Samadhi Pada • sutra 1.16
| तत्परं पुरुष-ख्यातेः गुण-वैतृष्ण्यम् ॥१.१६॥ tatparaṁ puruṣa-khyāteḥ guṇa-vaitr̥ṣṇyam ॥1.16॥ |
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| The supreme state (of vairāgya) arises from the awareness of the Self (puruṣa), a state of freedom from the guṇa. |
| Commentary After explaining what vairāgya is in the previous sutra, Patañjali now describes non-attachment in its highest form (paraṁ vairāgya). A cornerstone of the yogic path, it arises not only from relinquishing external desires but from a deep awareness of one’s true nature (puruṣa), distinct from the fluctuations of the mind and the influences of the guṇa (sattva, rajas, and tamas). The term puruṣa-khyāteḥ emphasizes that this is not an intellectual knowledge but an inner vision that arises from the constant practice of discrimination (viveka) between what is mutable (prakṛti) and what is the unchanging principle of consciousness (puruṣa). When this understanding matures, attraction and aversion toward the world dissolve, giving way to a profound freedom. It is an invitation to reflection: what still binds us to the desires and fears that stem from our identification with the mind and body? The Guṇas and Their Role The guṇas are the fundamental qualities or energies that characterize nature (prakṛti) and, consequently, influence our mind, emotions, and behavior. Specifically: Sattva represents clarity, harmony, and stability, fostering a state of calm and understanding. Rajas is the energy of movement, activity, ambition, and desire, driving action and change. Tamas embodies inertia, darkness, and resistance to change, manifesting as confusion or apathy. These three qualities, always present in varying degrees, constantly interact to shape our internal and external experience. The practitioner who attains the highest level of detachment does not identify with any of them—not even with sattva, since even mental clarity falls within the transient dynamics of prakṛti. Such detachment does not imply a rejection of life but rather a transcendence that allows one to live with full awareness, free from the influence of these ever-changing energies. Here, Patanjali points to a deeper direction: the path of yoga is not merely about calming the mind or refining the body—it aspires to something infinitely greater. The vision of puruṣa leads to enlightenment, understood as liberation from the cycles of birth and death (saṁsāra), highlighting the radical transformation that yoga promises.  Daily Mindfulness BitesToday, observe how your emotions and moods shift throughout the day. Do you feel light and serene, or weighed down by worries and desires? Notice how these states are influenced by both external and internal factors: energy (rajas), inertia (tamas), or clarity (sattva). Presence Exercise: When you recognize an emotion or reaction, pause for a moment. Ask yourself: “Who is observing all of this?” Behind every fluctuation, there is a stable and unchanging awareness. Direct your attention to that inner witness, the Self (puruṣa) which remains free from all conditions. Reflection: How often do you identify with your emotions and thoughts? What if you began to recognize them as mere movements of the mind, without being carried away? The more you cultivate this perspective, the more you experience true freedom, beyond the influence of the guṇa. When we recognize the puruṣa, the objects of the world and their effects on us lose their grip. This does not mean rejecting life’s experiences but living them with equanimity, without tying our sense of identity to what we perceive. This state of freedom is not achieved through effort but arises spontaneously from deep awareness. What changes when you approach the day with this perspective? Notice if there is a new lightness in how you experience life, and how detachment becomes an opening rather than a denial. |
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