Yoga-sutras (Ancient and Modern Interpretations)
by Makarand Gopal Newalkar | 2017 | 82,851 words | ISBN-13: 9780893890926
Yoga-sutras 4.16, 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 4.16
Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English translation of sūtra 4.16:
न चैकचित्ततन्त्रं वस्तु तदप्रमाणकं तदा किं स्यात् ॥ ४.१६ ॥
na caikacittatantraṃ vastu tadapramāṇakaṃ tadā kiṃ syāt || 4.16 ||
(16) Object is not dependent on one mind, because if it were so, then what will happen when it is not cognized by that mind?
Ancient and Modern interpretation:
Bhāsvatī explains,[1] when mind is inattentive, what would happen to objects, which it fails to register? The part of the object not received by mind, not perceived would be non-existent. Therefore, perceivable objects have an existence of their own and can be perceived by all. The mind is different from objects and existes separately in each being. Araṇya also explains in same way.
Here Patañjali seems to support the Sāṅkhya theory of independent existence of prakṛti, which is contrary to the Vedic and Buddhist thought that the world is but a projection of mind, and that the world does not exist if one achieves the state of ‘no-mind.’ This also marks the difference from Śaṅkarācārya’s philosophy which says that world is an illusion (mithyā).
Osho says,[2]
“The same object is seen in different ways by different mind. The object is not dependent on one mind.”
Things exist in themselves like a garden flowers whether anybody visits garden or does not visit. Same way we know things after we have dropped our mind. Otherwise our mind plays tricks. It takes whatever you want to listen or see. As per Patañjali, listening means listening without mind, seeing is seeing without mind.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
op.cit., p.375
[2]:
Osho, op.cit., p. 77