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METAPHYSICS
object of meditation, or contemplation. This view is almost identical with that of the Jaina Siddhanta which prescribes contemplation of the glory of it Perfect Soul and the study of His life-story as a transmigrating ego as the surest means of leading the devotee to become steady in the contemplation of the glory appertaining to his own soul.
Patanjali also is right when he says that the jivas (souls) are involved in matter, and the aim of Yoga is to free them from the meshes of matter (Int, to SBH., Yoga Sutras of Patanjali). But Patanjali hias no idea of the true tnttvas, and is unable to give any explanation of the why and wherefore of the means to be employed for getting rid of matter,
We should, however, remember that he cioes not claim to be the founder of the system, but only a compiler. This is evident from the very first verse which reads :
अथ योगानुशासनम् which means “now a revised text of yoga." We have no right therefore to blame Patanjali for the shortcomings of what he only set out to collect and revise. Apparently there has been a great deal of borrowing in the course of this compilation, for we find the five kinds of restraints not only identically the same as are known as the five kinds of cows in the Jaina Siddhânia, but they are also mentioned in the same order in which they are given by the Jaina writers,
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