Samadhi
Pada – Sutra 4
|| Vritti Sarupyam Itaratra || 1-4 Patanjal
Yoga Sutras
Vritti - Functioning / Modifications
Sarupyam – assimilation
Itaratra – other state
The complete meaning of this sutra is “The
Atman or purusha is assimilated with the functioning /modifications
of mind in other state.”
Patanjali explains the final stage of seer or
Atman and before starting the explanation of the detailed technique
for attaining the same. He explains the present state of the
seer or Atman.
The seer or ‘Purusha’ or ‘Atman’
is to be released from all other ties and he is helped to merge
with its real state that is ‘Swaroop’. ‘Purusha’
or ‘Atman’ has lost his own identity & is always
assimilated with the Vrittis or modifications of the mind that
is functioning of mind.
An appropriate illustration is given by Swami
Satyananda Saraswati. He says when we are watching a movie on
the screen, we get lost in to it and we experience the joy and
sorrow and other emotion in this movie. We forget our own identity.
We even forget that we are watching a movie and we are not a
part of the movie. Similarly the Atman or real self has forgotten
its reality and has assimilated with the different patterns
or modifications of mind. Purusha gets involved with these activities
of mind and experiences all the emotions, and feels good and
bad effects of the same. If he realizes that he is the mere
spectator for this play, he can remain away from the emotions
and their effects. This is very difficult to achieve but it
can be achieved by controlling the Vrittis or modifications
of the mind and developing the impartial attitude of Purusha
towards these activities of chitta or mind. This is a long and
difficult path. Hence Patanjali explains the techniques in details
in fourth sutra.
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
***********
