Yoga Sutras of Patanjali translated by Yogi Kalinath - Chapter 1, Verse 17

Pada 1, Sutra 17

Sanskrit Verse

Vitarka-vicaranandasmita-rupanugamat samprajnatah

Translation

Discerned cognitive absorption (or Samaprajnata Samadhi) is accompanied by observation, reflection, feeling of bliss and sense of ‘I am’.

Interpretation

Cognitive or enstatic absorption arises when we cease to identify with the fluctuations/whirlpools of the mind-stuff. Notice that the term employed here is ‘enstatic’ versus ecstatic implying a purely internal process. The level of Samadhi mentioned here is qualified as discerned referring to an object-subject paradigm.

When the subject (Yogi) becomes absorbed in an object of awareness after the mind has arrested all its modifications with consciousness experiencing four distinctions as accompaniment then it is termed cognitive enstatic absorption. These four distinctions in consciousness are:

Observation—when the mind is focused on an object in nature

Reflection— when the mind is focused on an abstraction

Feeling of bliss—when the mind is focused upon the experience of bliss itself, beyond all abstractions and independent of outer circumstances

Sense of ‘I am’- when the mind is in a state of pure subjectivity (as a separate entity distinct from all objects, circumstances and abstractions)