Maharishi Patanjali argues that mind cannot be looked upon as self-conscious or self-luminous in so far as it too can be made an object of consciousness. It is the mind that perceives the objects of the world and also the sense organs. General functioning of mind can be compared with that of a river. Just as a river comes into contact with the external objects through waves and ripples, mind also comes in contact with external objects through its modifications. In the way in which dirt and mud collected through contact through contact with external objects, in its turn, gives its color to the waves of the river, similarly, the impurities collected through contact with external objects give their color to the mental modifications. The mental modifications coloured with impurities blur the image of the self. Hence, for experience of self in its real form, mind should be made pure and clean by removing impurities.
In The Yoga Sutras, Maharishi Patanjali
(the codifier of the sutras) outlines nine Antarayas (obstacles) to regular
practice (sutra 1.30). These are basically ideas your mind comes up with to
avoid practice. These distractions and obstacles which hinder the aspirant’s
practice of Yoga are :
1. Vyadi
It will be noticed that the very
first obstacle is ill-health or sickness. To the yogi his body is the prime
instrument of attainment. If his vehicles breaks down, the traveler cannot go
far. If the body is broken by ill-health, the aspirant can achieve little.
Physical health is important for mental development, as normally the mind
functions through the nervous system. When the body is sick or the nervous
system is affected, the mind becomes restless or dull and inert and
concentration or meditation becomes impossible.
2. Styana
A person suffering from languor has
no goal, no Pashto follow and no enthusiasm. His mind and intellect become dull
due to inactivity and their faculties rust. Constant flow keeps a mountain
stream pure, but water in a ditch stagnates and nothing good can flourish in
it. A listless person is like a living corpse for he can concentrate on
nothing.
3. Samsaya
The unwise, the faithless and the
doubter destroy themselves. How can they enjoy this world or the next or have
any happiness? The seeker should have faith in himself and his master. He
should have faith that God is ever by his side and that no evil can touch him.
As faith springs up in the heart it dries out lust, ill-will, mental sloth,
spiritual pride and doubt, and the heart free from these hindrances becomes
serene and untroubled.
4. Pramada
A person suffering from Ramada is
full of self-importance, lacks any humility and believes that he alone is wise.
No doubt he knows what is right and wrong, but he persists in his indifference
to the right and chooses what is pleasant. To gratify his selfish passions and
dreams of personal glory, he will deliberately and without scruple sacrifice
everyone who stands in his way. Such a person is blind to God’s glory and deaf
to His words.
5. Alasya
To remove the obstacle of laziness,
unflagging enthusiasm is needed. The attitude of the aspirant is like that of a
lover ever yearning to meet the beloved but never giving way to despair. Hope
should be his shield and courage his sword. He should be free from sorrow and
hate.
6. Avirati
This is the tremendous craving for
sensory objects after they have been consciously abandoned, which is so hard to
retain. Without being attached to the objects of sense, the yogi learns to
enjoy them with the aid of the senses which are completely under his control.
7. Bhranti Darsana
A person afflicted by false knowledge
suffers from delusion and believes that he alone has seen the True Light. He
has a powerful intellect but lacks humility and makes a show of wisdom. By
remaining in company of great souls and through their guidance he sets his foot
firmly on the right path and overcomes his weakness.
8. Alabdha Bhumikatva
As a mountain climber fails to reach
the summit for lack of stamina, so also a person who cannot overcome the
inability to concentrate is unable to seek reality. He might have had glimpses
of reality but he cannot see clearly.
9. Anavasthitattva
A person affected with Anavasthitattva has by hard work come within sight of reality. Happy and proud
of his achievements he becomes slack in his practice. He has purity and great
power of concentration and has come to the final cross-roads of his quest. Even
at his last stage continuous endeavor is essential and he has to pursue the
path with infinite patience and determined perseverance and must never show
slackness which hampers progress on the path of God realization. He must wait
until divine grace descends upon him.
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