Yoga Aphorisms of Patanjali

Author(s): Prabhavnanda Swami, Christopher Isherwood
Publisher: Ramkrishna Math Madras

Page 95

PATANJALI YOGA SUTRAS
identified with the object of experience in order that nature of both may be known, and then adds that this cation is caused by ignorance--we feel a certain bewil We are bewildered because Patanjali seems to be acce even somehow approving of this ignorance. Surely, i is undesirable? Surely, it would have been much behad never become alienated from the Atman, never be aware of our real nature? It is rather as if a prison say complacently: “This prison exists in order that in tually get out of it,” disregarding the fact that, if he committed a crime, he need never have gone to prison
And yet, this bewilderment that we feel is merely product of this same ignorance. Rooted in maya, w hope to understand maya or to judge the “justice” or “ of its bondage by our little relative, ethical standard do know for certain is this: that the great saints w liberation did not look back upon their struggles wi ness or regret. They did not even regard maya wit rather, they saw it as a fascinating and amusing pl rejoiced in their long fight for freedom. Swami Vive near the end of his life, could write; “I am glad I was b I suffered so, glad I did make big blunders, glad peace.” Faced by the seeming paradox of the Atma relationship, we are naturally troubled by doubt and But, instead of wasting our time reasoning and philos we shall do better to keep our eyes fixed on those tre figures who reached the end of the journey and sta were, beckoning to us to follow them. Their trium reassurance that somehow-in some way which we c understand-all is for the best.
विवेकख्यातिरविप्लवा हानोपायः ॥२६॥ 26. Ignorance is destroyed by awakening to kno