Yoga-sutras (Ancient and Modern Interpretations)
by Makarand Gopal Newalkar | 2017 | 82,851 words | ISBN-13: 9780893890926
Yoga-sutras 2.28 [Ashtangayoga], 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 2.28 [Aṣṭāṅgayoga]
Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English translation of sūtra 2.28 [aṣṭāṅgayoga]:
योगाङ्गानुष्ठानादशुद्धिक्षये ज्ञानदीप्तिरा विवेकख्यातेः ॥ २.२८ ॥
yogāṅgānuṣṭhānādaśuddhikṣaye jñānadīptirā vivekakhyāteḥ || 2.28 ||
(28) When impurities are destroyed through the practice of the different accessories to yoga, enlightenment dawns, culminating in discriminative enlightenment.
Ancient and Modern interpretation:
After describing the philosophical and metaphysical aspect of yoga philosophy in sūtra II.12 to II.27, Patañjali starts with the practical knowledge path.We needto understand these sūtras,so as to perform the practices efficiently.
[Read sūtra 2.28 above]
Vyāsa has given,[1] practice of yogāṅgas are means of eradicting the impurities as an axe is the means of severing wood.
Vyāsa has given nine causes of acquisition of discriminative knowledge given in śāstras.
- Origin: Mind is the origin of knowledge.
- Sustenance: serving the objectives of puruṣa sustains the mind as food sustains the body.
- Manifeststion: Visible forms are manifested by light and cognition thereof.
- Mutation: Shifting of the mind from one object to another produces mental modifications as fire transforms cooked food.
- Knowledge: Existence of fire is inferred from seeing smoke.
- Acquisition: Practice of exercise of yoga leads to discriminatve knowledge.
- Eradiction: Discriminative knowledge leads to destruction of impurities.
- Diversity: Goldsmith producing various articles of gold.
- Retention: Body retains the organs and organs retain the body.
Practice of yoga is the cause of wisdom.It is means of removal of impurities and attainment of discrimination.
Osho talks about impurity being created by mixing two pure things, and so Patañjali gives different steps for purification of impurity.
Gautama Buddha has also given eight-fold path for enlightenment as mentioned in chapter I.-
Evolution of sādhaka is ordained by laws of nature.During this process, the yoga practitioner has to face demonic powers, while doing his sādhanā for internal purification.Additionally, many negative traits of his personality become barrier in this process of self-illumination.These manifest in the form of physical diseases. At mental level, disturbences are created by ṣaḍripus, as kāma, krodha, lobha, mada, moha, mātsarya. At intellectual level, person loses his discrimination power etc.
For personality development, all these doṣas (impurities) need to be destroyed.So Patañjali says, that these yogāṅgas to be practised as anuṣṭhāna (daily practice).This is like we clean our body or our house daily.Similarly, to cleanse our psyche this sādhanā is required.