Samadhi
Pada – Sutra 3
|| Tada Drastu Swaroope Awasthanam ||
Tada – then
Drastu – Seer
Swaroope – True state of self (Real nature of Soul)
Awasthanam –restored or established
So
the 3rd Sutra in 1st chapter of Patanjal Yoga Sutras is “Then
the seer is established in his real or true (original) state
or nature.”
In the earlier sutra Patanjali has explained that Yoga is blocking
the functions of the mind. Now if the functioning is blocked
or totally controlled the the Chitta or mind will also stop
interacting with seer or Atman and Atman / soul will be free
of the body – mind complex. Otherwise the Atman is confined
by this Body – Mind complex and has no way to unfold its
true nature or original state. This is like a person who does
not have any job or responsibility and peacefully resting in
his house without any attachments.
This state is the aim or ultimate goal of Yoga.
Patanjali firmly reiterates in this sutra that the practioner
of Yoga can achieve the ultimate goal of Yoga trough “control
of Vrittis” or control of modifications / functions of
the mind. Patanjali talks about a final state of achievement
as “Kaivalya”. But now the question is how to control
this functions of the mind or Vrittis which normally stimulates
the Chitta or Mind to act on the Atman, the real self.
This question of how to tackle with the Vrittis
is tackled by Patanjali in the remaining sutras. Patanjali is
explaining different ways to achieve this goal. One way may
not be suitable to all Yoga Sadhakas / practitioners, hence
he mentions many ways but in the sutras, he has mostly focused
on Ashtanga Yoga.
In the next sutra, Patanjali is explaining the
starting point of this journey.
References
–
* Science of Yoga – I.K. Taimini
*
Four Chapters on Freedom
– Swami Satyananda Saraswati
*
Yoga Sutra - Mr.K.K.Kolhatkar
*
Yoga Sutra - Original Sanskrit Text
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