Thursday, December 22, 2011

PATANJALI = YOGA SUTRAS = Vs.2.41 :Soucha to Sathva to Cheerfulness to Concentration to Sense-control to Atma Darsana - A Smooth Jounrey for Sadhaka


PATANJALI
YOGA SUTRAS

Verse.2.41

Sathva Shuddhi Saumanasya
Ekaagra indriya-jaya
atma darshana yogyatvani cha


Ø  sathva = self;
Ø  shuddhi = purification of
Ø  saumanasya = cheerfulness
Ø  ekaagra = with concentration or single-aim
Ø  indriya-jaya = victory over or control of the senses
Ø  atma = the Self
Ø  darshana = realization
Ø  yogyatvani = Being fit for
Ø  cha = and


Being too much attached to body is a cause of constant worry – that something may affect our body here or there. The effort for external purity, in due course, removes that too-much attention from the body, which is what jugupsa really meant in the previous sutra. The body and mind, when hale and healthy, become very light for us to carry. But Soucha is advised by Patanjali in previous sutra as it removes  body concentration and brings us the best of all Gunas, the Satva.

Purity of the self (or Soucha) thus brings us Sathva Suddhi – that is, purification of Gunas in us. We may not conquer all Gunas, but we come to the purest Guna of all, the Sathva, and stay in pure Sathva and shine in it.

From Sathva Suddhi, arises cheerfulness, a delight in the self – as the natural effect of Sathva is to create such cheerfulness in us.

This cheerfulness that arises in us - is not due to the body and mind; and not due to contact with others. The cheerfulness is inborn and is independent of senses and sense objects.

Rogi has a diseased body; He has a heaviness in body and mind which are constantly putting pressure on him. Bhogi is not presently diseased but is enjoying the body and mind; but his body and mind are in the process of becoming sick in due course; Bhoga is a cause of roga.  But yogi is the one who keeps his body and mind very light on him; and therefore, he is blissful.

Lightness of body and mind brings Sadhaka cheerfulness; while cheerfulness in its turn brings lightness of body and mind. Cheerfulness and lightness of body and mind are thus circular in being cause and effect. One is the cause of the other at one level and the effect of the other at another.

From the cheerfulness comes Powers of concentration. The freedom from body and mind, and from their pressure on the self – makes it easy for sadhaka to concentrate on any goal he feels fit. There is nothing that can distract his senses.

There are many practical displays of the Powers of concentration  by Yogis in the Past. Swami Vivekananda’s powers of concentration and remembrance used to astonish all the people around him.

From such powers of concentration comes control over senses. When the goal is wisely selected by the sadhaka, who has immense powers of concentration,  control over senses and directing all of their power on the goal becomes very easy for him.

This immense control over senses gives the Sadhaka the eligibility and fitness for self experience or self realization. 

This is Atma Darsana.

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