PATANJALI
YOGA SUTRAS
Chapter
3
Vibhoothi Paadha
Verse.3.4
thrayam ekathra samyamah
Ø thrayam = these three – Dhaarana,
Dhyanam and Samaadhi
Ø ekathra = performed together (as one single process)
Ø samyamah = (is known as)
samyama
Verse.3.5
Thath jayaath prajnaalokah
Ø thath = that
Ø jayaath = achievement,
mastery
Ø prajna = superior
consciousness
Ø aalokah = (becomes)visible, comes into experience
Verse.3.6
Thasya bhoomishu viniyogah
Ø tasya = these three
(samyama stages)
Ø bhoomishu = in each stage
Ø viniyogah = to be
practiced
These three sutras are to
read and understood together.
In sutras.3.1, 3.2, and 3.3,
we have described Dhaarana (concentration), Dhyanam(meditation) and Samaadhi.
When these three are done together on any particular object, idea, person or
goal – and the Sadhaka stays on in the third phase of Samaadhi on the selected goal
– he can be said to be performing the process of samyama.
Why are these three taken
together – as a single process (of Samyama)?
The next verse (vs.3.5) explains
this. Once Sadhaka is successful in achieving Samyama, an extraordinary and
superior level of consciousness (or wisdom) concerning the object of Samyama dawns
on (becomes available to) the Sadhaka.
As we have understood earlier
- Samaadhi is the achieving of oneness with the object. It happens
automatically in Samyama. Sadhaka need not do anything special. He sits in
Dhaarana (concentration) of the object; and continues it (Dhyanam) – until the
object becomes one with his consciousness (Samaadhi).
At this point, in his
prajna, or in his wisdom / consciousness, there are no two separate things
called the object and the Sadhaka. Both are now one. Everything that Sadhaka
wants to know about the object is now available to him. The object opens up its
innermost secrets to the Sadhaka at this stage. This level of knowledge is not
otherwise available by any other means, scientific, logical, mechanical, or any
other means, to anyone.
Dhaarana alone is not
enough for this. Dhaarana plus Dhyanam is also not sufficient. Dharana +
Dhyanam must continue until Samadhi is achieved; until the oneness of the
Sadhaka and the object is achieved.
What should be done for
this? Simly - the Sadhaka sits in his concentration
and meditation. He continues in it and enters Samaadhi phase automatically.
Swami Vivekananda is known
to sit for several hours in Meditation. But, hours are not needed to enter
Samaadhi. For one of Swami Vivekananda’s calibre, a few minutes may be
sufficient too. Probably, it also depends on the goal selected for Samyama and
the Sadhaka’s level of control on his self.
Sadhaka can continue in Samaadhi
for any length of time – depending on the purpose chosen by him or he can come
out in short duration too – at his choice.
Some of the achievements (or
display of prajna) of Swami Vivekananda and other renowned Yogis are reminiscent of one
who can achieve samaadhi in minutes. This
is my strong Conviction.
There are many accomplished
Yogis, who display such prajna (of the Samyama variety) many times in life.
But, most of them avoid –
using it for any worldly purposes. And, most of them never bother to prove
their prowess in scientific labs. Some Yogis have of course displayed their
ability to stop their heart, lungs and all other bodily mechanisms at will and
re-start them at will. This is also the result of samyama on these organs. Can
a Yogi who can perform Samyama on his body organs perform Samyama on somebody
else or on some distant object? There is no clear answer to this. As we go
forward, we will see different facets of Samyama. And, as we go beyond them, we
will see the greatest goal of Samyama.
For a Sadhaka, who has
achieved some success in his Dhaarana and Dhyanam, Samyama is not far away.
Sutra.3.6 is emphatic that
these three stages of Dharana, Dhyanam and Samadhi – i.e., Samyama process - must be done in a disciplined, gradual way –
and not in any hurry.
There is no way that one
can become one with the object (i.e., achieve Samaadhi), without Dhaarana and
Dhyanam on it. There is no way that one achieves the prajna of the object (Samyama) without the three stage path. Also,
there can be no hurry on the path. It is gradual. The object unfolds itself to
the Yogi and reveals its innermost secrets but in a gradual, beautiful,
non-hurried way – just as a flower blooms. A flower does not bloom in a hurry.
Nothing in Nature happens in a hurry.
We are not talking of
TIME factor here. In Samaadhi, time is
never in picture. Things happen in their own gradual, natural way. Time and
space constraints do not bother the Sadhaka. That is why – yogis sit in Dhyanam
for hours. Some yogis like Ramana Maharshi are known to have performed Dhyanam
for several days –unmindful of insect-biting, injuries etc.
I have heard from some of
the renowned contemporary Yogis – that some rich industrialist come to them,
and want to learn Yoga in 3 hours, one day and so on. They are men-in-hurry.
Yoga is not for men-in-hurry.
As Buddha has often said –
people are accumulating different forms of dust
(like money, cars, bungalows,
gold, diamonds and so on – all of which are different forms of dust) all of
their life, until they become dust themselves. They are in great hurry to
acquire such dust forms – and to be recognized by others for it. Yoga is not
for these men-in-hurry.
Yoga is for men-in-peace,
or those who want such peace. It is a gradual process. Someone asked Raman Maharshi
– I want peace. What should I do?
Ramana replied smilingly –
stop doing. Don’t do anything.
This is the way for peace.
This is the essence of Vedanta. This is also the essence of Yoga.
Samyama – the word is more
often used in respect of persons who are in absolute self-control; in absolute
peace. In Samyama, you are in absolute peace and absolute Bliss.
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