Yogasūtra II.27 - tasya saptadhā prānta-bhūmiḥ prajñā

There are seven stages to this supreme level of clarity.

Patañjali warns us that attaining this limitless discrimination is a gradual process, and cannot be achieved in a hurry. It is one of the reasons why, in the first chapter, when describing the qualities of practice, he said it should be long-term.

The seven stages of clarity are presented below, following the commentary on the Yogasūtra by Vyāsa in his Vyāsabhāṣya.

1. parijñātaṁ heyaṁ nāsya punaḥ parijñeyamasti - The suffering has been fully understood; nothing more of it is left to be known. This means fully acknowledging and accepting the suffering we experience. This can be related to Yogasütra II.16.

2. kṣīṇā heyahetavo na punareteṣāṁ kṣetavyamasti - The causes of suffering have been reduced to their dormant state, and there is nothing more of them that can be further reduced. This can be related to Yogasütra II.24.

3. sākṣātkṛtaṁ nirodhasamādhinā hānam - Through spiritual absorption (Samädhi), the goal of liberation has been seen. This can be related to Yogasütra II.25.

4. bhāvito vivekakhyātirūpo hānopāya iti - The means to reach the goal has been developed. This can be related to Yogasütra II.26.

5. caritādhikārā buddhiḥ - The intellect has fulfilled its duties.

6. guṇāśikharakūṭacyutā iva grāväṇo nirasthānāḥ svakāraṇe pralayābhimukhā sa tenāstam gacchanti | na caiṣāṁ pravilīnānāṁ punarastyutpādaḥ prayojanābhāvāditi - The Guṇa-s, just like stones detached from the edge of a mountain peak, having no support and being ready to enter into their own source, withdraw from the mind and the senses. This means the Guṇa-s have fulfilled their purpose.

7. etasyāmavasthāyāṁ guṇasaṁbandhātītaḥ svarāpamātra- jyotiramalaḥ kevalī puruṣa iti - In such a state, the Puruṣa transcends its relationship to the Guṇa-s and establishes itself in its own light, pure and absolute.

Excerpt from Truth Unclouded by TKV Desikachar & Dr Kausthub Desikachar

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