Patanjali's sutras 23-28

Patanjali's Sutras

Pearls of wisdom for the spiritual journey

   


sutras 23 - 28 are about Ishwara:

  • 23: by devotion to Ishwara, samadhi (enlightenment) can         be achieved
  • 24: Ishwara, God, is completely pure and free from any             afflictions
  • 25: within God, there is the seed of All
  • 26: the ancient knowledge is from God
  • 27: the sacred sound, Aum, came forth from God
  • 28: by repeating the sacred sound (in meditation), we               come to understand it's meaning

Who or what is Ishwara? Ishwara is God, the Supreme Being, within Creation. A somewhat awe inspiring aspect to ponder. Why is it mentioned here, in Patanjali's sutras? 

one of the main methods to enlightenment

Remembering that these sutras are about the spiritual journey and attainment of the fruits of this journey, it seems that devotion to something far more majestic than oneself, is one of the main methods that we can use. This does not belong just to yoga, but to all spiritual systems and forms the basis of all religions. Interestingly, it is also one of the main world wide recovery systems, Alcoholics Anonymous. Finding a source greater than oneself and surrendering to it, with AA and NA (Narcotics Anonymous) has brought solace, recovery and peace to millions. 

All of these point to a basic human need for devotion to something Divine. And the spiritual odyssey is no different.

an inner journey 

Even if we start the inner journey with no belief in Ishwara, if we sincerely keep on the Path, we will discover that there are many realms far greater than oneself. On the Inner Level, and with The Heavens. We find that each realm that we experience is more majestic than the previous. We come to realise that there is a Mighty Force of energy and consciousness behind everything, from the smallest particle through to the unknown universes. 

As our own inner angst dissolves into the ether through the practice of meditation, and our reserves of prana (life force) and spiritual energy, increase through spiritual practices, we come to live within a reality than is, indeed, far greater than oneself.

Whatever one desires to call it.

And this in itself, brings incredible inner peace and acceptance of Life's journey. We experience being part of a whole. We realise the Divinity within everything, and everyone. Truly, this is humbling. I know that there are horrible people within every spiritual system and for me, they have not had these same realisations. Therefore, for me, they would not be as highly evolved as they make out themselves to be.

But there are millions more, in many deep spiritual systems who do come to deep and meaningful aspects of The Divine, who will understand what I am writing. 

the great ones

Why do the Great Realised Ones, past and present, talk or write about The Supreme Being in whatever form? Why do they look beautifully happy and serene? It is because they are living in Divinity, in the consciousness and energy of Divinity. So it is knowing, and vibration. And that vibration is the Love vibration, which we could also call bliss, or samadhi.

but what about us?

A person does not just arrive suddenly in this state. It is a process whereby one's whole vibration slowly changes whilst Life keeps happening. Our own understandings undergo a metamorphis as we become clearer within our karmic situation. 

We will look further into this.




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