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Yoga-ŝataka
elementary stages) incumbent on him to scrupulously practise the following regulations.
39. The yoga-seeker must always proceed further in a due fashion, that is to say, after having ascertained his suitability through an observation of his own nature, through finding out as to what others say about himself, through determining as to how pure are his life-operations (i. e. bodily, vocal and mental operations).
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40. One should purify his body through blameless movements etc., his speech through (blameless) utterances, while he should purify his mind through noble thoughts. All this is what constitutes purification of operations.
41. Some say that body is known (to be fit for yoga) by its pleasing constitution, speech by its pleasing tone, while mind is known (to be fit for yoga) by its invoking pleasing dreams. (According to these people) it is this what constitutes purification (of operations).
42. Here (i. e. in case suitability is present there) the way to proceed on to a higher stage of spiritual development lies in taking. recourse to appropriate material etc. (i. e. to appropriate material, place, time etc.) and doing things in the presence of a competent preceptor and to the accompaniment of due ceremonies (like salutation etc.)
43. The chief thing to be understood about the ceremonies like salutation etc. is that they should be performed under pure external conditions (i. e. under conditions laid down in the scriptures). This purity of external conditions must be properly ensured, for otherwise the ceremonies in question will be no proper ceremonies.
44. Afterwards (i. e. after the yoga-seeker has reached a higher. stage of spiritual development) he should keep company with those who are either superior to himself in perfection or equal to himself; besides, he should ever keep in mind the practical injunctions that are obligatory on one belonging to the stage of spiritual development attained by himself.
45. He should develop an attitude of high regard for the stages of spiritual development higher than the one attained by himself, he should meditate over the nature of the worldly life properly (i. e. with a heart full of fervour) and in various ways, and whenever there arises in him a feeling of apathy for the stage of spiritual development attained by himself he should adopt different kinds of measures (in order to overcome this feeling).
46. For this (feeling of apathy) has been described (in scriptures) as arising when the past (evil) deeds are coming to fruition; but then
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