Yoga Sutras of Patanjali translated by Yogi Kalinath - Chapter 3, Verse 3

Pada 3, Sutra 3

Sanskrit Verse

Tad evaartha-maatra-nirbhaasam svaroopa-shoonyam iva samaadhih

Translation

When consciousness shines forth as the object only, as if empty of its own essence, that is cognitive absorption or Samadhi.

Interpretation

Rishi Patanjali here masterfully describes the state of direct perception where the mind is absorbed and becomes identified with the object of perception. That absorption into the object which totally identifies itself as the object devoid of any other impression is cognitive absorption or Samadhi.

It truly takes a genius to succinctly convey this state in words. As it is often said: it takes a genius to simplify the complex and an idiot to complicate the simple.

Reflection

The Sages implore us to live a life of ‘simple living and high thinking’. A complicated life especially when we have largely contributed to make it so can of itself present an impediment to quietening the whirlpools of the mind. Mind is energy, so ask yourself where is most of your energy spent in your awareness or lack thereof. The more you identify as the doer, the more mind energy is spent in emotionally identifying with the doer (which in turn further anchors the ego into the frailty of personality identification). Instead become the observer of the doer becoming totally absorbed in what needs to be done (the true meaning of being in the zone where time and space appears to collapse because you have momentarily disappeared and are flowing with the object or activity at hand).