Patanjali Yoga Sutra – IV - 5

One consciousness and the many

प्रवृत्ति भेदे प्रयोजकं चित्तं एकमनेकेषां |

Pravrutti Bhede Prayojakam Chittam Ekamanekesham||

Consciousness is one. It however divides itself or rather has the capacity to divide itself into two – the seer and the seen. The seer remains the witness and the seen multiplies into many  - the manas – mind with its capacity to generate many different kinds of thoughts, the buddhi which has the capacity to decide firmly on what is the right thought to follow and suitably advice, the chitta which has a memory storehouse to go back to and the Ahamkara whose duty is to say this is my decision, my thought, my memory, my breathing, my joy, my body, my name, my family, country, world, religion…

Among all the different roles of consciousness that appears as natural differences, it is primarily just one. It can be compared to a child playing on the sea sand. The sand that is used to build a castle is just one, but it appears as a fortress, a palace, as a road, a well or a moat. When someone just playfully steps over the sand castle, it returns to its original state of pure sand alone. - SS

Patanjali Yoga Sutra – IV – 4

The repeating double

निर्माण्यचित्तान्यस्मितामत्रात||

Nirmanachitthanyasmitamatrat||

This refers to a yoga siddhi of constantly creating different states of mind in oneself and in others with the help of ‘I’ness or Asmita Bhava. This strong thought of I alone is responsible for various births and deaths. This also has the capacity to create a replica of itself and go through different experiences that it has to go through. SS

Patanjali Yoga Sutra – IV – 3

Removing blocks

निमित्तमप्रयोजकं प्रकृतीनां वरणभेदस्तु ततः क्षेत्रिकवत्||

Nimitthamaprayojakam Prakriteenaam Varana Bhedastu Tatah Kshethrikavath||

All  Yogic Sadhana  that is aimed towards transformation and self-realisation do not reveal the truth directly. They are an instrument that is indirectly helpful in removing the obstacles and blocks that seem to hide reality. Just as a farmer prepares the soil, removes weeds and other obstacles that obstruct growth and lovingly nurtures the crop with water and fertilizers, the different yoga sadhanas help to purify the mind of its gross obstacles, is restlessness and the subtle veil that hides the truth.

Patanjali Yoga Sutra – IV – 2

Change over a long time

जात्यन्तर परिणामः प्रकृत्यापूरात्

Jathyanthara Parinamah Prakrithyapoorat||

The movement of consciousness from one state of nature to another is done by the process of Aapuranam or filling up. With practice and constant striving, when the gaps in one state of Prakriti is filled, it turns into another aspect of nature, creating a shift even in the classification of nature such as animal or plant. - SS

Patanjali Yoga Sutra – IV – 1

Kaivalya Pada

जन्मौषधि मन्त्रः तपः समाधिजाः सिद्धयः

Janmaushadhi Mantrah Tapah Samadhijah siddhayaha||

Yogic siddhis are special supra-physical and psychic powers. They are achieved through four means. One is through birth. Some people are born with these powers. This is on account of yoga sadhana done in past lifetimes. If death came even before completion of their Sadhana, they begin right away from where they left, in the next birth. Aushadhi or certain medicinal herbs can give siddhis but they have to be taken only under the proper guidance of a guru. Ordinary and banned drugs which cause altered states of consciousness are not to be included in this list as they are harmful, addictive and lead to nervous and mental disorders.

The most positive way, which is totally in our hands and has no side effects is siddhis through chanting mantras or seed sounds that have the power to explode into higher realms of consciousness. Though a safe way, even mantras need the guidance of a preceptor or a Guru to make us make the right choice and point out the number of repetitions and other important details.  It is also got through penance and austerities and born through the practice of dharana dhyana and Samadhi. – SS

Patanjali Yoga Sutra – III – 56

The state of Kaivalya

Satwa Purushayoho Shuddha Samye Kaivalyamiti||

When the distinction between the seer – Purusha and the seen – Existence ceases with the purity of mind, the state of Kaivalya or a liberated mind is indeed very close by. – SS

Patanjali Yoga Sutra – III – 55

Going beyond the immediate

Tarakam Sarva Vishayam Sarvatha Vishayakramam Cheti Vivekajam Jnanam|

By knowledge born of discriminating between the real and unreal, one is able to cross over and above all material understanding everywhere and completely transcend all gradations and zoom straight away into the reality. – SS

Patanjali Yoga Sutra – III – 54

Meditating on Viveka

Jatilakshana Deshairanyataanavacchedath Tulyayostataha Pratipattihi||

When the Sadhaka meditates on the moment and its successive flow, he comes to realise the uniting factor between many things that differ by groups, qualities or geography. The mind reaches then a state of Pratipatti or a unity with the oneness. – SS

Patanjali Yoga Sutra – III – 53

Discriminative knowledge

Kshanatatkramayoho Samyamad Vivekajam Jnanam||

Contemplating on the moment and its succession with each second, the intellect gains Viveka or the power to know what is eternal and what is ephemeral. – SS

Patanjali Yoga Sutra – III – 52

Watch out, lest you fall

Sthanyupanimantrane Sangasmayakaranam Punaranishta Prasangath||

Once the yogic powers are developed, there is an open invitation to the powers of all sense faculties – gods. Once they step in and function through the yogi, to have pride or to be attached to those powers can lead to an attachment to undesirable consequences leading to a fall from the path. - SS 

Patanjali Yoga Sutra – III – 51

Where the mind is free

Tadvairagyadapi Doshabijakshaye Kaivalyam||

Even if all these powers are possible through Yoga, remaining free of attachment to these powers, causes the seed of all errors – Ajnana, to be completely destroyed in the mind. With this, the state of oneness or Kaivalya is experienced. – SS

Patanjali Yoga Sutra – III – 50

All powerful

Satwapurushanyathakhyatimatrasya Sarvabhavadhishtathrithwam Sarva Jnatruthwamcha|

In understanding the difference between the seer, the self and the changing manifestations that are seen, the Sadhaka becomes a witness to all states of consciousness and he becomes one with that knowing principle of everything in this universe.  - SS

Patanjali Yoga Sutra – III – 49

Conquest of nature

Tato Manojavithwam Vikaranabhavaha Pradhanascha||

When the senses are conquered, the Sadhaka is able to identify with and work with the speed of mind, achieve anything without the need to use of tools, equipment or instruments and also become the master of nature. - SS

Patanjali Yoga Sutra – III – 48

Conquest of the senses

Grahanaswarupasmitanvayarthavattwa Samyamadindriya Jayaha||

Victory of the sense organs is achieved by the Sadhaka meditating on the power of holding and understanding the essential nature, the ego and focussing on the meaning of all these. - SS

Patanjali Yoga Sutra III – 47

What is physical wealth?

Rupa Lavanya Bala Vajra Samhananathwani Kaya Sampath||

Sampath means wealth and that which has come to us by hard work and austerities. Maharshi Patanjali says that a beautiful form, grace, strength and invincibility are the wealth of the body. - SS

Patanjali Yoga Sutra III – 46

Ashtama Siddhis

Tataha Animaadi Pradurbavaha Kaya Sampattad Dharmanabhigathascha|

With mastery over the five elements and their subtle elements, the yogi gains the famous Ashta Maha Siddhis of Anima – becoming small like an atom, Laghima – light as a feather, Mahima – huge, Garima – heavy, Prapti – reaching wherever one wants, Prakamya or complete fulfilment of desires, Ishithwa or Lordship over everything and Vashithwa – control over objects and people. The body also becomes healthy and all parts of the body and mind function smoothly without any conflicting interferences. - SS

Patanjali Yoga Sutra III – 45

Conquest of nature

Sthoolaswaroopasukshmanvayarthathwa Samyamad Bhuta Jayaha||

By constantly meditating on the gross body made of five elements – earth, water, fire, air and space and their subtle powers of smell, taste, vision, touch and sound and on the essential nature of all beings which transcends these elements and on how each of them interpenetrates the other – one gains mastery over the five elements. – SS

Patanjali Yoga Sutra – III – 44

When knowledge shines

Bahirakalpita Vrittihi Videha Tataha Prakashavaranakshayaha|

When the Sadhaka reaches the unimaginable realms of the universal state of consciousness by negating constantly the impressions or tendencies caused by experiences through the sense organs, then the covering of the light of knowledge of the universal self is destroyed. – SS

Patanjali Yoga Sutra – III – 43

Space travel made easy

Kayakashayoho Sambandha Samyamath Laghu toola samapattischakashagamanam|

When the mind focusses on and gets merged with the soft light and expanded fibres of cotton the the relationship of the body with space, there is a possibility of travelling through space in a subtle manner.  – SS

Patanjali Yoga Sutra – III – 42

Everything I hear is divine

Shrothrakashayoho Sambandha Samyamaddivyam Shrothram|

By meditating on the relationship between the movement of sound and the space in which it moves, the Sadhaka attains to acquiring the subtle faculty of divine hearing.

Patanjali Yoga Sutra – III – 41

A golden ring

Samanajayath Jwalanam|

When the Samana Vayu is conquiered through practices of Pranayama, the digestive fire producing energy is heightened giving a cool, friendly and radiant brilliance to the Sadhaka. – SS

Patanjali Yoga Sutra – III – 40

Rising above earthly torments

Udanajayath Jala Panka Kantakadishu Asangam Utkrantishcha|

Mastery of the Udana Vayu which gives the upward movement for the mind, makes a person free from contact with water, slush and thorns and makes it possible for the seeker to levitate. Udana is the form of prana which uplifts our mind and helps the subtle body to dissociate itself from the gross body at the time of death. – SS

Patanjali Yoga Sutra – III – 39

Going places

Bandhakarana Shaithilyath prachara samvedanaccha chittasya parashareeraveshaha||

When the cause for bondage i.e. ignorance or the non-apprehension of reality is gone, then by the proper knowledge of entry and exit, the yogi is able to enter into different bodies. This achievement called Parakaya Pravesha was possible by many Siddhas. – SS

Patanjali Yoga Sutra – III – 38

Obstacles to meditation

Te Samadhau Upasargovyuthane Siddhayaha|

The psychic powers, though helpful in our dealings with the world, are an obstruction in a state of Samadhi. The whole purpose of meditation is reached by withdrawing from sense perception. When these subtle powers become active, then this disturbs meditation as the mind has now goot subtle objects of senses to deal with now. – SS

Patanjali Yoga Sutra – III – 37

Intuitive faculties

Tatah Pratibhashravana VedanaAdarshaAswadavarta Jayante|

By meditating on the supreme self within, one gets the faculties of intuitive hearing, touch, vision, taste and smell. Purusha is the deepest and the most subtle aspect of our being and there is nothing beyond it. The super natural faculties are a manifestation of the Purusha which is the omnipresent knower of all. - SS

Patanjali Yoga Sutra III - 35 – 36

Experience happens

Sattva Purushayoho Atyanta Asankirnyoho Pratyayavishesha Bhogaha|

Pararthathswarthat Samyamath Purushajnanam||

By meditating on pure nature and awareness of consciousness – both of which are extremely different, there is an experience born out of this special awareness on the object and subject. This gives the knowledge of the difference between Purusha and Prakriti. - SS

Patajnali Yoga Sutra – III – 33 – 34

Knowledge born of intuition

Pratibhadva Sarvam|

Hridaye Chitta Samvit|

When we meditate on the light of awareness that illumines our own body, breath, thought and intellect and that of others and everything else around us – we have begun to gain our wisdom from intuitive understanding. Through this intuition, everything is known when we wish to know them.

By concentrating, meditating and getting absorbed in the heart centre or the anahata chakra, one gets to know that awareness which lightens up and illuminates the chitta or the lake of the mind from which our thoughts spring. - SS

Patanjali Yoga Sutra 31 – 32

Stability and divine visions

Kurma Nadyam Sthairyam|

Murdha Jyotishi Siddha Darshanam||

Stability of body, mind and intellect is obtained by concentration, meditation and absorbtion in the Kurma Nadi, the point beneath the pit of the throat. It corresponds to the place where the chin touches the chest. This meditation enables to steady the mind by controlling the fluctuations caused by stored memory of past events.

Meditation on the inner light in the crown of the head puts us in tune with the realised masters and Siddha Purushas who have the ability to live even without  the body. - SS

Patanjali Yoga Sutra III – 29-30

Know your body

Nabhi Chakre Kaya Vyuha Jnanam|

Kantha Kupe Kshudh Pipasa Nivrittih||

These two sutras talk about meditation on two important energy centres in the body, one is the navel centre and the other is the well-like pit of the throat. By meditating on the navel centre, one soon acquires an understanding of the secret arrangements of the body, its parts, contents and composition. This meditation may indeed be very helpful for students of medicine and doctors of all specialities while learning from books can give us information, concentration on the navel centre can give an experiential understanding.

Meditating on the throat centre or the Vishuddhi Chakra, the seat of purity, the Sadhaka soon gets to conquer the feeling of hunger and thirst. - SS

Patanjali Yoga Sutra – III – 27 and 28

Of stars and their movements

 

Chandre Tara Vyuhajnanam|

Dhruve Tadgati Jnanam||

By constantly concentrating and meditating on the moon, one gets a knowledge of the arrangement of the stars in the sky. By allowing the mind to concentrate, meditate and immerse itself on the Dhruva Nakshatra or the Pole star, the person gets a knowledge of the movement of different constellations and planets. Patanjali Yoga Sutra here gives the tips for a person to become qualified in the astrological and astronomical sciences. The mind takes the form of that which it meditates upon and whether it is the sun, moon or the Pole star, it becomes a platform to study objects in the universe that are farther than that and also go into the depths of consciousness. – SS