Patanjali Yoga Sutra - 2: 24

The root cause for ignorance

Tasya Hetuh Avidya

The last sutra said that the experiences we have in the field of prakriti or nature is to get us to experience purusha or consciousness. This sutra tells us that the union of the individual human mind with the different happenings, situations and people in nature is the root cause for avidya or ignorance of the truth within. The sanga or the association of the mind has to be with the truth within and not the apparent scenes, situations and people in the world outside. - Swahilya Shambhavi.

Patanjali Yoga Sutra: 2 - 22

The purpose of relationship

Swa Swami Saktyoho Swaroopa Upalabdhi Hetuhu Samyogaha|

The union of the Master - consciousness and its own nature or Prakriti is for this achievement of self-realisation of the true form, which is consciousness. All the events and incidents that happen on earth and all the experiences we go through serve the only purpose of helping us to realise our true self which is the one undivided consciousness and for no other reason whatsoever. - Swahilya Shambhavi

(Pic. Floating a diya into the Ganga at Rishikesh. Relating to nature in one way or the other takes us to realise our true self.)

Patanjali Yoga Sutra: 2 - 22

Nature drops you to attend to others

कृतार्थं प्रतिनष्टम् अपि नष्टं तदन्य साधारणत्वात्|

Kritartham Prati Nashtam Api Anashtam Tadanya Sadharanatwat|

(On request from a few blog visitors, I have tried my hand with google transliteration! Please excuse me for some errors such as anashtam and sadharan where I am not getting the teevra Na! I promise to get better!)

The nature outside is a beautiful means through which you get to know your true self which is consciousness. But after this self realisation happens, nature no more bothers you. It continues its work however on others who require its agency for their own self transformation.

An athelete runs with and climbs atop the pole vault, cross the bar and gracefully drops the pole and jumps to the other side. The pole is of no use to him when he has crossed and has to be necessarily dropped.

Nevertheless, the pole - nature - continues to serve otyhers who want to cross the bar to fall into the ocean of self realisation. - Swahilya Shambhavi.

(Pic: Like this cable car in an amusement park, nature takes you on a roller-coaster trip in this world. There is all the thrill or fear until the lessons are mastered and you realise consciousness. Even after you get dropped, the cable car continues shuttling other passengers in the game!)

(swahilya.soulmate@gmail.com)

Patanjali Yoga Sutra: 2 - 21

Matter only for spirit

Tadartha Eva Drishyasyatma
The prakriti or nature exists only for the sake of this purusha or consciousness. Consciousness is the only essence that pervades everything. This is still silent, colourless, odourless and the witness for all that happens. From this substance called consciousness emerges dynamic movement, light and sound called energy. Energy in turn manifests as matter and the five elements. All the five elements are enlivened by consciousness. Consciousness is the basis for their existence. They exist only for the sake of this Purusha and for nothing and nobody else.
- Swahilya Shambhavi.

Patanjali Yoga Sutra : 2: 20

The seer behind the seeing

Drashtaha Drushimatrah Shuddhopi Pratyayaanupashya

The one who sees, hears, tastes, smells and experiences the sense of touch is the seer and not the body. That seer is pure and does not go through any modifications. It has only the power to see. But the seeing happens not alone, but through the mind and the intellect. The seer is the Purusha who is like the light in a bulb. The lesser the dust and dirt on the bulb, the better the light shines. The dust and dirt are our thoughts that modify the passage of consciousness by its mere presence. - Swahilya Shambhavi.