Yogasūtra II.19 - viśeṣa-aviśeṣa-liiṅga-mātra-aliṅgāni guṇa-parvāṇi

Does the seen exist only in one form?

The [seen takes various forms owing to the] different levels of the Guṇa-s - specific, non-specific, potent and non-potent.

Patañjali continues to show how Sāṁkhya philosophy is so essential to understand Yoga philosophy. In Sāṁkhya, Prakṛti is described as taking the form of twenty-four Tattva-s (realities), based on the state of mutation, which is in turn dependent on the Guṇa-s. These twenty-four Tattva-s are categorised under four levels of mutation. They are presented below:

1. Aliṅga (non-potent): The most subtle state of matter is its impotent state. This is when it exists as Mūla-prakṛti, original nature. Matter has not yet mutated and this is why sometimes it is called Avyakta (unmanifest). In this state, it does not yet have a relationship with Puruṣa, the Seer.

2. Liṅga (potent): The second state is called the potent state, when it has mutated, because of its connection to the Seer, into Mahat (the great one) or Buddhi (the intelligent one). Because it has mutated, this state is called Vyakta (manifest).

3. Aviśeṣa (non-specific): Based on the awareness gained from Puruña, matter mutates further and forms the Ahaṁkāra (ego) and Tanmātra-s (fundamental matter), which are together called Aviśeṣa (non-specific). They are called this because they have not yet completed their evolution.

4. Viśeṣa (specific): Finally, when the mutations have completed and they are in their final form and function, they are called Viśeṣa, the specific.

The Seer has a relationship with the seen, not just in the final stage of evolution, but also before that. However, we don’t remember those earlier stages of mutation. This often causes suffering, as many patterns and identities are established in these earlier stages and so often remain in our subconscious for a long time.

Excerpt from Truth Unclouded by TKV Desikachar & Dr Kausthub Desikachar

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