Patanjali Yogasutra 4.23
द्रष्टृदृश्योपरक्तं चित्तं सर्वार्थम्।
"The mind, when colored by both the Seer and the seen, reflects all objects."
In this Sutra, Patanjali highlights the nature of the mind (चित्त), which operates as a reflective medium influenced by both the observer (द्रष्टा, the Purusha or Consciousness) and the observed (दृश्य, the external world). The mind, being subtle and impressionable, is like a mirror that absorbs the qualities of both the observer and the observed. This dual influence allows the mind to process a wide range of experiences and present them as objects of knowledge. However, this reflective nature also implies that the mind is not an independent entity but a dynamic instrument shaped by its interactions.
For a seeker of Realization, this Sutra emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between the Purusha (Pure Consciousness) and the mind. The mind's tendency to identify with the objects it reflects can lead to a false sense of Self, mistaking the transient and material for the eternal and spiritual. Realization arises when the practitioner sees the mind as a tool rather than the Self, thereby aligning with the unchanging observer (द्रष्टा). This alignment is the foundation for achieving Kaivalya, the Ultimate Goal in Yoga.
In practice, this Sutra encourages yogis to cultivate awareness of the mind’s coloring and its attachments to external objects. Techniques like meditation (ध्यान) and discrimination (विवेक) help disentangle the mind from these influences, allowing it to become clear and tranquil. When the mind ceases to be colored by external impressions and identifies solely with the Seer, it achieves a state of Purity and reflects the True Nature of Consciousness.
Swami Vivekanand said:
"Through discrimination the yogi knows that the Purusha is not mind."
Contextual Comparison with Similar Verses
Katha Upanishad 2.1.10
इन्द्रियेभ्यः परं मनः मनसः सत्त्वमुत्तमम्।
सत्त्वादधि महानात्मा महतोऽव्यक्तमुत्तमम्॥
"The mind is superior to the senses; the intellect is superior to the mind; beyond the intellect is the Great Self, and beyond the Great Self is the Unmanifest."
This verse underscores the hierarchical relationship between the senses, mind, intellect, and the Ultimate Self, resonating with Patanjali's notion of the mind being subordinate to the Purusha. The Katha Upanishad emphasizes transcending the mind to realize the Higher Self.
Yoga Vashishta 6.1.29
चित्तं हि संसारमिदं चित्तमेव हि बन्धनम्।
चित्तं वै मुक्तिमार्गो हि चित्तमेव हि कारणम्॥
"The mind alone is the cause of this worldly existence; the mind itself is the cause of bondage. The mind is the path to Realization; the mind alone is the root cause of everything."
This verse aligns closely with the Yogasutra by recognizing the mind's pivotal role in determining bondage or liberation, depending on whether it is influenced by ignorance or wisdom.
These comparisons reveal the consistent emphasis in Indian philosophy on the Mastery and transcendence of the mind to achieve Self-Realization.
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