Yoga-sutras (Ancient and Modern Interpretations)
by Makarand Gopal Newalkar | 2017 | 82,851 words | ISBN-13: 9780893890926
Yoga-sutras 4.21, 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 4.21
Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English translation of sūtra 4.21:
चित्तान्तरदृश्ये बुद्धिबुद्धेरतिप्रसङ्गः स्मृतिसङ्करश्च ॥ ४.२१ ॥
cittāntaradṛśye buddhibuddheratiprasaṅgaḥ smṛtisaṅkaraśca || 4.21 ||
(21) If the mind were to be illumined by another mind, then there will be repetition ad infinitum of illumining minds and intermixture of memory.
Ancient and Modern interpretation:
Osho explains,
“If it were assumed that the second mind illuminates the first cognition of cognition would have been assumed and a confusion of memories.”
Here philosophers say that mind one is perceived by mind two. Then who will perceive mind two. If Mind three, then who will perceive mind three. This will never stop. But one has to understand something absolutely inside, behind which there is nothing. Otherwise it is a confusion of memories. So, body, mind and witnesser. Who perceives that is answered in next sūtra.