Yoga s

186 YOGA SŪTRAS
The distinction caused by subtle discrimination
is the crossing over or transcending
of all subtle and gross mundane objects
in all ways they are presented,
without the yogi taking recourse
to any other sequential perceptions of mind reliance.
Commentary:
Śrī Patañjali highlights the culmination of yoga, so that as a yogi we can gage
ourselves to know where we are on the course of crossing over the mundane
reality which keeps us so occupied when we try to transcend it.
Verse 56
sÅvpué;yae> zuiÏsaMye kEvLyimit
sattva puruṣayoḥ śuddhi sāmye kaivalyam iti
sattva – intelligence energy of material nature; puruṣayoḥ – of the spirit;
śuddhi – purity; sāmye – on being equal; kaivalyam – total separation from the
mundane psychology; iti – thus.
When there is equal purity between the intelligence energy
of material nature and the spirit,
then there is total separation
from the mundane psychology.
Commentary:
Readers should check verses 2:25 and 3:36 to understand Śrī Patañjali’s use of
the terms sattva, puruṣayoḥ and kaivalyam. Obviously the key term in this
verse is sattva. What is sattva? It is clear however that for the aspiring yogi, he
must use sattva to become self-realized. This being established, all questions as
to why he is to depend on nature are irrelevant. It is not why he has to depend,
but rather how he can protect himself or cause himself to be situated in
alliance with the material nature in its primal purity (śuddhi-sāmye). What will
happen to him thereafter? Is there something higher? Where will he go after
that? What will be his status? Is there a world to which he will escape if he
attains that? Will that world have the same purified sattva-energy (intelligence
energy of material nature)? Is there any place or world where he could
encounter only energy like his spirit (purusah).
These are the questions to be considered by the yogin.