YOGA SUTRA 1.7 Right knowledge
Ptatyaksa-Anuman-Agamah-Pramanani
Perception, Inference and Testimony Constitute the Pramanas.
Pratyaksa : direct perception
Anuman : inference
Agamah : testimony ; authority
Pramanani : valid means of knowing.
Dr Jayadeva Yogendra explains -This sutra deals with right knowledge – Pramana. Right or correct knowledge is necessary for our life. The problem is that we don’t have such knowledge. We are full of kleshas and wrong knowledge. Thereby mistakes and pain in life. The solution lies in our perception. We should pay attention to the momentariness of things. It is a fact things are continuously changing. Knowing things as momentary and yet we still hang on to them. It happens to anything and everything in life – whether it is money or individuals. We know that they are going to go, that they are momentary, but we don’t deal with it that way. Wrong assumption we make that everything will remain permanent. We are so attached and thus we are unhappy. Still, that does not lead to the attitude of disinterest.
Vairagya is very much required. Develop a sense of detachment and objectivity. A qualified surgeon of a big organisation came to learn in the seven months teachers’ training course. He was a very nice person, healthy, tall, and well-built. As Jalaneti process was being taught, he stood there watching it. He was apprehensive that when his turn will come, the water will enter the nose and he had a fear that the water will enter the brain. He fell and fainted just at the thought of it. We revived him. We asked him, what happened? He said, “I will never do Jalaneti, the wa ter will go in the brain, and the brain will get damaged.” He had his set perception and ideas. Our perceptions and our imagination play havoc. The facts are not understood.
The fact is that as a qualified surgeon, he knows what he has to do. But, no, this ‘Pratyaksa,’ what we see, is misconstrued and the result is Anuman – logic/inference. That also is wrong. All this becomes the Pramana – truth.
We have all kinds of relationships, all sorts of people around, but we are not clear. We want that the individual who lives with us remains with us. He is born to me and will continue to be with me eternally. We don’t say so. Otherwise, everyone will laugh at us, but deep within us, we have that feeling. The statement is that this fallacy is the cause of all suffering.
Smt. Hansaji explains ‘Pratyaksa’ is what we have experienced through our senses. Is that taking you to a better state, Aklista state or Klista state? Is your attachment increasing or ego swelling? Then despite ‘Pratyaksa,’ it has to be removed. Consciously raise Aklista tendencies. Buddha on seeing a dead body, a sick person, did not get attached to the worldly sorrows. He wanted to understand sorrow and life. If we are getting entangled in the world, then don’t believe in the Pratyaksa. Develop Aklista tendencies. Anuman is inference. There are too many clouds so that it will rain. You can take it negatively (there will be flood) or positively (the weather will become pleasant). Agama is what the scriptures are telling, what wise people are telling you. These things should be accepted, and we should follow them. We don’t have to doubt them. One shouldn’t have the ego of knowing the scriptures.
Yoga Sutra 1.7 essentially shows us the important difference of right and wrong knowledge. Imbibing Vairagya will help to cultivate aklista state of mind to avoid suffering and sorrows in life. Sage Patanjali has simplified how to reduce suffering in daily life following this Sutra 1.7