Thursday, March 29, 2012

PATANJALI YOGASUTRAS - Ch.3.VIBHUTI PAADHA - Vs.24,25,26 -Samyama, the ultimate in human achievement - contd..


PATANJALI
YOGASUTRAS

CHAPTER.3.

VIBHUTI PAADHA

Vs.24

maitryaadishu balaani

Ø  maitri = friendliness
Ø  aadishu = et cetera ((and other qualities mentioned in sutra no.1.33 earlier); through samyama on these qualities;
Ø  balaani = strength


In the previous  sutra, we have seen how the advanced sadhaka,who is adept in performance of Samyama, can easily have knowledge of death. Knowledge of death relieves him of all remaining fears, doubts and other negativities of life. In any case, their role in a Sadhaka’s life is very minimum already.

But, a Sadhaka must imbibe various positive qualities mentioned already  in sutra no.1.33 which can give him great mental strength.

Friendliness (maitri) is the first of them. 

It is followed by compassion (karuna). But, towards whom? Towards the entire creation and towards the entire Universe - that surrounds him. A Sadhaka must now be capable of seeing himself everywhere and in everything. He must therefore perform Samyama on the qualities of friendliness and compassion, which immediately expands his horizon greatly. He becomes all that he purveys. And, quite naturally, the strength of all that he purveys becomes his too.

He will also perform Samyama on pure joy (mudhitha) and it becomes his. He performs samyama on non-interference (upeksha) and equi-poise in sukha,duhkha, punya, apunya and other dualities of life. And they cease to trouble him anymore. This instantly removes all the inherent human weaknesses from his system.

Thus, while huge mental strength becomes his through maitri, karuna and mudhitha, all human weaknesses arising out of life’s dualities -  fall off from his system through performance of Samyama on such dualities mentioned in sutra.1.33. The Sadhaka acquires great strength of mental attitude thereby.

This is his mental strength. But, what about physical strength? That is the focus in next sutra.

Vs.25


baleshu hasthi balaadheeni


Ø  baleshu = strength
Ø  hasthi = (of the) elephants
Ø  balaadheeni = power


This is more an indicative sutra than one complete in itself. Patanjali says – if the sadhaka performs samyama on the strength of an Elephant – then he too acquires such enormous strength of the elephant.

If he performs Samyama on the Lion, the qualities of the lion become his. A yogi can acquire the qualities of any creature – by performing Samyama on it. Patanjali has devoted a whole chapter for these vibhuthis or Powers – just to indicate the power of Samyama to us. There are many more to come.


Vs.26


pravrittyaah aaloka nyaasaat
sookshma – vyavahita –
viprakrishta  jnaanam


Ø  pravrittyaah = inner, deeper sensory activity
Ø  aaloka = becomes visible (mentioned in sutra 1.36 also)
Ø  nyaasaat = by performing Samyama and focusing on
Ø  sookshma = very subtle
Ø  vyavahita = hidden
Ø  viprakrishta = remote
Ø  jnaanam = knowledge

This sutra must be read in conjunction with sutra no.1.36 in which  Jyothishmathi, or a sacred lnner light in the lotus like chakra at the region of the heart (not the physical heart on left side) which is at the lower conjunction of the ribs – is mentioned. 

Many meditations are performed on this lotus like arrangement, at the centre of which, the Sushumna Naadi traverses up and down. Yogis assume the existence of a divine light at the centre of this lotus. 

They perform  Samyama on this divine light. This divine light can give the Sadhaka extraordinary knowledge  about even remotest things at a great distance. Knowledge of - very subtle things, things which are surrounded / imprisoned / enslaved by many things, and things which are at remotest places are all now well within the reach of the Yogi.

We shall look into many more objects of Samyama in the next Post.

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