Patanjali Yoga Sutra 2.24 (Parisamvad)

Patanjali Yoga Sutra Transcribed from Parisamvad at The Yoga Institute.

Chapter 2, Sutra 24

 

Tasya Hetuh Avidya

Tasya: of that
Hetuh: the cause, reason
Avidya: ignorance

Ignorance Is The Cause Of This Injunction

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Dr. Jayadeva Yogendra:

“The cause if suffering is Avidhya – Ignorance. We are ignorant. We don’t know and as a result we make mistakes. That is the cause. So as a correction, we should be knowing that. But we don’t do that. We take it that we’re clever and we go on. A wise person understands and then says, “Correct, I’m unable to understand and he has accepted. This is a point worth remembering. When we see any ordinary conversation, you will keep on bothering and go on making mistakes. That is a point worth considering.

This is a point that is very important because all problems in life are a result of this. Do consider.”

Smt. Hansaji J Yogendra:

“The earlier sutra says that the two strong entities, Purusha Shakti and Prakriti Shakti are mixed up. Why are they mixed up? Purusha, pure consciousness, is absolutely unconcerned, it is already with all the knowledge. And Prakriti is matter and all those continuously changeful properties of matter. The two are absolutely different. Now both have mixed up in their identity. Why have they mixed up? Because of ignorance. The knowledge of “Who Am I?” is missing.

So now Purusha is continuous observing Prakriti is keeping on changing because of which there is happiness and unhappiness and chaos and Purusha is definitely getting affected. When you are with something all the time, its effect is going to be there on you, howsoever wise you may be. All the wisdom is on one side. How you are living your life is on the other side. The company you are with, matters.

So these two, Purusha and Prakriti as a company have united due to ignorance which has caused the whole problem. Now this one mistake of identifying with something which is not you, to overcome that mistake, how much effort is now required, to see that the person is not Prakriti. The person has to acquire knowledge and for that knowledge the person has to do so many things – the entire path of yoga – and then the freedom comes.

So we have to be very clear that ignorance prevails in us. We can never say that we are wise. We should know that we are full of ignorance. And to remove it, we have to understand that there is something within which is not ignorant, that is pure consciousness. But to reach that state, we have to work hard on ourselves.

So today’s sutra says that because of ignorance, both are united. That is the main point. “

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