Patangali Yog Sutra

Keeping life within

This week, we look at Heyam dukhamanagatham, which means that the pain that has not yet come can be avoided. This sutra tells us that we need to learn to eliminate the root cause of pain. The pain that has not yet entered our lives, the sorrow that has not yet sprouted must be nipped in the bud. But how does one do that?

That is where Drashtridrushyayoho samyogo heyahetuhu or the next sutra comes in. This means that the cause of suffering is when the seer becomes one with the seen and forgets one’s true nature.

Forgetfulness of one’s self is the root cause of pain. The self becomes one with the objects that are all around the self. This is because of lack of perception. You think “this is me”. Then the problems begin.

There is a story which children in India read during their childhood, about a wicked king who has to be killed. Only the life of the king is in a a parrot in another place, which means that the only way to kill the king is to kill the parrot.

According to the story, the king’s life is not within him and he will not die even if someone tries to kill him. To kill the king you have to go to the island where the parrot is and into a fort where the parrot is caged. The fort is guarded by cobras and anyone seeking to kill the king has to get past all of that.

When the person attempting to kill the king manages to get inside the fort, he finds that there is a cage there and the parrot inside it. Only problem is that he cannot touch the cage becuase if he does it will burn him. So he has to kill the parrot without touching it, the same way he has to kill the king without touching him.

In the same way, you keep your life somewhere else, and not within you. Your life is somewhere else, in the bank account. You have not just deposited the money in the bank. Along with the money you have also deposited your life. If something happens to the bank account, you will have a heart attack. Do you see what I am saying?

Whatever you think of as more important becomes the cause of suffering. So, when you see the difference, then the seer separates from the surrounding you will ask yourself, “What is all this?”

That’s when the true meditation happens. Patanjali says — Prakashakriyasthitisheelam bhutendriyatmakam bhogaapavargartham drushyam, which means manifestation, dynamism, inertia is the nature of one consciousness. The entire creation being made up of five elements gives you pleasure and relief from the objects of enjoyment. That does not mean you have to run away from this world. This world is here to enjoy. Patanjali is very clear about that.

The world is here for you to see. Great food is here for you to eat. The whole world is here for you to enjoy, but while enjoying do not forget yourself. You are separate from them. This is viveka.

This seen world is eliminated. It conveys a message. It gives you an idea of how great the consciousness is. Every aspect in the world is an expression of God. Everything is active. Everything is manifested from the consciousness. Everything in this universe is dynamic. It is not static. There is nothing that is static. Even though the mountains appear to be static, they are not. They are all dynamic. Every atom is dynamic.

Everything is governed by certain principles and certain qualities. The entire creation is made up of five elements and five organs of action. These are the ten organs. The entire creation is endowed by these ten. The mind is also a part of the creation. This entire creation is there to give you pleasure and relief. Whatever gives you pleasure will also give you relief. Otherwise pleasure becomes a pain. The entire creation gives you enjoyment and liberation and relieves you. You have to get yourself liberated from all this at some time or the other so it does not become pain.