Sūtra 3.15

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English translation of sūtra 3.15:

क्रमान्यत्वं परिणामान्यत्वे हेतुः ॥ ३.१५ ॥

kramānyatvaṃ pariṇāmānyatve hetuḥ || 3.15 ||

(15) Change of sequence (of characteristics) is the cause of mutative differences.

Ancient and Modern interpretation:

[Read “Siddhis—Supernormal powers” first]

[Read sūtra 3.15 above]

Vyāsa has given^[1] that if you change sequence of characteristic, the clod disappears, and pot appears. Pot becoming old is a change of state.

He gives two characteristics of mind as—

1) Patent—these are characterstics of cognition or knowledge.

2) Latent—these exist as subconscious / unseen charactristics which are given below -

1. Nirodha or arrested state—complete stoppage of mental fluctuations.
2. Dharma—Impressions of virtuous and vicious actions with their threefold consequences. (these are vāsanā or subliminal impressions of result of action and feelings retained in memory.)
3. Pariṇāma or change—The imperceptible sequence of mutation of mind.
4. Life / jīvana—The functions of prāṇa
5. Ceṣṭā or effort—The unseen action of mind which leads senses to work.
6. Śakti or power—Subtle force behind manifest action and effort.

Osho explains^[2] the variety in transformation is caused by variety in underlying process.

Osho says on siddhis,

“Patañjali says there is no miracle possible, all miracles follow certain law. This law may not be known. Person doing miracle may be ignorant about the law. But he is just using it as he has acquired same.”

The above sūtra is basic sūtra for all siddhis. If we change the underlying process, the manifestation changes. You may not be aware of the underlying process, you just see the manifestation. Because you just see the manifestation, and you cannot go deep, and you do not see the underlying process, the undercurrent of the basic law, you think there is a miracle. There are no miracles. E.g., Alchemists in the West, tried hard to transform base metal into gold. There are reports that few of them did succeed. Scientists have been denying it, but now science itself has succeded in it. Now you cannot deny, now we know the underlying process. Now physics says whole world is made up of atoms and atoms consist of electrons. Then what is the difference between steel and gold? The difference is not in basic reality. Both consist of electrons. Then what is the difference. The difference is only in the structure and not in basic substance. Sometimes electrons are more, sometimes less. That is the difference.

You can make a palace or hut from same bricks. So, structure is different, but basic ingredient is same. This is what is the sūtra all about. One must know the underlying process.

Taimni has beautifully explained,^[3] that all laws of modern science are based on laws of nature which bring about and regulate these phenomena with mathematical precision. During primitive period, man was not able to decipher these natural laws and was helpless. But with progress of modern science and the discovery of modern laws, he knew that he can alter the natural phenomena and he can rule or change nature. He also knew that along with external experiments, there are important internal modifications / sādhanā or manipulation of which can also bring about desired result in the physical world. Yoga philosophy teaches this scientific view and Patañjali gives pure scientific solution and explains that these changes do not take place in haphazard manner but according to definite and exact natural laws which determine with mathematical precision the manner and order of the changes. This is purely science and there is no place for miracles in this philosophy.

Patañjali also explains that supernatural powers are not only attained by saṃyama on various aspects, but there are other ways of attainment too.

They are as follows—

[Read sūtra 4.1 here]

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Araṇya, op.cit., p.278

[2]:

Osho, op.cit., p.158-159

[3]:

Taimni, op.cit., p.305-306