Yoga-sutras (Ancient and Modern Interpretations)
by Makarand Gopal Newalkar | 2017 | 82,851 words | ISBN-13: 9780893890926
Yoga-sutras 4.8, English translation with modern and ancient interpretation. The Patanjali Yogasutras describe an ancient Indian tradition spanning over 5000 years old dealing with Yoga:—Meditating the mind on the Atma leading to the realization of self. This study interprets the Yogasutras in light of both ancient and modern commentaries (e.g., Vyasa and Osho) while supporting both Sankhya and Vedanta philosophies.
Sūtra 4.8
Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English translation of sūtra 4.8:
ततस्तद्विपाकानुगुणानामेवाभिव्यक्तिर्वासनानाम् ॥ ४.८ ॥
tatastadvipākānuguṇānāmevābhivyaktirvāsanānām || 4.8 ||
(8) (The other three varieties of karma) are manifested the subconscious impressions appropriate to their consequences.
Ancient and Modern interpretation:
[Read sūtras 4.7-12—Karmasiddhānta now]
[Read sūtra 4.8 above]
Vyāsa explains,latent impressions or actions that produce results are called karmāśaya; while the latent impressions of feelings arising out of three-fold consequences of action,e.g. birth,lifespan and experience of pleasure and pain,is called vāsanā or subliminal imprint.This is to be thought alongwith sūtra II.12.
A human being,born as a result of previous actions goes over his allotted span enjoying various pains and pleasures.The latent impressions of actions performed in that birth are karmāśaya.Suppose he acts like a beast in this lifetime,he will be born as animal in next life.He however retains his human vāsanā.So karmāśaya or latent impression of action manifest the appropriate vāsanā.The outcome of vāsanā is memory.Memory here refers to memory of birth,longitivity and experience of pleasure and pain.Memory of birth is associated with memory of body and sense organs.Memory of longetivity refers to memory of lifespan in particular form.
Osho explains this as,[1]
“Desires arise from three-fold karmas when circumstances are favaorable for their fulfillment.”
Habits cannot be dropped easily. There are two ways to drop the habits—
- To change habit into substitute habit.
- To become more aware.
Once we are aware that the whole habitual pattern is nothing but your mind,suddenly you will be with no-mind.You will find yourself in emptiness.
Taimni defines three types of vāsanās as[2] —
- sañcitakarma—These are accumulated vāsanās / karmas right from 84 lacs yonis.
- prārabdhakarma—Those karmas which we are going to exhaust in present life is prārabdhakarma.
- kriyamāṇakarma—In this life whatever karmasañcaya accumulates or gets over is kriyamāṇakarma.
As per Indian Philosophy, jīva passes through 84 lacs yonis (species) before getting human birth.So, the karmāśaya carries those animalistic saṃskāras.The saṃskāras of previous birth fructify when they mature. The anatomy of human brain is similar to animal brain except the neocortex.The neocortex increases man’s ability to think and control the animalistic desires, vāsanās. So, man controls id and tries to do good deeds. As given in Yogavāsiṣṭha, satsaṅga and reading scriptures play important role in moulding one’s life to spiritual development.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Osho, op.cit.,p.44
[2]:
Taimni, op.cit,p.395