Here Patanjali gives another method to calm the mind. By contemplating on pure inner light our depressed mind is illumined. We are what we think. By thinking about brilliant, positive, and suspicious things, the mind also becomes the same. The inner light is all pervasive and it illumines the whole universe.  That pure light is also called Vasudeva.

The Yogacharya Bhagavan Shri Krishna in Bhagavad Geeta says this:

jyotisham api taj jyotis tamasah param uchyate
jnanam jneyam jnana-gamyam hridi sarvasya vishthitam || 13.18 || 

He is the source of light in all luminaries and is entirely beyond the darkness of ignorance. He is knowledge, the object of knowledge, and the goal of knowledge. He dwells within the hearts of all living beings.

By fixing the mind on a single modification generated by the sensory objects, the mind  is calmed || 1.35 ||  Here Patanjali gives another method to calm the mind.  Outer objects are not responsible for our happiness or sorrows but the identification of sense organs with the objects makes us happy or sad in life.  A bar of chocolate by itself cannot make us happy.  A hot chilly by itself cannot make us sad.  When our sense organs get attached to them, we experience happiness or sorrow.  By a careful analysis of this one will be able to remain equipoise in all situations.

The Yogacharya Bhagavan Shri Krishna in Bhagavad Geeta says this:

matra-sparshas tu kaunteya shitoshna-sukha-duhkha-dah
agamapayino ’nityas tans-titikshasva bharata || 2.14 ||

 O son of Kunti, the contact between the senses and the sense objects gives rise to fleeting perceptions of happiness and distress. These are non-permanent, and come and go like the winter and summer seasons. O descendent of Bharat, one must learn to tolerate them without being disturbed.

One will easily be able to disengage the mind from the sense organs when one develops taste for higher things in life.

vishaya vinivartante niraharasya dehinah
rasa-varjam raso ’pyasya param drishtva nivartate || 2.59 ||

Aspirants may restrain the senses from their objects of enjoyment, but the taste for the sense objects remains. However, even this taste ceases for those who realises the Supreme.

As mentioned in sutras 1.30-1.31 twelve obstacles come in our way to prevent us from progressing in our inner journey. This can be prevented by having an ultimate goal in life, and firm faith in one’s sadhana. A seeker – sadhak needs inner stamina and without that, he or she cannot succeed in sadhana. The seeker gets the inner stamina only through the blessings of a Guru. Gu means darkness and Ru means light. In our inner journey, we are lone travelers and we come across many obstacles in the path such as sickness, depression, doubts, confusion, laziness, imagination, wrong information, arrogance, etc. 

These obstacles are called darkness and to overcome these we need light. A Guru is a light. A Guru shows the way to the light. A Guru illumines the way to the inner light. A Guru gives focus to our life.

The simultaneous experience along with the distractions are the pain, mental agitation, tremor of limbs and irregular breathing. ||1.31 ||

The nine obstacles to sadhana as mentioned in the previous sutra – distractions of the mind caused by the disease, dullness, doubt, negligence, sloth, over-indulgence, imaginary ideation, inability to reach the milestone and instability lead to four afflictions in the physical, mental and breath levels. 

On the physical level, they trouble us with restless limbs, and one will not be at ease on the physical level.  In the breath level, these impediments lead to erratic breathing which affects one physically and mentally.  On the mental level, they bring in sorrow, anxiety, depression and other mental health issues.

Patanjali urges us to address the nine obstacles to sadhana so that we can be at ease in the physical, breath and mental levels.

1. Samadhi Pada (Yoga and its aims.)
2. Sadhana Pada (How to practice yoga?)
3. Vibhuti Pada (Sidhis that can be achieved by practicing Yoga.)
4. Kaivalya Pada (How to attain liberation?)

We will see each Sutra under a unique light in forthcoming articles.

1. Sutra #1:  अथ योगानुशासनम् (Atha yogānuśāsanam)
2. Sutra #2: योगश्चित्तवृत्तिनिरोधः (Yogaścittavṛttinirodhaḥ)