The Yoga of Patanjali

3. Representative measure :Lesson - 2 39The third one is the measure by a vehicle which the Yogiscall the vehicle of Authority. In the absence of the first twomeasures the third one serves the purpose only when we knowthat it exists and only when we come to know of its validity. Atthe dining table you say “Sugar”. Then Ruth says, “There is nosugar”. Then you will know something about the sugar. Herethere is no direct perception, there is no inference. But you seethat there is a direct transaction about sugar. You know youwant sugar at first, then, by her word, you know that you cannotget sugar today. All this you know in the total absence of sugar.The whole thing is conducted by the power of word and it iscalled the ‘vehicle of authority’. Here you use sound and wordas measure. This you do, to know things physical, mental andspiritual. This you know through space. You can know thingsthat exist elsewhere. You can know things that exist in the past,present and future. I ask Ruth “Is there coffee?”. She says“There is no coffee.” We talked of coffee when there is nocoffee at all. How could we talk of it and decide?. It is by thepower of the word.In olden days there was a Guru training his disciples inYoga. One student could not understand this third applicationof measure. The Guru tried to make him understand for threedays. There was no use. Then he applied the practical method.The Guru went to the river bank with his disciples and askedthat particular boy to go home, search for the Guru’s vesseland bring it. The boy went home, searched for it, returned andsaid : “Sir, the vessel is not there”. “Have you searched?” theGuru asked. “Yes” the disciple said. “What for you havesearched?” The Guru questioned. “For the vessel, Sir” the discipleanswered.