Book Title: Yoga Aphorisms of Patanjali
Author(s): Prabhavnanda Swami, Christopher Isherwood
Publisher: Ramkrishna Math Madras

Previous | Next

Page 88
________________ YOGA AND ITS PRACTICE It may be found simpler to consider these two aphorisms in reverse order; since the obstacles to enlightenment must first be overcome in their fully developed or gross form (see chapter II, aphorism 4). The way in which this is to be done has been likened to the washing of a piece of dirty cloth; first, the dirt must be loosened with soap, then washed away with clean water. “Soap” represents the practice of the "preliminary steps toward yoga" (austerity, study and the dedication of the fruits of one's work to God) which are discussed in the commentary on the first aphorism of this chapter. “Water" represents the practice of meditation. “Soap" and "water" are both indispensable if the cloth" of the mind is to be properly cleansed. The one cannot be used effectively without the other. When the obstacles in their fully developed form have been overcome, they will still exist vestigially, as tendencies (samskaras). These tendencies are only destroyed when the mind is resolved back into its cause, that is, into Prakriti, from which the mind was projected. This is, of course, the process of going into samadhi. (See chapter I, aphorisms 41-51.) क्लेशमूलः कर्माशयो दृष्टादृष्टजन्मवेदनीयः ॥१२॥ 12. A man's latent tendencies have been created by his past thoughts and actions. These tendencies will bear fruits, both in this life and in lives to come. सति मूले तद्विपाको जात्यायु गाः ॥१३॥ 13. So long as the cause exists, it will bear fruits—such as rebirth, a long or a short life, and the experiences of pleasure and of pain. ते लादपरितापफलाः पुण्यापुण्यहेतुत्वात् ॥१४॥ 14. Experiences of pleasure and of pain are the fruits of merit and demerit, respectively.

Loading...

Page Navigation
1 ... 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163