Thursday, August 1, 2024

THE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL CHANGES

 


                                              

                             THE CHANTING OF MANTRA 

                                                   ðŸ’«







                SUTRA 20❤


                       SRADDHA-VIRYA-SMRTI SAMDHI-PRAJINA-PURVAKA

                    ITARESAM


                        THOSE WHO HAVE FAITH IN THE PRACTICE, ENERGY AND MINDFULNESS, MOVE TOWARDS THE SUPERCONSCIOUS STATE CALLED SAMADHI THAT CULMINATES IN WISDOM.


                  SUTRA 23


                     ISVARA-PRANIDHANAD-VA


                        THIS CAN HAPPEN (NOTE THE SYLLABLE VA, WHICH MEANS ALSO) ALSO BY DEDICATION TO ISHWARA.


                    SUTRA 25


                   TATRA NIRATISAYAM SARVAJNA-BIJAM



                      THERE THE SEED OF OMNISCIENCE IS UNSURPASSED.



                  AS WE HAVE DISCUSSED AT LENGTH THE CONCEPT OF ISHWARA ACCORDING TO PATANJALI IN THE FIRST CHAPTER ITSELF, THERE IS NO NEED TO GO INTO ELABORATE DETAILS. BUT A FEW POINTS ARE TO BE NOTED.







                   1. THAT DEDICATION TO ISHWARA IS ONLY CONSIDERED ONE OF THE WAYS OR PSYCHOLOGICAL PROCEDURES TO ATTAIN SAMADHI. ONCE MORE, NOTE THE WORD VA.



                   2. TO DISTINGUISH THE ISHWARA MENTIONED HERE FROM A CREATOR AND PROTECTOR GOD AKIN TO THE SEMITIC GOD OR THE GOD OF THE SEVERAL PURUNAS, PATANJALI HASTENS TO ADD THAT ISHWARA MEANS A DISTINCT PURUSHA UNTOUCHED BY AFFLICTIONS, ACTIONS, FRUITIONS OR THEIR RESUDUE, BUT BLESSED WITH THE SEED OF UNSURPASSED OMNISCIENCE.


                       THIS MAKES THE CONCEPT OF ISHWARA THE SAME AS THAT OF THE PRIMORDIAL PURUSHA OF SANKHYA, AN ATHEISTIC PHILOSOPHY, AS ALREADY MENTIONED. THE YOGI ULTIMATATELY REALISES THAT IN ESSENCE, HE IS INDEED THAT PURUSHA OR ISHWARA.


                     3. THEREFORE, IT COULD ALSO MEAN A YOGI WHO HAS TOUCHED THE HIGHEST SAMADHI AND ATTAINED THE EXALTED STATE OF ISHWARA.


                    4. ALTHOUGH PATANJALI EMPHASISES RELYING ONLY ON ONE'S OWN EFFORTS, THE SUGGESTION IS THAT A PERFECTED YOGI AS WELL AS DEVOTION OR SURRENDING TO THE SUPREME PURUSHA WOULD HELP.







                      SUTRA 26


                 SA ESA PURVESAM API-GURUH KALENA-ANAVACCHEDAT



                 DUE TO IT BEING UNLIMITED BY TIME, IT IS THE TEACHER OF THE ONES WHO CAME BEFORE.


                   WHICH MEANS THAT THIS TIMELESS ISHWARA, THE PURUSHA HAS BEEN CONSIDERED A TEACHER BY THE YOGIS OS YORE.



                    SUTRA 27


                    TASYA VACAKAH PRANAVAH


                       THE MANIFEST EXPANSION OF THIS SUBLIME ISHWARA IS THE PRANAVA (OM).



                       SUTRA 28


                            TAD JAPAS TAD-ARTHA-BHAVANAM


                          THEREFORE, REPETITION OF IT AND THE REALISATION OF ITS PURPOSE SHOULD BE MADE.








                        SUTRA 29


                         TATAH PRATYAK-CETANA-ADHIGAMO-PY-ANTARAYA-

                         ABHAVAS-CA



                       THIS INWARD CONSCIOUSNESS IS ATTAINED, AND OBSTACLES DO NOT ARISE.



                     SINCE THE MEANING OF THE WORD OM AND THE PROCEDURE INVOLVED IN THE REPETITION OF IT AND THE RESULTS NEED A GREAT DEAL OF ELABORATION, THIS IS DEALT WITH IN THE NEXT CHAPTER.








                                        THE USES OF OM MANTRA

                                                             ❤


                    HERE IS  TECHNIQUE OF CHANTING AUM AS LEARNT BY ME, AN INITIATED KRIYA YOGI. MY TEACHER BELONGS TO THE NATH TRADITION. 


                    SIT IN A COMFORTABLE POSTURE, PREFERABLY CROSS-LEGGED, ON A RUG OR FOLDED BLANKET. FACE ANY DIRECTION AND CLOSE YOUR EYES.


                    INHALE DEEPLY. OPEN YOUR MOUTH SLIGHTLY WHEN YOU EXHALE AND ALONG WITH YOUR EXHALATION, CHANT A LONG DRAWN "AUUUUUUUUMMM", AS LONG AS YOUR EXHALATION LASTS. THEN CLOSE YOUR MOUTH AND INHALE AGAIN DEEPLY THROUGH YOUR NOSE. REPEAT THIS EXERCISE FOR FIVE TO TEN MINUTES.



                           THEN LET GO OF ALL  BREATH CONTRO AND SIMPY CHANT FOR TWO MINUTES OR SO. NOW STOP CHANTING AND ENJOY THE SILENCE WITH YOUR EYES CLOSED. REFLECT ON THE UPANISHADIC TEACHINGS THAT OM REPRESENTS YOUR INNERMOST, BLISSFUL SELF.


                          AUM SHOULD BE CHANTED AFTER PRACTISING ASANAS AND JUST BEFORE SHAVASANA. PHOTOGRAPHS OF A WHOLE SET OF ASANAS ARE GIVEN IN THE APPROPRIATE CHAPTER. FOR THOSE WHO DON'T DO ASANAS, ANYTIME IS GOOD AS LONG AS THE STOMACH IS NOT BLOATED WITH FOOD. A LIGHT SNACK IS OKAY, BUT THE BEST RESULTS ARE ACHIEVED ON AN EMPTY STOMACH, PREFERABLY EARLY IN THE MORNING.


                    ANOTHER AUM TECHNIQUE WILL BE DISCUSSED IN THE CHAPTER THAT DEALS WITH PRANAYAMA OR BREATHING TECHIQUE AND DHYANA OR MEDITATION.



                      HOW USEFUL THESE TECHNIQUES ARE AND WHAT OBSTACLES WILL BE OVERCOME IN MOVING FORWARD TOWARDS THE GOAL, WE WILL LOOK AT IN THE NEXT CHAPTER.


                      I AM TEMPTED TO USE A CLICHE, THE PROOF OF THE PUDDING IS IN THE EATING'.  AND THIS IS WHAT PATANJALI SAYS IN A WAY, "NAIRANTARYA ABHYASENA' - THE RESULTS COME WITH CEASELESS PRACTICE.




Tuesday, July 30, 2024

THE VALUABLE KNOWLEDGE TO ILLUSION

 


                  

                              THE YOGA SUTRAS

                                                                       ❤






                    SUTRA 4💫


                          VRTTI SARUPYAM ITARATRA


                   AT OTHER TIMES (WHEN NOT TRANQUIL AND THEREFORE NOT ESTABLISHED IN ITS ORIGINAL STATE OF THE SEER ) THE BRAIN TAKES THE FORM OF FLUCTUATIONS, CONFLICT AND AGITATION.



                SUTRA 5💫


                    VRTTAYAH PANCATAYYAH KLISTAKLISTAH


                     THERE RE FIVE-FOLD FLUCTUATIONS, THOSE THAT ARE PAINFUL AND TORMENTING AND THOSE THAT ARE PLEASURABLE, BUT ALL THE SAME, FLUCTUATIONS.



                         PATANJALI THEN GOES ON TO ENUMERATE THE FIVE TYPES OF FLUCTUATIONS.



                    1. VALID KNOWLEDGE (PRAMANA)

                    2. MISCONCEPTIONS OR ILLUSIONS (VIPARYAYA)

                    3. DELUSION CONSISTING OF MERE WORDS (VIKALPA)

                    4 . SLEEP (NIDRA)

                    5. MEMORY (SMRITI)







              TO SUM UP, OUTWARD AS WELL AS INWARD ACTIVITIES KEEP THE BRAIN ENGAGED AND CONSTANTLY IN MOTION. VALID KNOWLEDGE MEANS KNOWLEDGE ARRIVED AT BY PROCESSING THE DATE GATHERED BY THE SENSE ORGANS OF SIGHT, HEARING, TASTE, SMELL AND TOUCH.


                    UNFORTUNATELY, THE INSTRUMENTS OF PERCEPTION HAVE A LIMITED RANGE AND MANY-A-TIME PROVIDE INCORRECT DATA AS IN THE CASE OF OPTICAL ILLUSIONS. THE SO-CALLED VALID KNOWLEDGE ARRIVED BY, BASED ON THESE INPUTS, IS NOT RELIABLE, BUT THE BRAIN TENDS TO ACCEPT IT AT FACE VALUE, AND THE CONSEQUENT PLEASURE OR PAIN CAUSES TERRIBLE FLUCTUATIONS, WHICH PREVENT THE BRAIN FROM SETTLING DOWN.


                    THOSE MISCONCEPTIONS, WHICH ARE BASED AGAIN ON THE LIMITED CAPACITY OF THE INSTRUMENTS OF PERCEPTION AGAIN ON THE LIMITED CAPACITY OF THE INSTRUMENTS OF PERCEPTION WHEREIN AN ILLUSION IS SEEN AS A REALITY OR THE REALITY IS SEEN AS AN ILLUSION, IS THE SECOND CATEGORY, VIPARYAYA. A ROPE IN THE DARK, MISTAKEN AS A SNAKE WITH THE CONSEQUENT REACTION OF PANIC, IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THE SECOND CATEGORY USED BY THE BUDDHISTS AS WELL AS BY VEDANTINS.







                   VERBAL DELUSION IS THE ONE CAUSED BY USING WORDS TO EXAGGERATE FEELINGS. THE LITERATURE OF ROMANIC AND DEVOTIONAL POETRY, WHERE HYPERBOIC EXPRESSIONS ARE USED TO HEIGHTEN EMOTION, IS A CLASSIC EXAMPLE OF VERBAL DELUSION. EVEN COMMERCIAL CINEMA FALLS IN THIS CATEGORY. SEEING THE EXAGGERATION DELIBERATELY CREATED BY DIALOGUES, SONGS, MUSIC AND SPECIAL EFFECTS, THE VIEWER TENDS TO IMITATE THE DRAMA IN REAL LIFE AND OFTEN LIVES IN A WORLD OF DELUSION.


                    SLEEP IS A CATEGORY OF FLUCTUATIONS, WHICH FORMS PART OF LETHARGY. WHILE SLEEP IS NEEDED TO REJUVENATE ONE DAILY, THE YOGI TRANSCENDS THE NEED FOR TOO MUCH SLEEP. FREE OF THE TAMO GUNA, HIS BRAIN SETTLES DOWN INTO CONSCIOUS TRANQUILLITY, WHICH IS IN CONTRAST TO THE REST, FELT DUE TO THE ABSENSE OF CONSCIOUS AWARENESS IN SLEEP.


                    MEMORY, TOO, IS A CAUSE OF FLUCTUATIONS. THERE IS A CONSTANT STRUGGLE TO AVOID BITTER MEMORIES AND HOLD ON TO PLEASANT ONES, FORGETTING THAT BOTH ARE MEMORIES, WHICH ARE MERE RECORDINGS IN THE BRAIN AND NOT THE REALITY THAT IS HERE AND NOW.



                       THE YOGI TREATS PLEASANT AND UNPLEASANT MEMORIES AS JUST MEMORIES AND TANSCENDS THE NEED TO EITHER HOLD ON TO ONE OR AVOID THE OTHER. IN A YOGIC STATE, FLUCTUATIONS CAUSED BY MEMORY CEASE.


                                                                    ❤






                            MANY OF THE SUTRAS UP TO THE ELEVENTH ONE ARE EXPLANATIONS AND ELABORATIONS OF THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF FLUCTUATIONS.



                      SUTRA 12💫



                        ABHYASA-VAIRAGYA-ABHYAM TAN-NIRODHAH


                     THROUGH PRACTISE AND DISPASSION ARISES RESTRAINT.







                           DISPASSION, SIMPLY PUT, MEANS NOT BEING AT THE MERCY OF PASSIONS. A DISPASSIONATE PERSON IS ONE WHO HAS LEARNT TO RESTRAIN HIMSELF FROM ACTIONS, WHICH IN THE LONG RUN, CAUSE PAIN, THOUGH THEY MAY SEEM PLEASURABLE AT FIRST.


                       WHEN ONE IS FIRMLY SITUATED IN A DISPASSIONATE SPACE, THE BRAIN INSTEAD OF MOVING TOWARDS BECOMING, LEARNS TO BE. WHEN THIS IS UNINTERRUPTED THE REAL IDENTITY CALLED THE PURUSHA COMES TO THE FORE.


                       YOGA PRACTIONERS ARE CATEGORISED AS MILD, MEDIUM AND INTENSE.




Monday, July 29, 2024

HOW TO PRACTICE THE YOGA



                                  

                          YOGA IN ANCIENT TEACHINGS

                                                  ❤❤







                LET'S MOVE TO THE EARLIEST REFERENCES TO YOG IN THE ANCIENT TEACHINGS. THE FIRST REFERENCE TO YOGA IN THE UPANISHADS, THE BRAHMANICAL TEXTS, OCCURS IN THE KATHA UPANISHAD.


                  KATHA UPANISHAD: RESTRAINT OF THE SENSES - WHEN THE FIVE SENSES (UNSTRUMENTS OF KNOWLEDGE) AND THE MIND REMAIN STILL, NOT ACTIVE, IT IS KNOWN AS THE HIGHEST STATE. YOGA IS CONSIDERED AS THE RESTRAINT OF THE SENSES. THEN ONE IS INDISTRACTED, FOR YOGA IS THE RISING AND THE PASSING AWAY.



                    THEN THE BHAGAVAD GITA:👀


                         TRANQUILLITY AND SKILLED ACTION:



                        * PERFORM ACTIONS ESTABLISHED IN YOGA, GIVE UP ATTACHMENT, ARJUJA. TREAT SUCCESS AND FAILURE AND EQUAL. YOGA IS EQUANIMITY.







                        * YOGA IS TO BE SKILLED IN ACTION.


                       * YOGA IS TO BE SKILLED IN ACTION.


                      * YOGA IS SEPARATION FROM CONTANT WITH SUFFERERING.


                      * THE YOGA IS SUPERIOR TO THE ASCETICS, SUPERIOR TO THOSE WHO HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE, EVEN THE RITUALISTS. BE A YOGI, ARJUNA.



                       THE MAHABHARATA SAYS :👀


                        THERE IS NO POWER EQUAL TO YOGA. NO KNOWLEDGE EQUAL TO SANKHYA.



                                THEN THERE ARE A NUMBER OF YOGACHARA TEXTS OF THE BUDDHISTS. THE YOGACARABHUMI-SASTRA IS ONE AMONG MANY TEXTS THAT DEAL WITH YOGA. THERE IS ALSO A BODY OF SRAMANA LITERATURE LINKED TO THE ANCIENT JAINA SCHOOL OF THOUGHT THAT ELABORATE ON YOGIC PRACTICES. THE YOGACHARA SCHOOL, IT SHOULD BE NOTED, PRE-DATES PATANJALI'S YOGA SUTRAS. THE CLASSIC DEFINITION OF YOGA IN THE YOGA SUTRAS IS :







                    GIVEN BELOW ARE SOME OF THE TITLES :

                                                   ❤❤



                   1. VAISESIKA SUTRA

                   2. MALINIVIJAYOTTARA TANTRA

                   3. SHIVA PURANA

                   4. VYASA'S COMMENTARY ON THE YOGA SUTRAS OF PATANJALI

                   5. VASISTHA SAMHITA

                  6. YOGASASTRA OF HEMACHANDRA

                  7. YOGA BIJA

                  8. HAMSAVILASA OF SRI HAMSAMITHU

                  9. GHERANDA SAMHITA

                 10. GORAKSHA SHATAKA

                 11. YOGA PRADIPIKA

                 12. YOGA YAJNAVALKYA



                    THERE IS A FAIR AMOUNT OF CONTROVERSY SURROUNDING THE DATES OF THESE TEXTS, HOWEVER, IT IS NOT RELEVANT TO THE DISCUSSION. BEFORE ENDING THIS CHAPTER, HERE IS A QUOTATION FROM THE BHAGAVAD GITA, WHICH ENDORSES MY VIEW THAT THE YOGA DARSHANA IS BY AND LARGE, NOT VERY DIFFERENT FROM THE SANKHYA DARSHANA, THOUGH YOGA LAYS MORE STRESS ON PRACTICE.






                  THE FOOLISH DECLARE THT SANKHYA AND YOGA ARE SEPERATE. NOT THE WISE . HE WHO PERFORMS EVEN ONE OF THEM CORRECTLY OBTAINS THE FRUIT OF BOTH. THE STTE ATTAINED BY THE SANKHYAS IS ALSO ATTAINED BY THE YOGIS. SANKHYA AND YOGA  ARE ONE. WHO KNOWS THIS TRULY KNOW'S - THE BHAGAVAD GITA.



                 SANKHYA IS NOT AN ATHEISTIC PHILOSOPHY.


                                                       ❤

                        THE PRACTICE OF YOGA


                        WE HAVE DISCUSSED THE QUESTION OF WHETHER THE CONCEPT OF A CREATOR GOD - ISHWARA - IS AN INTRINSIC PART OF THE YOGA OF PATANJALI AND FOUND THAT IT IS NOT SO. WE CAN NOW PROCEED TO THE THEORY, AND ABOVE ALL, THE PRACTICE OF YOGA  . PLEASE NOTE THAT EVEN IN SANKHYA AND IN THE BUDDHIST AND JAIN TEACHINGS, THE IDEA OF A CREATOR GOD PLAYS NO ROLE.



                   PATANJALI BEGINS WITH THE RATHER TERSE SUTRA, ATHA YOGA AMUHASANAM. NOW BEGINS THE PRACTICE OF YOGA.







                   LET'S START WITH :👇


                    1. SAMADHI PADA : THE STUDY OF THE SUPERCONSCIOUS STATE.


                   2. SADHANA PADA : THE ACTUAL PRACTICE.


                  3. VIBHUTI PADA : THE EXTRA ORDINARY ATTAINMENTS ACHIEVED BY THE PRACTICE.


                 4. KAIVALYA PADA : THE ULTIMATE FREEDOM REALISED BY THE PRACTIONER ON ATTAINMENT THE HIGHEST GOAL - THE POWER OF EXTRA ORDINARY AWARENESS AND FREEDOM FROM CONDITIONING.


                       THE CHOICE OF BELIEF IN ISHWARA IS ENTIRELY THE INITIATE'S PREROGATIVE. LET ME REITERATE THAT BELIEF IN ISHWARA IS NOT A PREREQUISITE FOR SUCCESS IN YOGA, EVEN TO REACH THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF KAIVALYA.


                       IN ADDITION TO THE YOGA SUTRAS, WE WILL REFER TO OTHER POST PATANJALI TEXTS LIKE THE SHIVA SAMHITA AND YOGA YAGNAVALKYA, AMONG OTHERS, WHENEVER, REQUIRED TO SUPPLEMENT OUR LEARNING. THE UPANISHADS, INCLUDING THE EARLIEST PRINCIPAL UPANISHADS AND THE LATER YOGA UPANISHADS, WILL ALSO FORM A PART OF OUR REFERENCE MATERIAL.




Saturday, July 27, 2024

KAIVALYA PADA (SUTRA FROM 23 TO 34)





                            THE MIND AND THE BODY


                                                                           ❤❤

                                           

              


                                           

          

                           SUTRA 23 👀


                    DRASTR-DRSYA-UPARAKTAM CITTAM SARVA-ARTHAM


                   ALL MEANING IS KNOWN TO THE MIND, BECAUSE OF THE SEER AND THE SEEN.


                 THE EXPERIENCE OF THE SEEN WORLD HELP TO FIND THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE SEER AND SEEN. WHEN THE DISTINCTION IS NOT SEEN, THERE IS BONDAGE. WHEN THIS DISTINCTION IS UNDERSTOOD, THE RESULT IS LIBERATION.






                   SUTRA 24 ðŸ‘€


                           TAD-ASAMKHYEYA-VASAMBHIS-CITRAM API PARA-ARTHAM

                           SAMHATYA KARITVAT



                  FROM ACTIONS PERFORMED FOR THE PURPOSE OF SEEKING ULTIMATE HAPPINESS WHICH IS ONLY IN THE OTHER, INNUMERABLE HABIT PATTERNS ARE FORMED (THE PURUSHA THOUGH IS MISUNDERSTOOD TO BE FOR TEMPORARY SATISFACTION OF DESIRES).


                       SUTRA 25 ðŸ‘€


                       VISESA-DARSINA-ATMA-BHAVA-BHAVANA-VINIVRITTIH


                   SEEING THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE MODES OF ACTION ONE FOR SELF-SATISFACTION IN THE NARROW SENSE AND THE OTHER FOR REALISING THE PURUSHA, ONE DISCONTINUES THE CULTIVATION OF SELF-CENTRED ACTION.






                     SUTRA 26 ðŸ‘€


                     TADA VIVEKA-NIMNAM KAIVALYA-PRAGBHARAM



                SUCH A MIND THEN, IS INCLINED TO DISCRIMINATE AND IS OT FAR FROM KAIVALYAM, THE ULTIMATE FREEDOM.



                   SUTRA 27 ðŸ‘€


                     TAC-CHIDRESU PRATYAYA-ANTARANI SAMSKAREBHYAH


                 DUT TO SAMSKARAS (PAST IMPRESSIONS), HOLES ARE PIERCED IN THE OTHERWISE CALM MIND BY CERTAIN INTENTIONS (EVEN AT THIS STAGE).






                    SUTRA 28 ðŸ‘€


                      HANAM ESAM KLESANT UKTAM


                     THE CESSATION OF EVEN THESE INTENTIONS IS LIKE THE CESSATION OF AFFLICTIONS.



                     SUTRA 29 ðŸ‘€


                      PRASAMKHYANE'PI AKUSIDASYA SARVATHA VIVEKA-

                      KHYATER DHARMA-MEGHAH SAMADHI






                INDEED, FROM THAT REFLECTION, IN THE ONE WHO HAS DISCRIMINATION AND DISCERNMENT, ONLY THE CLOUD OF DHARMA SAMADHI REMAINS- THE STATE OF TRANQUILLITY WHICH IS LIKE FLOATING IN THE CLOUD OF DHARMA.


                   SUTRA 30 ðŸ‘€


                      TATAH KLESA-KARMA-NIVRTTIH


                      FROM THIS PROCEEDS THE CESSATION OF ALL ACTIONS THAT TAKES ONE WAY FROM KAIVALYA.



                              SUTRA 31 ðŸ‘€


                      TADA SARVA-AVARANA-MALA-APETASYA JNANASYA

                       ANANTYAJ JN EYAM ALPAM



                  THEN LITTLE NEEDS TO BE KNOWN BECAUSE OF THE UNENDING KNOWLEDGE ONE HAS, BECAUSE ALL IMPERFECT COVERING HAVE BEEN REMOVED.








                         SUTRA 32 ðŸ‘€


                     TATAH KRTA-ARTHANAM PARINAMA-KRAMA-SAMAPTIR

                      GUNANAM


               AND SO, THE PURPOSE OF GUNAS (MODIFICATIONS AND ATTRIBUTES) IS SERVED AND DONE AND SUCCESSION OF PARINAMA OR THE RESULTS OF ACTIONS PERFORMED IS OVER.


                   SUTRA 33 ðŸ‘€


                      KSANA-PRATIYOGI PARINAMA-APARANTA-NIRGRAHYAH-

                      KRAMAH


                     SUCCESSION OF THOUGHT FROM THE PAST KSANA THROUGH THE PRESENT INTO THE FUTURE IS TERMINATED BY THE END OF PARINAMA-RESUTLS OF PAST ACTIONS.



                       SUTRA 34 ðŸ‘€


                         PURUSA-ARTHA-SUNYANAM-GUNANAM- PRATIPRASAVAH

                         KAIVALYAM SVARUPA-PRATISTHA VA CITI SAKTIR ITI



                    THUS THE RETURN TO THE ORIGIN OF THE GUNAS, WHICH ARE NOW VOID SINCE THEIR PURPOSE, THAT OF REACHING THE PURUSHA IS OVER. THERE IS KAIVALYAM, THE "ALONENESS" OF THE PURUSHA IN ITS ORIGINAL FORM, STEADFAST IN THE POWER OF HIGHER AWARENESS, ABIDING IN THE PURUSHA'S THE SEER'S ORIGINAL STATE.




Friday, July 26, 2024

KAIVALYA PADA (SUTRAS FROM 12 TO 22)




                                     THE USES OF YOGA

                                                                                 ❤







                        SUTRA 12 ❤


                       ATITA-ANAGATAM SVARUPATO ASTI ADHVA-BHEDAD

                       DHARMANAM


 

                      THE PAST AND FUTURE EXIST IN THE MIND IN THEIR OWN DIFFERENT FORMS DUE TO THE DIFFERENCE IN THE PATHS FOLLOWED, BASED ON ONE'S DHARMA AND FUNDAMENTAL NATURE.


                     SUTRA 13 


                          TE VYAKTHA-SUKMAH GUNA-ATMANAH


                       THESE NATURES MANIFEST WITH SUBTLE GUNAS AS ATTRIBUTES.








                          SUTRA 14 


                             PARINAMA-EKAVAD VASTU-TATTVAM


                      FROM THE SAMENESS OF ITS EVOLUTION (FROM THE SAME SOURCE), THERE IS THE "THATNESS" OF ANY OBJECT.



                       SUTRA 15 


                             VASTU-SAMYE-CITTA-BHEDAT TAYOR VIBHAKTAH PANTHAH


                           OBJECTS THOUGH THEY HAVE SAMENESS, BEING DISTINCT FROM THE MIND, FOLLOW SEPARATE PATHS.






                      SUTRA 16 


                            NA CA EKA-CITTA-TANTRAM VASTU TAD-APRAMANAKAM

                            TADA KIM SYAT


                           AN OBJECT DOES NOT DEPEND ON ONE MIND FOR ITS EXISTENCE. THERE IS NO PROOF OF THIS. HOW CAN IT BE?


                           SUTRA 17 


                               TAD-UPARAGA-APEKSITVAT CITTASYA VASTU 

                               JNATA-AJNATAM


                        AN OBJECT WHICH IS SEEN BY THE MIND IS KNOWN OR NOT KNOWN BECAUSE OF THE ANTICIPATION THAT INFLUENCES IT.



                         WHICH MEANS THAT THE MIND THAT HAS PREJUDICES AND ANTIPATIONS CANNOT SEE AN OBJECT AS IT IS, BECAUSE THE VIEW IS COLOURED BY THESE THOUGHTS.


                        HERE IS AN EXAMPLE, BECAUSE OF BAD EXPERIENCE IN THE PAST WITH SOMEONE, ONE REFUSES TO SEE OR HEAR THEIR VIEWPOINT EVEN IF IT IS CORRECT OR FACTUAL. ANTICIPATION AND PREJUICE COLOUR THE WORLD THAT WE SEE, AND SO, SUCH A MIND CAN NEVER SEE THE REALITY OF AN OBJECT.






                     SUTRA 18 


                       SADA JNATAS CITTA-VRTTAYAS TAT-PRABHO-PURUSASYA-

                        APARINAMITVAT


                 THE FLUCTUATIONS OF THE MIND ARE ALWAYS KNOWN BY AND ARE DUE TO THE PRESENCE OF THE CHANGELESS SEER, THE PURUSHA.



                    SUTRA 19 


                            NA TAT-SVABHASAM-DRSYATVAT


                         THE MIND WITH ITS VRITTIS IS NOT SELF-LUMINOUS, BECAUSE IT IS COLOURED BY THE NATURE OF THE SEEN WORLD.



                    SUTRA 20 


                          EKA-SAMAYA CA UBHAYA-ANAVADHARANAM


                   AT ANY GIVEN TIME, THE PURUSHA AND THE VRITTIS CANNOT BE ASCERTAINED AS BEING TH SAME, BECAUSE THE PURUSHA REMAINS DISTINCT FROM PRAKRITI.








                  SUTRA 21 


                       CITTA-ANTARE DRSYE BUDDHI BUDDHER 

                      ATIPRASANGAH-SMRTI  SAMKARAS CA


 

                             THIS IMPLIES SEEING ANOTHER HIGHER MIND AND SEEING THEAT THE INTELLECT AND THE SUBSEQUENT CONFUSION OF MEMORY ARE UNWARRANTED.


                             THIS MEANS TO TRY AND WITNESS ADN SELF THOUGHT THE SO-CALLED HIGHER MIND IS FUTILE, BECAUSE THE WITNESS, PURUSHA, CANNOT BE WITNESSED. I IS A WITNESS PAR-EXCELLENCE AND A MENTAL CONCOCTION CALLED THE HIGHER MIND, WHICH CANNOT WITNESS IT, BECAUSE THERE IS REALLY NO OBJECT THERE TO BE WITNESSED.


                     SUTRA 22 


                          CITER APRATISAMKRAMAYAS TAD-AKARA-APATTAU 

                          SVABUDDHI SAMVEDANAM


 

                   DUE TO THE NON-INTERFERENCE OF THE SO-CALLED HIGHER MIND (AS DISCUSSED IN THE PREVIOUS SUTRA), AND THEREFORE, THAT FORM OR MODE BEING ABSENT, ONE PERCEIVES CLEARLY ONE'S OWN INTELLECT.



Thursday, July 25, 2024

KAIVALYA PADA (SUTRAS FROM 2 TO 11)

 


                                     THE YOGA USES

                                                    👇






            SUTRA 2 ❤


                    JATI-ANTARA-PARINAMAH PRAKRTI-APURAT


                     FROM THE EXCESS OF SAMSKARAS, OF PRAKRITI, ONE PASSESS INTO OTHER BIRTHS TO EXPERIENCE AND FULFIL DESIRES.


                     UNFULFILLED DESIRES PROMPT REBIRTH AND APPEAR AS SAMSKARAS IN SPECIFIC REBIRTHS.



                           SUTRA 3 


                     NIMITTAM APRAYOJAKAM PRAKRITINAM VARANA-

                    BHEDAS TU TATAH KSETRIKAVAT







                      LIKE THE OWNER OF A FIELD, WHO DIVERTS WATER ACCORDING TO HIS NEEDS, THE SEPARATION, JOINING AND ENCLOSING OF THE MANIFESTATIONS IS DONE BY THE YOGI, WHILE THE FLOODING OF THE WATER OF SAMSKARAS FROM THE PREVIOUS BIRTH IS NOT.



                           SUTRA 4 


                          NIRMANA-CITTANIASMITA-MATRAT


                        THE FABRICATING MIND CREATES IMAGES ONLY BECAUSE OF THE I-AM-NESS THAT IT POSSESS.



                         SUTRA 5 


                            PRAVRITTI-BHEDE PRAYOJAKAM CITTAM EKAM ANEKESAM







                          THE PURE-SATTVIC MIND THAT INITIATES I-AM-NESS IS DISTINCT FROM THE OTHER PARTS OF THE MIND.



                           SUTRA 6 


                              TATRA-DHYANA-JAM ANASAYAM


                          THERE, WHAT IS BORN OF MEDITATION HAS NO CONDITIONING RESIDUE.


                     SUTRA 7 


                           KARMA-ASUKLA-AKRSNAM-YOGINAS TRIVIDHAM ITARESAM



                        THEREFORE, THE ACTION OF A YOGI IS NEITHER WHITE NOR BLACK (NO EXTREME, BUT IS BALANCED). THE ACTION OF NON-YOGIS IS THREE-FOLD, CONDITIONED BY THE THREE GUNAS- SATTVA, RAJAS AND TAMAS.


                       SUTRA 8 


                       TATAS TAD-VIPAKA-ANUGUNANAM EVA ABHIVYAKTIR

                       VASANANAM







                        THEREFORE, THE MANIFESTATION OF PATTERNS THAT HABITUALLY OCCUR ARE CAUSED BY FRUITION OF PAST IMPRESSIONS.



                     SUTRA 9 


                        JATI-DESA-KALA-VYAVAHITANAM APY ANANTARYAM-

                        SMRTI- SAMSKARAYOR EKA EKARUPATVAT



                            SINCE MEMORY IS THE ROOT OF SAMSKARAS (PAST REMEMBRANCE AND THEIR EFFECTS ON LIFE), THEY ARE OF ONE FROM. THEREFORE, BIRTHS, PLACES AND TIMES ARE CONCEALED, BUT MANIFEST AS SAMSKARAS.



                      SUTRA 10 


                              TASAM ANADITVAM CA ASISO NITYATVAT


                        THERE IS NO BEGINNING OF THESE MEMORIES (THE BEGINNING CANNOT BE FOUND) DUE TO THE ETERNAL CONTINUITY OF DESIRE.








                     SUTRA 11 


                    HETU-PHALA-ASRAYA-ALAMBANAH SAMGRHITATVAT

                    ESAM ABHAVE TAD ABHAVAH


                    THESE SAMSKARAS ARE HELD TOGETHER BY CAUSES, AND THE FRUITS AND CONNECTION BETWEEN THEM CAUSE WHEN THERE IS NO MORE DESIRE. IN THAT STTE THE SAMSKARAS ALSO CEASE.




THE ART OF YOGA

 


                     

                                      KAIVALYA PADA


                                                👇

                                         





                          THIS CHAPTER IS THE LAST OF THE FOUR SECTION OF PATANJALI'S YOGA SUTRAS. IT DESCRIBES KAIVALYA, THE YOGI'S ULTIMATE GOAL REACHED BY FREEING THE MIND FROM DISTRACTION FOREVER OR ETERNITY. THEN ONLY THE PURUSHA EXISTS ALL "ALONE" AS THE SUPREME CONSCIOUSNESS AND DUALITY OF ANY KIND IS BANISHED FOREVER.


                            BUT JUST AS IN THE LAST SECTION, PATANJALI ONCE AGAIN DEALS WITH VIBHUTI OR "PERFECTIONS" DESCRIBED IN THE PREVIOUS SECTION BEFORE CONNECTING TO KAIVALYA.


                     SUTRA 1 ❤


                      JANMA-OSADHI-MANTRA-TAPAH-SAMADHI-JAH-

                      SIDDHAYAH


                        SIDDIS OR VIBHUTIS MANIFEST DUE TO BIRTH, DRUGS, MANTRA, AUSTERITY OR SAMADHI.



                         WHAT FOLLOWS IS A DETAILED DISCUSSION ON THE SUBJECT.






                    BY BIRTH 👀


                      SOME HUMAN BEINGS POSSESS CERTAIN EXTRAORDINARY CAPABILITIES BY BIRTH. A CLASSIC EXAMPLE OF THIS IS A GENIUS LIKE RAMANUJAN, THE INDIAN MATHEMATICIAN, WHO CAME OUT WITH ADVANCED MATHEMATICS EQUATIONS WITH LITTLE TRAINING IS FORMAL MATHEMATICS. IN THE HISTORY OF SO-CALLED SPIRITUAL SAVANTS, THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS CASES OF PEOPLE BORN WITH PARANORMAL CAPABILITIES. EVEN SOME CHILDREN WITH CONGENITAL DEFECTS OF THE BRAIN HAVE BEEN FOUND TO BE GENIUSES IN FIELDS LIKE MUSIC



                 DRUGS ðŸ‘€







                     IT'S A FACT KNOWN FROM ANCIENT TIMES THAT CERTAIN DRUGS PRODUCE EXTRAORDINARY STATES OF MIND AND ALTER THE CONSCIOUSNESS TEMPORARILY AND, IN SOME CASES, EVEN PERMANENTLY.


                     ALCOHOL BRINGS ABOUT A CERTAIN EUPHORIA AND MANY POETS AND WRITERS SWEAR THAT IT MAKES THEM MORE CREATIVE, THOUGH WEIGHED AGAINST THE INJUIRY THAT PROTRACTED USES OF ALCOHOL CAUSES TO THE MIND, ONE WONDERS IF IT'S WORTH IT.


                  SINCE VEDIT TIMES, THERE HAS BEEN MENTION OF SOMA JUICE, WHICH WHEN IMBITED UNDER SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES, HAS CAUSED THE USER TO HAVE VISIONS OF OTHER DIMENSIONS AND DIVINE BEINGS. EXCEPT THAT NO ONE TODAY KNOWS FOR SURE WHAT SOMA ACTUALLY IS.


                     THEN THERE ARE DRUGS LIKE CANNABIS, HEROIN, OPIUM, KETAMINE AND OF COURSE L.S.D. WHICH ARE SAID TO BE MIND-ALTERING SUBTANCES, AND UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, EXPAND THE MIND'S HORIZONS, ALBEIT TEMPORARILY. AGAIN, CONSIDERING THE AFTER-EFFECTS, THEY ARE NOT WORTH THE EFFORT.



                    A NUMBER OF SO-CALLED SADHUS HAVE DEGENERATED INTO GANJA ADDICTS ALTHOUGH THEY MIGHT HAVE STARTED TAKING IT AS AN AID TO ALTERING THE CONSCIOUSNESS TO DEEPER LEVELS.


                    

                                  MANTRA ðŸ‘€






                        MANTRAS ARE CERTAIN SPECIAL ACOUSTIC FORMULAS, INCLUDING THE SEED SOUNDS, USED TO INVOKE DEITIES OR SPECIAL MANIFESTATIONS OF THE GREAT ENERGY, PARA SHAKTI, IN THE SIX LOTUSES IN THE HUMAN SYSTEM.


                     THIS BRINGS ABOUT THE AWAKENING OF SPECIAL CAPABILITIES IN THE YOGI. THIS INCLUDES THE ART OF DISASSOCIATING CONSCIOUSNESS FROM MERE BODY CONSICOUSNESS AND EXPANDING ITS HORIZONS.



                        TAPAH ðŸ‘€






                    TAPAH, USUALLY TRANSLATED AS PENANCE, IS DERIVED FROM THE WORD TAPA OR HEAT. A GROSS EXAMPLE OF IT IS AN ANIMAL IN HEAT, WHEN THE FIRE OF DESIRE OF REPRODUCTION RAGES IN HIS MIND. FROM THIS IS BORN A NEW ANIMAL.


                     IN THE SUBTLER SENSE, TAPAH IS THE ONE-POINTED DESIRE TO ATTAIN A CERTAIN GOAL IN SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT, WHICH TURNS INTO AN ONGOING FIRE THAT BURNS AWAY ALL DROSS AND LEAVES THE ESSENCE PURE AND LUMINESCENT.


                 THE PENANCE, PERFORMED IN THE DWAPURA, AND EARLY YUGAS LIKE THE ONE DHRUVA PERFORMED, IS UNFORTUNATELY NOT POSSIBLE IN THIS KALIYUGA, WHERE THE BODY CANNOT SURVIVE WITHOUT FOOD AND WATER.



                       SAMADHI ðŸ‘€







               WHEN THE YOGI ATTAINS SAMADHI, CERTAIN EXTRAORDINARY CAPABILITIES DEVELOP FOLLOWING THE EXPANSION OF THE MIND, BUT THE AIM OF SAMADHI IS NOT THE ATTAINMENT OF SUCH PERFECTIONS BUT THE REALISATION OF KAIVALYA OR ABIDING IN THE NON-DUAL PURUSHA.


                    THEREFORE, THE POSSESSION OF ANY SIDDHI IS NOT A CERTAIN TO ASSESS THE SPIRITUAL PROGRESS OF THE YOGI, BECAUSE SIDDHIS ARE POSSIBLE THROUGH DIFFERENT NON-YOGIC WAYS.


                    THE COROLLARY TO THIS IS THAT A YOGI WHO ATTAINS KAIVALYA THROUGH THE DIFFERENT STATES OF SAMADHI NEED NOT NECESSARILY POSSESS ANY OF THE SIDDHIS.



THE TYPES OF MEDITATION AND ITS USES

                                THE JAPA MEDITATION                                                                    ❤❤❤                  ...