Saturday, February 11, 2012

PATANJALI YOGA SUTRAS = Ch.3 = Vibhoothi Paadha = Samyama = the Path to Extraordinary Wisdom and Bliss


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.


*  *  *  E  N  D  *  *  *

No comments:

Post a Comment