Yoga-sutras (Ancient and Modern Interpretations)
by Makarand Gopal Newalkar | 2017 | 82,851 words | ISBN-13: 9780893890926
Yoga-sutras 2.21, 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 2.21
Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English translation of sūtra 2.21:
तदर्थ एव दृश्यस्यात्मा ॥ २.२१ ॥
tadartha eva dṛśyasyātmā || 2.21 ||
(21) To serve as objective field to puruṣa is the essence or nature of the knowable.
Ancient and Modern interpretation:
Here Vyāsa says, if experience and liberation are objective i.e. manifestable, and are revealed to puruṣa, the seer.Tamini clarifies that prakṛti exists only for subserving the purpose of puruṣa.
Prakṛti is similar to beautiful drama which we watch in theatre.While watching drama we get entangled with the emotions of the actors acting and we laugh and cry with them. But at the bottom of our heart, we know that we are watching a drama and it is not our real life. Similarly, in real life also, since puruṣa gets entangled in cittavṛttis, he appears to be ‘enjoyer’, and we try to free this puruṣa, who is śuddha, buddha and free.
Osho says,[1]
“The seen exists for the seer alone.”
This is the climax of Yoga or Vedatnta [Vedānta?]. When the seer disappears, the seen disappears because it was there for only seer to be libertated. When liberation has happened it is not needed.This creates problems and difference between a liberted [liberated?] soul and common soul.So, enlightenment is individual.One person becomes awakened,all others continue in their ignorance.This person can help others to be awakened.He can create devices around you to help you come out of your sleep.But unless one comes out of sleep,the dream will continue.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Osho, op.cit.,p.12