Article #169
Subject: Chapter 3 Sutras
Author: Andrew W. Harrell
Posted: 5/31/2012 09:35:58 PM

Comments from a Christian/Jewish metaphysical standpoint on Selected Sutras
of Patanjali, book III

This chapter is about Patanjali’s theory of prophecy or how Divine Truth
Manifests itself
In us as we concentrate, meditate, contemplate through different forms of
Samadhi
long time. As the comments on the other chapters we assumes fundamental
knowledge of the Sanskrit language and its alphabet(Mr. Houston at the
American Sanskrit Institute has published
some very useful tapes and workbooks for this).
Earlier Patanjali has explained to us in chapter 1, that the Word of God (the
spoken or thoughtful
realization of His prophetic Truth) is the mystic syllable OM or AUM, which
is the
seed of His omnipresence (and hence His omniscience and omnipotent).
When one meditates or speaks silently or vocally the Word OM once is
concentrating,
Mediatatively on its vowel sounds (remember the letter M is a vowel in
Sanskrit) as spiritual power for the realization of Divine Truth in us.
The name of God YHWH is formed by consonants which help us stop human thoughts
So the three seed letter sounds of these fully realized 16 Sanskrit vowel
sounds can become evident
From our shared superconscious divine mind meditatively and contemplatively
as God’s Holy Spirit realizing itself in us all.
Thus in this sense, the name of God, Jesus, having two vowels in it and which
is sometimes said to be identical with the four letter consonant name of God
is not really so. However, when we say the words
“Lord Jesus” (as in the well known Christian/Jewish contemplative vocal
prayer, “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me, a sinner” we are meditating on
both the consonant and vowel sounds and lack of sounds together as God’s Son
name.
The realization, in our spiritual bodies, of the outer vowel sound e (formed
by the combination of the inner vowel sounds a and i) and the outer vowel
sound u (formed by the combination of the inner vowel sounds a and o)
represents a help to us for thinking from the inner spirit of Father God, our
creator to the outer spirit of
His Son.

References:
http://www.ourprayergroup.blogspot.com postings on Old Testament Jewish
Christian and Christian Jewish
meditations
Mediation and Mantras by Swami Vishnudevananda
Yoga Philosophy of Patanjali by Swami Hariharananda
The Yoga Sutra Workbook: The Certainity of Freedom by Vyaas Houston
The Science of Self-Realization, A Guide to Spiritual Practice in the Kriya
Yoga Tradition
by Roy Eugene Davis

The first translations of words and sentences listed are those of Vyaas

These comments are from Pada (Chapter) 3 Spiritual Accomplishments or
Exceptional Powers of Perception and
Extraordinary Ability (Siddhis).

Sutra 1
Desa bandhas sittasya dharana

Translations of words:

desa point, place
bandhas fixation
cittasya of the energy field of consciousness
Dharana focusing or concentration

“Dharana-concentration is fixation of the energy of consciousness
Within a focal point.”

Comments:


“In order to direct our attention on what we want to know we must concentrate
The energy of thought where we want it to be identified.” R. Davis

“It may be external as in Buddhist looking deeply into the present moment
Of our experience…or an internal plexus, or a mantra”
“If there is difficultly keeping the mind within a limited area of focus in
the
Early stages of practice, one may keep it within a circumscribed broader area
In which everything relates to the object.”
Swami Vishnu

Or a Bible verse, or a problem to be solved, a question to be answered,
A situation to be analyzed, a way to be found forward for ourselves or
others Andrew

Sutra 2
Tatra pratyayaika-tanata dyanam

Translations of words:
Tatra there
pratyaya the arising thought which directs mind to an object of mind
eka single
tanata directionality
dhyanam meditation

“The single direction of a thought to the chosen point of focus is dhyana or
meditation”

Comments:

“Unwavering concentration on the object of thought chosen for contemplation
Is called meditation” R. Davis

“An unbroken flow of perception between the mind and objects is meditation”
Swami Vishnu

I would specify these definitions and comments by Davis and Swami Vishnu
further by saying that meditation
Is the unbroken, continuous flow of thought between mind and the objects of
mind
(which are called as objects of mind, dharma and are not necessarily the
objects
Thought about themselves)

Sutra 3
Tad evartha matra nirbhasam svarupa-sunyam iva Samadhi

Translation of words:
Tat that (citta or mind)
Eva specifically
Artha object of thought, dharma or goal
Matra alone
Nirbhasam shining forth, reflecting
Svarupa its own form or essence
Sunyam empty
Iva as if
Samadhi cognitive absorption

“That mind specifically, reflecting as the object of thought alone, as if
empty of its
Own form, is Samadhi or cognitive absorption.”

Comments and alternative translations

“The self-shining of the object of meditation is Samadhi.” Roy Davis
“Samadhi is the merging of the mind into the essence of the object of
meditation. At that
Time nothing exists but that pure awareness.” Swami Vishnu

I would add here, importantly, that what we are talking about is the merging
of our mind,
Not into the object of meditation, but its essence or conceptual
representation inside of us.
It is also important to understand that when we say the process of what we
are understanding
is “self-shining” we are talking about divine mind’s realization in us of its
non-contingency or
what we say in philosophy as God’s self-determination, his universal self-
existence or I AM ness
dwelling in us at this point. Of course, Buddhist’s teach that everything is
contingent. But, I would
argue that thinking about things this way ourselves (as contingent), if you
are a metaphysical Platonist
or dualist is what allows us to empty our minds so God’s self-existent
oneness can be realized.
I have heard some people say, “we do not believe it is possible for us to
know God”. I say to them in reply
“Well, in that case, do you believe it is possible for Him to know this for
us?”

Andrew