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