Yogabindu

Author(s): Haribhadrasuri, K K Dixit
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 15

INTRODUCTION
even an
bhadra is here taking exception to Gopendra's view that Apunarbandhaka is in a position to undertake the yoga-practice of a genuine type, a view contrasted to his own according to which one must be at least a Samyagdṛṣṭi in order to genuinely practise yoga; (according to another and a better corroborated version of Haribhadra's view one must be at least a Caritrin in order to genuinely practise yoga, but let us not raise that difficulty just now). However, having set forth the two rival views Haribhadra goes on to offer a long account of what he consiners to be three concomitants of yoga, an account which is of general interest, that is to say, an account which has nothing to do with an Apunarbandhaka (or even with a Samyagdṛṣṭi) in particular. Similarly, in the section on Samyagdṛṣṭi considerable space has been devoted to the problen of an inherent nature being responsible for the mutual differences among spiritual aspirants, the problem of divine favour, the problem of fate versus perseverance, that is to say, to the problems that are of a most general interest. Lastly, it is in the section on Carilrin that the five species of yoga are distinctly defined and the benefits derivable from them enumerated; again, it is here that we are informed as to what types of agents are authorized to practice a particular type of yoga and to what extent. However, there is some excuse also for this procedure on Haribhadra's part. For in this part of his discussion Haribhadra has come out with the suggestion that a Caritrin alone is entitled to practise yoga in its various species, so that as a sort of corollary it becomes incumbent on him to offer a description of the various species of yoga and to give the reader an idea of the extent to which the various types of agents other than a Catitrin fall short of practising these various yogaspècies; here also let us overlook the difficulty that Haribhadra's present position comes in conflict with his earlier upheld view that even a Samyagdṛṣṭi - thougt not an Apunarbandhaka-is capable of genuinely practising yoga). But when all is said and done, one cannot help feeling that it would have been better if Haribhadra transferred his treatment of the problem in question to a section where those of a general nature are disposed of; (otherwise, the section V itself -which deals with certian general problems pertaining to yoga can well be transferred to
the section IV)1
7
For the rest, the Table of Contents should enable one to form a fairly clear idea of the questions that Haribhadra has raised and sought to answer in his present text.
In preparing the accompanying English translation help has chiefly - almost exclusively - come form two sources, viz. (i) the commentary
1 Another alternative will be to make the Miscellaneous section begin with definition etc, of the five species of yoga - that is, to make the section on Caritrin contain just the six verses that set forth the nature of a Caritrin,