Pada 2, Sutra 20 Sanskrit Verse Drastaa drshi-maatrah shuddho ‘pi pratyayaanupashyah Translation The Seer is pure seeing. He witnesses the objects of perception. Interpretation The Seer has been variously denoted as Soul, the Witness Consciousness, Pure Unadulterated Consciousness, the Atman, the Self, One’s Original Face. It is the Subject of all subjects, the Essence of All Things. It is immutable, unperishable, immortal and eternal. The Seer is both simultaneously Tran

Pada 2, Sutra 19 Sanskrit Verse Vishesaavishesa-lingamaatraalingaani guna-parvaani Translation The phases of the primary constituent forces of Nature are the particularized, the unparticularised, the differentiate and the undifferentiated. Interpretation Here Rishi Patanjali analyzes the forces of Nature from the atomic (the unparticularized) to the visible (particularized), from the unmanifest (primary matter or Prakrti) to the primary manifestation. The cascading of the Un

Pada 2, Sutra 18 Sanskrit Verse Prakaasha-kriyaa-sthiti-sheelam bhootendriyaatmakam bhogaapavargaartham drshyam Translation The seen has the characteristics of brightness, activity and inertia. It is embodied in the elements and in the sense organs and exists for the dual purpose of enjoyment and emancipation. Interpretation The seen refers to Prakriti, Nature which is composed of Sattva (brightness), Rajas (activity) and Tamas (inertia), the three Gunas or qualities of mate

Pada 2, Sutra 17 Sanskrit Verse Drastr-drshyayoh sanyogo heya-hetuh Translation The correlation between the Seer (the True Self / Purusha) and the seen (Prakriti) is to be ended. Interpretation The True Self is the One Within that witnesses all things, the Witness Consciousness, the Atman, the Purusha, the Seer. Identifying the Seer with phenomenal existence is the source of suffering. As humans we suffer from a misidentification complex—disparate (and desperate) selves try

Pada 2, Sutra 16 Sanskrit Verse Heyam duhkham anaagatam Translation Pain yet to come can be avoided. Interpretation There are 3 types of Karma that give rise to pain: ‘Seeding Karma’ (Sabija Karma) where through our thoughts, words and deeds from previous lives we have seeded Karma for better (pleasurable) or worst (painful) in this life often reflected in our gene potential, ‘Collecting Karma’ (Agami Karma) generating Karma through our thoughts, words and deeds in this life

Pada 2, Sutra 15 Sanskrit Verse Parinaama-taapa-sanskaara-duhkhair guna-vrtti-virodhaac ca duhkham eva sarvam vivekinah Translation The discerner (wise person) knows that due to the Sanskaras (subliminal activators), and on account of mind fluctuations (Vrittis) sparked by the material modes of Nature (the Gunas), all is suffering. Interpretation The nature of life is change. Everything is impermanent. Even conditions leading to happiness will not last and this include suff