred, fear or enmity and is not agitated in mind, is in a way settled in  अहिंसा / ahinsA and those coming into contact with such a man will give up their sense of hatred and enmity before him. This is called  वैरत्यागः / vairatyAgaH. There are examples of this. Buddha is said to be one.

सत्यप्रतिष्ठायां क्रियाफलाश्रयत्वम्।।३६।।

(सत्यप्रतिष्ठायां क्रियाफल-आश्रयत्वम्।।)

One who is established in practicing Truth, knows that सत्य / satya is always Reality only, that is immutable, unchangeable, other than subjective or the objective. So Truth is never the objective nor the subjective Reality, but the One that is always the same irrespective of circumstances, time an and place. Truth is always the consciousness only. Therefore the two aspects of Truth / Reality are being and the knowing. Whatever exists is being only, and whatever exists is known only. Being and Knowing are two aspects of the Reality.  This being is knowing and knowing is being. One who has realized this, can't move away from this Reality by what-so-ever means. This is called  सत्यप्रतिष्ठा / abundance in Truth. क्रियाफल / kriyAphala is कारण / kAraNa / cause, कर्म / karma / action, and the फल / phala or the result / consequence. One who abides in the Truth is free from all cause and effect. The Being and the Knowing are how one can see for himself that this Being and Knowing are the only ever abiding Truth and the Reality.

क्रियाफलाश्रयत्वम्  is therefore abiding ever in the perception / understanding that action and the effect are in appearance only and have no impact upon the Reality. Reality is ever so unaffected by the action and the consequence that is but the existence that is phenomenal only. 

अस्तेयप्रतिष्ठायां सर्वरत्नोपस्थानम्।।३७।।

(अस्तेयप्रतिष्ठायां सर्व-रत्न-उपस्थानम्।।)

Sanskrit verb-root √ स्त्यै ('शब्दसंघातयोः' स्त्यायति, स्त्यानं) is used to denote : 'become collected',  stored, coagulated, 'अस्तेय' / asteya implies : theft, something gathered in an unlawful way. Theft is because of greed. 

One who is free from greed through insight follows "अस्तेय" without effort. Providence provides for him whatever is needed to support his well-being. Such a one neither hopes nor fears. 

श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता  / Shrimadbhagvadgita :

अनन्याश्चिन्तयन्तो मां ये जनाः पर्युपासते।।

तेषां नित्याभियुक्तानां योगक्षेमं वहाम्यहम्।।२२।।

(अध्याय ९, Stanza 22, Chapter 9)

Those who always think of Me  :

"I am He and He is Me only", I always look after and take care if them".

ब्रह्मचर्यप्रतिष्ठायां वीर्यलाभः।।३८।।

(ब्रह्मचर्य-प्रतिष्ठायां वीर्यलाभः।।)

One who looks upon everything as ब्रह्मन् / the Brahman alone, is said to have settled in the ब्रह्मचर्य / Brahmacharya . According to the  श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता / Shrimadbhagvadgita :

विद्याविनयसम्पन्ने ब्राह्मणे गवि हस्तिनि।।

शुनि चैव श्वपाके च पण्डिताः समदर्शिनः।।१८।।

(अध्याय ५, Stanza 18, Chapter 5)

Such a man is well-settled in :

ब्रह्मचर्य / Brahmacharya,

Therefore attains the merits of fearlessness, valor, courage and other such qualities fit for a brave-one.

अपरिग्रहस्थैर्ये जन्मकथन्तासम्बोधः।।३९।।

(अपरिग्रहस्थैर्ये जन्म-कथन्ता-सम्बोधः।।)

अपरिग्रह / aparigraha denotes : not gathering anything that is not really needed. This is about all wealth, money, and other things that cause unnecessary worry, anxiety and fear at the same time.

Such a one attains the wisdom that makes him understand what is जन्म / janma / "birth", and how one gets caught with this क्लेश / व्याधि / klesha / vyAdhi, and how one can free one-self from this trouble.

Following strictly and practicing obediently all these 

यम  / Yama

results in the above-stated supernatural and miraculous powers in the aspirant.

The योग-सूत्र ३३ / Aphorism 33 is about नियम / niyama, and will be dealt with in the next post along-with the योग-सूत्र ४० / Aphorisms 40 onwards.

To be continued ...

***





Friday, 10 March 2023

विवेकख्यातिरविप्लवा हानोपायः।।

Patanjal Yoga-Sutra : Sadhanapada --

26-27-28-29-30-31-32

पातञ्जल योग-सूत्र : साधनपाद --

२६-२७-२८-२९-३०-३१-३२

--

विवेकख्यातिरविप्लवा हानोपायः।।२६।।

(विवेकख्यातिः अविप्लवा हानोपायः।।)

This refers not only to the ending of क्लेश / Klesha but indeed of अविद्या / avidyA which is  प्रमाद / In-attention अनवधानता / un-awareness as well. The अस्मिता / asmitA / the ego or the I-sense is secondary to अविद्या / avidyA. There is this problem : Once the I-sense arises it gets identified with some object. The body is the nearest object. The world and the body are soon assumed to be two different objects and the self becomes 'I' and gets identified with the body, and this fact that the body itself is part of the world is neglected and forgotten.

But this notion of the world and the self is rooted in the बुद्धि / महत् / प्रकृति / the intellect. Only because of this the undefined I-sense is divided into the object - the world, and the subject, self - the I.

The seat of the the intellect is brain, while the seat of consciousness is heart. Therefore the feelings, emotions are subject to heart, but the thought, logic, memory are subject to brain. The "Mind" lies somewhere between the two. That makes it a terrible mix of these two! Such a Mind is therefore in-attention / un-awareness / अविद्या / avidyA only. 

This is verily the In-attention / unawareness. The practice of discrimination between the transient and the intransient prompts one to see that ultimately the consciousness alone is the only true and the permanent reality, while all other else is transitory. This is the  विवेक. Coming at this understanding is called विवेकख्यातिः / vivekakhyAtiH. This begins with the giving the attention to this inherent in-attention that everyone has from the very birth itself.

This is the ending of अविद्या / avidyA, but the ending of ego is a prerequisite.

The crucial question is : How to attain the  विवेकख्यातिः / vivekakhyAtiH?

This has been pointed out in the following  योग-सूत्र / Aphorism :

तस्य सप्तधा प्रान्तभूमिः प्रज्ञा।।२७।।

(तस्य सप्तधा प्रान्तभूमिः प्रज्ञा।।)

The seven stages of the :

विवेकख्यातिः / vivekakhyAti

Are the following :

I. शुभेच्छा / ShubhechchA - The thinking about what is श्रेयस्  / shreyas - the real and lasting happiness.

II. विचारणा / VichAraNa - Questioning about it.

III. तनु-मानसी / Tanu-ManasI -  as pointed out in the समाधिपाद -योग-सूत्र ४१ / Samadhipad -- Aphorism 41 : 

क्षीणवृत्तेरभिजातस्येव मणेर्गृहीतृग्रहणग्राह्येषु तत्स्थदञ्जनता समापत्तिः।।४१।।

IV. सत्त्वापत्तिः / शुद्ध विषयरहित विषयी चेतना SattvApattiH / the pure consciousness / the subject, devoid of the object.

V. असंसक्ति / Non-attachment (with the object), non-indulgence.

VI. पदार्थाभाविनी (पदार्थ-अभाविनी) / the state of the  consciousness where the object altogether disappears / is absent.

VII. तुरीया / TurIyA / The transcendental state.

There is One more category that is defined as the तुरीयातीत / TurIyAtIta.

These seven stages are explained in different ways in different texts of Vedanta. 

योगाङ्गानुष्ठादशुद्धिक्षये ज्ञानदीप्तिराविवेकख्यातेः।।२८।।

(योग-अङ्ग अनुष्ठानात्-अशुद्धिक्षये ज्ञान-दीप्तिः -आ-विवेकख्यातेः।।)

By means of practicing of  the योगाङ्गानुष्ठान / Practicing the eight successive stages / limbs of Yoga in that order, the अशुद्धि / impurities of the mind are removed and the :

ज्ञानदीप्तिः / illumination, - the light of Wisdom shines up.

यमनियमासनप्राणायामप्रत्याहारधारणाध्यानसमाधयोऽष्टा-वङ्गानि।।२९।।

(यम नियम आसन प्राणायाम प्रत्याहार धारणा ध्यान समाधयः अष्टौ अङ्गानि।।)

These अष्टौ अङ्गानि - eight branches / stages / limbs / organs of Yoga respectively are :

यम / Yama, नियम / niyama, आसन / Asana, प्राणायाम / praNayama, प्रत्याहार / pratyAhAra, धारणा / dhAraNA, ध्यान / dhyAna and समाधि / samAdhi. 

अहिंसासत्यास्तेयब्रह्मचर्यापरिग्रहा यमाः।।३०।।

(अहिंसा सत्य अस्तेय ब्रह्मचर्य अपरिग्रहाः यमाः।।)

अहिंसा - having no enmity with anything and any living being, even in thought and action.

सत्य - The Truth that abides everywhere and at all times irrespective of circumstances.

अस्तेय - Not possessing anything whatsoever,  that one deserves not.

ब्रह्मचर्य - Living the life with the insight that all and everything is nothing else but the ब्रह्मन् / Brahman only.

अपरिग्रह - Not hoarding anything that is not necessary for living the life. 

जातिदेशकालसमयानवच्छिन्नाः सार्वभौमा महाव्रतम्।।३१।।

(जाति देश काल समय अन्-अवच्छिन्नाः सार्वभौमाः महाव्रतम्।।)

These are the सार्वभौम महाव्रत / Universal Great Austerities Rules / Ethics and should not be transgressed by any-one who-so-ever of whatever caste, creed and at any time, in any circumstances or place. 

शौचसन्तोषतपःस्वाध्यायेश्वरप्रणिधानानि नियमाः।।३२।।

(शौच सन्तोष तपः स्वाध्याय ईश्वर प्रणिधानानि नियमाः।।)

On the other hand, there are नियम / niyama / the regulations that are to be followed by everyone according to the convention and the tradition of society but care should be taken that none of these नियम / niyama goes against any of the यम / Yama, as are referred to above.

***