Yoga Sutras of Patanjali translated by Yogi Kalinath Aghori - Chapter 4, verse 17

Pada 4, Sutra 17

Sanskrit Verse

Tad-uparaagaapeksitvaac cittasya vastu jnaataajnaatam

Translation

An object is known or unknown dependent on the conditionality of the consciousness.

Interpretation

The mind can only know an object when it is aware of it otherwise it remains unknown.

The object becomes colored according to the conditionality of the consciousness that perceives it.

An object can only be known as it truly is when the mind that perceives it drops all conditionality and expectation.

Reflection

More often than not we see the world as we are and not as it truly is.