CHAPTER 1: SAMĀDHI PĀDA
atha yogānuśāsanam
Now I give the explanation of yoga and its practice.
yogaḥ cittavṛtti nirodhaḥ
The skill of yoga is demonstrated
by the conscious non-operation of the vibrational modes of the mento-emotional energy.
tadā draṣṭuḥ svarūpe avasthānam
Then the perceiver is situated in his own form.
vṛtti sārūpyam itaratra
At other times, there is conformity
with the mento-emotional energy.
vṛttayaḥ pañcatayyaḥ kliṣṭā akliṣṭāḥ
The vibrations in the mento-emotional energy
are five-fold being agonizing or none-troublesome.
pramāṇa viparyaya vikalpa nidrā smṛtayaḥ
They are correct perception, incorrect perception,
imagination, sleep and memory.
pratyakṣa anumāna āgamāḥ pramāṇāni
Correct perception may be acquired directly,
by correct analysis or by correct reference.
Viparyayo mithya jnanam atat rupa prathistham
Incorrect perception is based on false information
and on perception of what is not the true form.
śabdajñāna anupātī vastuśūnyaḥ vikalpaḥ
Verbal or written information
which is followed by concepts
which are devoid of reality, is imagination.
abhāva pratyaya ālambanā vṛttiḥ nidrā
Sleep is the vibrationial mode which is supported
by the absence of objective awareness.
anubhūta viṣaya asaṁpramoṣaḥ smṛtiḥ
Memory is the retained impression of experienced objects.
abhyāsa vairāgyābhyāṁ tannirodhaḥ
That non-operation of the vibrational modes
is achieved by effective practice in not having an interest
in the very same operations.
tatra sthitau yatnaḥ abhyāsaḥ
In that case, practice is the persistent endeavor
(to cultivate that lack of interest).
sa tu dīrghakāla nairantarya
satkāra āsevitaḥ dṛḍhabhūmiḥ
But that is attained on the firm basis
of a continuous reverential sustained practice
which is executed for a long time.
dṛṣṭa ānuśravika viṣaya vitṛṣṇasya
vaśīkārasaṁjñā vairāgyam
The non-interest in the operations
of the mento-emotional energy is achieved
by one who has perfect mastery in consciousness
and who does not crave
for what is perceived or what is heard of
in the mundane existence.
tatparaṁ puruṣakhyāteḥ guṇavaitṛṣṇyam
That highest non-interest occurs when there is
freedom from desire for the features of material nature
and thorough awareness of the spiritual person.
vitarka vicāra ānanda asmitārūpa anugamāt saṁprajñātaḥ
The observational linkage of the attention
to a higher concentration force occurs with analysis,
reflection and introspective happiness
or with focus on self-consciousness.
virāmapratyaya abhyāsapūrvaḥ saṁskāraśeṣaḥ anyaḥ
The other state is the complete departure
from the level where the remaining impressions
lie in the mento-emotional energy.
bhavapratyayaḥ videha prakṛtilayānām
Of those who are diffused into subtle material nature
and those who existing in a bodiless state,
their psychology has that content.
śraddhā vīrya smṛti samādhiprajñā pūrvakaḥ itareṣām
For others, confidence, stamina, introspective memory,
the continuous effortless linkage of the attention
to a higher concentration force, and profound insight,
all being previously mastered, serves as the cause.
tīvrasaṁvegānām āsannaḥ
For those who practice forcefully in a very intense way,
the skill of yoga will be achieved very soon.
mṛdu madhya adhimātratvāt tataḥ api viśeṣaḥ
Then there is even more ratings,
according to intense, mediocre, or slight practice.
Īśvara praṇidhānāt vā
Or by the method of profound religious meditation
upon the Supreme Lord.
kleśa karma vipāka āśayaiḥ
aparāmṛṣṭaḥ puruṣaviśeṣaḥ Īśvaraḥ
The Supreme Lord is that special person
who is not affected by troubles, actions, developments
or by subconscious motivations.
tatra niratiśayaṁ sarvajñabījam
There, in Him, is found the unsurpassed origin of all knowledge.
sa eṣaḥ pūrveṣām api guruḥ kālena anavacchedāt
He, this particular person, being unconditioned by time
is the guru even of the ancient teachers,
the authorities from before.
tasya vācakaḥ praṇavaḥ
Of Him, the sacred syllable Āuṁ (Om) is the designation.
tajjapaḥ tadarthabhāvanam
That sound is repeated, murmured constantly
for realizing its meaning.
tataḥ pratyakcetana adhigamaḥ api antarāya abhāvaḥ ca
As a result there is inwardness of the sense consciousness
and the disappearance of obstacles to progress.
vyādhi styāna saṁśaya pramāda ālasya avirati bhrāntidarśana alabdhabhūmikatva anavasthitatvāni cittavikṣepaḥ te antarāyāḥ
These obstacles are disease, idleness, doubt, inattentiveness,
lack of energy and proneness to sensuality, mistaken views,
not being able to maintain the progress attained,
unsteadiness in progression,
scattered mental and emotional energy.
duḥkha daurmanasya aṅgamejayatva
śvāsapraśvāsāḥ vikṣepa sahabhuvaḥ
Distress, depression, nervousness and labored breathing
are the symptoms of a distracted state of mind.
tatpratiṣedhārtham ekatattva abhyāsaḥ
For the removal of the obstacles,
there should be the practice of a standard method
used in the pursuit of the reality.
maitrī karuṇā muditā upekṣaṇam
sukha duḥkha puṇya apuṇya
viṣayāṇāṁ bhāvanātaḥ cittaprasādanam
The abstract meditation
resulting from the serenity of the mento-emotional energy,
comes about by friendliness, compassion, cheerfulness
and non-responsiveness to happiness, distress, virtue and vice;
pracchardana vidhāraṇābhyāṁ vā prāṇasya
or by regulating the exhalation and inhalation of the vital energy;
viṣayavatī vā pravṛttiḥ utpannā manasaḥ sthiti nibandhanī
or by fusion and steadiness of the mind which is produced
by the operation of the mento-emotional energy
towards an object which is different to,
but similar to a normal thing;
viśokāh vā jyotiṣmatī
or by sorrow-less and spiritually-luminous states;
vītarāga viṣayaṁ vā cittam
or by fixing the mento-emotional energy
on someone who is without craving;
svapna nidrā jñāna ālambanaṁ vā
or by taking recourse to dream or dreamless sleep.
yathābhimata dhyānāt vā
Or it can be achieved from the effortless linkage of the mind
to a higher concentration force which was dearly desired.
paramāṇu paramamahattvāntaḥ asya vaśīkāraḥ
The mastery of his psyche results in control of his relationship
to the smallest atom or to cosmic proportions.
kṣīṇavṛtteḥ abhijātasya iva maṇeḥ grahītṛ
grahaṇa grāhyeṣu tatstha tadañjanatā samāpattiḥ
In regards to the great reduction
of the mento-emotional operations,
there is fusion of the perceiver, the flow of perceptions
and what is perceived, just like the absorption of a transparent jewel.
tatra śabda artha jñāna vikalpaiḥ
saṅkīrṇā savitarkā samāpattiḥ
In that case,
the deliberate linkage of the mento-emotional energy
to a higher concentrating force occurs
when a word, its meaning and the knowledge of the object
alternate within the mind, blending as it were.
smṛtipariśuddhau svarūpaśūnya iva
arthamātranirbhāsā nirvitarka
Non-analytical linkage of his attention
to a higher concentration force occurs
when the memory is completely purified
and the essential inquiring nature disappears as it were,
such that the value of that higher force shines through.
etayaiva savicāra nirvicāra ca sūkṣmaviṣayā vyākhyātā
By this, the investigative and non-investigative linkage
of one’s attention to a higher concentration force
consisting of subtler objects, was explained.
sūkṣmaviṣayatvaṁ ca aliṅga paryavasānam
The insight into the subtle nature of gross objects
terminates when one becomes linked
to the higher concentration force which has no characteristics.
tā eva sabījaḥ samādhiḥ
The previous descriptions concern the effortless
and continuous linkage of the attention
to a higher concentration force,
as motivated by the mento-emotional energy.
nirvicāra vaiśāradye adhyātmaprasādaḥ
On gaining competence in the non-investigative linkage
of one’s attention to the higher concentration force,
one experiences the clarity and serenity which results
from the linkage of the Supreme Soul and the limited one.
ṛtaṁbharā tatra prajñā
There with that competence,
the yogin develops the reality-perceptive insight.
śruta anumāna prajñābhyām anyaviṣayā viśeṣārthatvāt
It is different from the two methods of insight
which are based on what is heard
and what is reasoned out, because that is limited
to a particular aspect of an object.
tajjaḥ saṁskāraḥ anyasaṁskāra pratibandhī
That impression which is produced
from the reality-perceptive insight,
acts as the preventer of the other impressions.
tasyāpi nirodhe sarvanirodhāt nirbījaḥ samādhiḥ
The continuous effortless linkage of the attention
to the higher concentration force which is not motivated
by this mento-emotional energy,
occurs when there is a non-operation,
even of that preventative impression
which caused the suppression of all other lower memories
and on perception of what is not the true form.
śabdajñāna anupātī vastuśūnyaḥ vikalpaḥ
Verbal or written information
which is followed by concepts
which are devoid of reality, is imagination.
abhāva pratyaya ālambanā vṛttiḥ nidrā
Sleep is the vibrationial mode which is supported
by the absence of objective awareness.
anubhūta viṣaya asaṁpramoṣaḥ smṛtiḥ
Memory is the retained impression of experienced objects.
abhyāsa vairāgyābhyāṁ tannirodhaḥ
That non-operation of the vibrational modes
is achieved by effective practice in not having an interest
in the very same operations.
tatra sthitau yatnaḥ abhyāsaḥ
In that case, practice is the persistent endeavor
(to cultivate that lack of interest).
sa tu dīrghakāla nairantarya
satkāra āsevitaḥ dṛḍhabhūmiḥ
But that is attained on the firm basis
of a continuous reverential sustained practice
which is executed for a long time.
dṛṣṭa ānuśravika viṣaya vitṛṣṇasya
vaśīkārasaṁjñā vairāgyam
The non-interest in the operations
of the mento-emotional energy is achieved
by one who has perfect mastery in consciousness
and who does not crave
for what is perceived or what is heard of
in the mundane existence.
tatparaṁ puruṣakhyāteḥ guṇavaitṛṣṇyam
That highest non-interest occurs when there is
freedom from desire for the features of material nature
and thorough awareness of the spiritual person.
vitarka vicāra ānanda asmitārūpa anugamāt saṁprajñātaḥ
The observational linkage of the attention
to a higher concentration force occurs with analysis,
reflection and introspective happiness
or with focus on self-consciousness.
virāmapratyaya abhyāsapūrvaḥ saṁskāraśeṣaḥ anyaḥ
The other state is the complete departure
from the level where the remaining impressions
lie in the mento-emotional energy.
bhavapratyayaḥ videha prakṛtilayānām
Of those who are diffused into subtle material nature
and those who existing in a bodiless state,
their psychology has that content.
śraddhā vīrya smṛti samādhiprajñā pūrvakaḥ itareṣām
For others, confidence, stamina, introspective memory,
the continuous effortless linkage of the attention
to a higher concentration force, and profound insight,
all being previously mastered, serves as the cause.
tīvrasaṁvegānām āsannaḥ
For those who practice forcefully in a very intense way,
the skill of yoga will be achieved very soon.
mṛdu madhya adhimātratvāt tataḥ api viśeṣaḥ
Then there is even more ratings,
according to intense, mediocre, or slight practice.
Īśvara praṇidhānāt vā
Or by the method of profound religious meditation
upon the Supreme Lord.
kleśa karma vipāka āśayaiḥ
aparāmṛṣṭaḥ puruṣaviśeṣaḥ Īśvaraḥ
The Supreme Lord is that special person
who is not affected by troubles, actions, developments
or by subconscious motivations.
tatra niratiśayaṁ sarvajñabījam
There, in Him, is found the unsurpassed origin of all knowledge.
sa eṣaḥ pūrveṣām api guruḥ kālena anavacchedāt
He, this particular person, being unconditioned by time
is the guru even of the ancient teachers,
the authorities from before.
tasya vācakaḥ praṇavaḥ
Of Him, the sacred syllable Āuṁ (Om) is the designation.
tajjapaḥ tadarthabhāvanam
That sound is repeated, murmured constantly
for realizing its meaning.
tataḥ pratyakcetana adhigamaḥ api antarāya abhāvaḥ ca
As a result there is inwardness of the sense consciousness
and the disappearance of obstacles to progress.
vyādhi styāna saṁśaya pramāda ālasya avirati bhrāntidarśana alabdhabhūmikatva anavasthitatvāni cittavikṣepaḥ te antarāyāḥ
These obstacles are disease, idleness, doubt, inattentiveness,
lack of energy and proneness to sensuality, mistaken views,
not being able to maintain the progress attained,
unsteadiness in progression,
scattered mental and emotional energy.
duḥkha daurmanasya aṅgamejayatva
śvāsapraśvāsāḥ vikṣepa sahabhuvaḥ
Distress, depression, nervousness and labored breathing
are the symptoms of a distracted state of mind.
tatpratiṣedhārtham ekatattva abhyāsaḥ
For the removal of the obstacles,
there should be the practice of a standard method
used in the pursuit of the reality.
maitrī karuṇā muditā upekṣaṇam
sukha duḥkha puṇya apuṇya
viṣayāṇāṁ bhāvanātaḥ cittaprasādanam
The abstract meditation
resulting from the serenity of the mento-emotional energy,
comes about by friendliness, compassion, cheerfulness
and non-responsiveness to happiness, distress, virtue and vice;
pracchardana vidhāraṇābhyāṁ vā prāṇasya
or by regulating the exhalation and inhalation of the vital energy;
viṣayavatī vā pravṛttiḥ utpannā manasaḥ sthiti nibandhanī
or by fusion and steadiness of the mind which is produced
by the operation of the mento-emotional energy
towards an object which is different to,
but similar to a normal thing;
viśokāh vā jyotiṣmatī
or by sorrow-less and spiritually-luminous states;
vītarāga viṣayaṁ vā cittam
or by fixing the mento-emotional energy
on someone who is without craving;
svapna nidrā jñāna ālambanaṁ vā
or by taking recourse to dream or dreamless sleep.
yathābhimata dhyānāt vā
Or it can be achieved from the effortless linkage of the mind
to a higher concentration force which was dearly desired.
paramāṇu paramamahattvāntaḥ asya vaśīkāraḥ
The mastery of his psyche results in control of his relationship
to the smallest atom or to cosmic proportions.
kṣīṇavṛtteḥ abhijātasya iva maṇeḥ grahītṛ
grahaṇa grāhyeṣu tatstha tadañjanatā samāpattiḥ
In regards to the great reduction
of the mento-emotional operations,
there is fusion of the perceiver, the flow of perceptions
and what is perceived, just like the absorption of a transparent jewel.
tatra śabda artha jñāna vikalpaiḥ
saṅkīrṇā savitarkā samāpattiḥ
In that case,
the deliberate linkage of the mento-emotional energy
to a higher concentrating force occurs
when a word, its meaning and the knowledge of the object
alternate within the mind, blending as it were.
smṛtipariśuddhau svarūpaśūnya iva
arthamātranirbhāsā nirvitarka
Non-analytical linkage of his attention
to a higher concentration force occurs
when the memory is completely purified
and the essential inquiring nature disappears as it were,
such that the value of that higher force shines through.
etayaiva savicāra nirvicāra ca sūkṣmaviṣayā vyākhyātā
By this, the investigative and non-investigative linkage
of one’s attention to a higher concentration force
consisting of subtler objects, was explained.
sūkṣmaviṣayatvaṁ ca aliṅga paryavasānam
The insight into the subtle nature of gross objects
terminates when one becomes linked
to the higher concentration force which has no characteristics.
tā eva sabījaḥ samādhiḥ
The previous descriptions concern the effortless
and continuous linkage of the attention
to a higher concentration force,
as motivated by the mento-emotional energy.
nirvicāra vaiśāradye adhyātmaprasādaḥ
On gaining competence in the non-investigative linkage
of one’s attention to the higher concentration force,
one experiences the clarity and serenity which results
from the linkage of the Supreme Soul and the limited one.
ṛtaṁbharā tatra prajñā
There with that competence,
the yogin develops the reality-perceptive insight.
śruta anumāna prajñābhyām anyaviṣayā viśeṣārthatvāt
It is different from the two methods of insight
which are based on what is heard
and what is reasoned out, because that is limited
to a particular aspect of an object.
tajjaḥ saṁskāraḥ anyasaṁskāra pratibandhī
That impression which is produced
from the reality-perceptive insight,
acts as the preventer of the other impressions.
tasyāpi nirodhe sarvanirodhāt nirbījaḥ samādhiḥ
The continuous effortless linkage of the attention
to the higher concentration force which is not motivated
by this mento-emotional energy,
occurs when there is a non-operation,
even of that preventative impression
which caused the suppression of all other lower memories
