English
Translation of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, Books I-IV
Book I: Consciousness and Superconsciousness (Samadhi
Pada)
(This is
an excerpt
from a University Of Metaphysical Sciences
course at www.umsonline.org,
please feel free to visit the school website)
1. Now to explain yoga.
2. Yoga is the cessation (nirodha) of the fluctuations of mind (chitta vritti).
3. Then consciousness takes on its true nature.
4. At other times consciousness is identified with the modes of mind.
5. There are five such modes which can either be painful or not painful.
6. The modes are right knowledge, wrong knowledge, imagination, dreamless sleep and memory.
7. The sources of right knowledge are by direct perception, or by logical analysis, or from the testimony of authorities.
8. Wrong knowledge is a false interpretation not corresponding with the actual nature of the object.
9. Imagination is the ideas which arise from knowledge conveyed by words.
10. Dreamless sleep is the mode of mind during the natural absence of a conscious object.
11. Memory is the calling up of an object from past experience.
12. The control of these modes is achieved by practice (abhyasa) and nonattachment (vairagya).
13. Practice is concentrated effort to keep the mind steady.
14. It becomes firmly grounded when carried out for a long time without interruptions and with earnest attention.
15. Nonattachment is the consciousness of being free from desires for worldly things either experienced or heard about.
16. The highest nonattachment comes from the knowledge of the Soul (Purusha) which brings victory over the three modes of material nature (gunas—Tamas, Rajas and Sattva).
17. The first level of superconsciousness (samprajnata samadhi) is attained progressively in four stages. These are by questioning, by discrimination, by the experience of supreme bliss, and finally by the realization of the unity of the universe with consciousness.
18. In the higher level (asamprajnata samadhi) there is an absence of all modes of mind and only subconscious impressions (samsaras) are retained in the mind. This comes from the constant practice of the highest type of nonattachment.
19. Its inferior form is attained by those who are beyond consciousness of the body but become merged in Nature (prakritilayanam).
20. For others this samadhi is attained by total trust, great energy, recollection, regular practice of meditation, and discriminative knowledge.
21. This samadhi is soon achieved by those who practice intensively.
22. Even these will gain superior results depending on whether they do mild, moderate, or extremely intensive practice.
23. Perfection is also attained by devotion to the Lord (Ishvara pranidhanad).
24. Ishvara is a special Purusha untouched by afflictions, actions and their results, or unconscious tendencies.
25. In Ishvara the seed of knowledge is developed to its utmost limit.
26. Being beyond time Ishvara is the Master of masters.
27. The word expressing Ishvara is Aum (or OM).
28. One should constantly repeat and listen attentively to Aum while meditating on its meaning.
29. From this comes the awakening of a higher consciousness, and also the destruction of the obstacles to meditation.
This
is the first chapter of samadi pada. These teachings will let you let go
of your daily cosmic stream of consciousness.
Cosmic consciousness is what we need to keep exploring so we can master
the lessons in yoga sutra. Our mind is a very powerful miracle that lets
us go and explore every level of diversity consciousness. Diversity in samadi
yoga is key because before the sahaj yoga origin, Samadhi sutra pada was
all there was.