Yoga-sutras (Ancient and Modern Interpretations)
by Makarand Gopal Newalkar | 2017 | 82,851 words | ISBN-13: 9780893890926
Yoga-sutras 2.39, 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 2.39
Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English translation of sūtra 2.39:
{DEV}
aparigrahasthairye janmakathaṃtāsambodhaḥ || 2.39 ||
(39) On attaining perfection in non-acceptance, knowledge of past and future existences dawns.
Ancient and Modern interpretation:
Vyāsa says,[1] that the detachment should be towards sense objects and the body.So when one becomes conscious of the body as separate from self, then he gets knowledge of past and future lives.
Taimni compares this siddhi with modern science and claims that these mysteries of mind and consciousness are of much significance than discoveries of modern science.
In Bhagavadgītā, Lord Kṛṣṇa tells Arjuna,[2]
“I taught this imperishable Yoga to Vivasvān who taught it to Manu; Manu taught it to Īkṣvāku.”
Arjuna was surprised to hear as Kṛṣṇa was of same age as him and how he would have told Yoga to Sun and Manu who were there for ages?
So Kṛṣṇa replied to him that,
“Many births of mine have passed as well as yours, O Arjuna; I know them all, but you know them not, O Parantapa (scorcher of foes).”
Common man doesnot remember his previous births,but he remembers only few important features of his life. For example,one collects some beautiful articles during outstation travel. Normally they are displayed for few years and then after few years they are thrown in the waste basket. Same thing is true about conserving memories of past life.We keep on conserving those memories.
A realised Yogī will not collect things or memories, but he will not be accepting anything as well. So, he will be living every moment of life with same ecstasy. Since he is not engrossed into particular smṛti and its related experience, he can also have knowledge of his previous births as and when needed.
Footnotes and references:
[2]:
Bhagavadgītā IV-1 AND IV-5 — [...] ||4.1-5|| [...] ||4.5||