SADHANA PAD SUTRA - 23

               SWASWAMI  SHAKTYOH  SWARUPA  UPLBDHI HETUH  SANYOGAH

THE  UNION  OR THE CONTACT BETWEEN  'SEER ' AND THE 'SSEN' IS  ESSENTIAL FOR

                                        THE POWER  (OF  EACH OF THEM)

     This Sutra is little difficult one . We have learned in previous Sutras that there is contact between the SEER and the SEEN . This leads to the the attachment and the pleasure and further attachment . But It also leads to the understanding of the Nature of the NATURE and the understanding of the SELF. To understand the SELF, it must use the NATURE or what comes out of NATURE, namely mind , intellect and CHITTA. For SELF or PURUSHA to realise the real nature it needs the help and union with products of nature.
     Why do we have the attachment that develops between the SELF and the NATURE. It does not appear that the attachment that occurs with repeated unions does not lead to detachment . But it is true that the we have to go through many lives before we realise the problem. But that is how it is . It could be said that we have atomic energy and the atom bomb coming out of same atom and same science. Or may be we can use knife to kill or for surgery to cure a cancer. So it is up to us (SELF) to use nature to uplift rather than get addicted to the pleasure that comes from the union.
      But there is more to this Sutra than this . Neither the PURUSHA (SPIRIT) nor the PRAKRUTI (NATURE) has ability or strength to do anything. So each alone is powerless. But with the union of the two the ENTIRE UNIVERSE is born. So the power is there but unable to come out without the contact between the two. This could be compared to the combination of Blind and the Paraplegic . The Blind can not see, so can not do much or go places as he can't see. And the paraplegic can't go places as he can't walk. But if they get together, they can go places and do things . I know this is a crude example, but it will help to understand. Other example one can give would be two chemicals which alone are not toxic or irritant but when they come together, the resultant is toxic or irritant .
     This is why I said in the beginning that this is somewhat difficult one .
   

SADHANA PAD SUTRA -22

  KRUTARTHAM  PRATI  NASHTAM  APYANASHTAM  TAD ANYA  SADHARANATWAT

  FOR THOSE WHO HAVE ACHIEVED LIBERATION,THE NATURE IS NONEXISTENT, FOR

 OTHERS (THOSE WHO HAVE NOT ACHIEVED LIBERATION)IT IS STILL APPARENT AND

 SO STILL THERE

      In this Sutra we are given a fact that the as much as the scriptures state that the 'world ' is not 'real', the in the regular ordinary sense the world is as REAL as anything that we perceive . When we are told that the Nature is not real and the spirit is REAL , it means that the Nature always changes and the SPIRIT never change . So the gold ring or gold earrings or gold neck less , all LOOK different , they are all finally GOLD . The second example would be the burning of the wood. The wood disappears when burnt and the charcoal would appear if the wood if half way burnt. and then it will turn in to ashes . This is nature . CHANGE means it is not real. So nature is there . But when one is liberated, he realises that the Nature is 'changing ' and not permanent. So he does not get entangled or attracted or addicted to changing Nature. So he is FREE. But for those who are not liberated , the nature still EXISTS and appears REAL and is still ATTRACTIVE and he still indulges in to it and Desires it and is not free from it .
     This is exactly what is stated in this sutra. Let me try an another  example . I am vegetarian and so are my kids . So when they attend a party or wedding , my question to them after attending such an event is 'was there anything to eat " The answer is 'NOT MUCH ' . If you ask the same question to a attendee who does eat meat, he would not agree with the answer. So for him there is plenty of food . For vegetarian there is not much food . The same way one who realises the nature being elusive and changing, it does not exist. But for others it is as true as every thing that we see, touch , feel etc. 

SADHANA PAD SUTRA - 21

                                            TADARTH  EVA  DRUSHYASYA  ATM

                         THE  NATURE  OF THE 'SEEN' IS FOR THAT  (SEER)  ONLY

       So in this Sutra we are told that the nature or the appearance or the qualities that on e perceives are for the SEER or the soul Or the SPIRIT or the PURUSHA. As we have seen  at the origin of the universe, the Spirit is the energy and the Nature or the Prakruti is inert. But the Spirit has no desires or qualities . So each can not create the universe independently. But when the two get together , then the reaction creates the universe. In an indirect way the spirit 'CREATS' the world for it's enjoyment and also for the release. The REAL GOD is the parent or the Father of of the SPIRIT AND THE NATURE. (The FATHER , The SON and the Holly Ghost of the Christianity)So our Ultimate Goal is to get the Spirit liberated and get one with the FATHER. So this can be compared to we creating a dish or food for our own pleasure. But ultimately the same senses , mind and intellect,--all that comes from the Nature will lead to liberation.
      So this sutra is repetition of the old one and is telling us that the creation is not truly by SPIRIT or by Nature or may be not by them together but by the GOD WHO IS THE FATHER OF ALL THE CREATION THROUGH THE SPIRIT AND THE NATURE.

SADHANA PAD SUTRA -20

          DRASHTA  DRASHI  MAATRAH  SHUDHTOR - API PRATYAYA  ANUPASHYAH


The s seer is pure  (not affected by external influences ) but  it followes  the chitta due to ignorance

      In the last Sutra we a were told as to the origin of the Universe or the Progression that occurs in the Nature or PRAKRUTI. So now we are told that the SEER is not part of NATURE or the PRAKRUTI. The SELF or the SPIRIT or the PURUSHA (or it's reflection of the PURUSHA) has no Qualities or Gunas . The Gunas are part of the Nature . But the Nature is INERT or has no LIFE . The Nature can not act alone as it does not have the ENERGY or the SPIRIT. But the PURUSHA or the SPIRIT has no Desire or qualities , so even though it has the ENERGY , it would not DO anything. But the two together they CREATE the universe. This can be compared as the automobile and the gas in it . The automobile has radio and CD player and AIR CONDITIONER . But it can not do anything if it has no Gas  or petrol (or now a days battery for electric car). The gas does not have ability for radio or CD player , but the two together can do the things . Same could be said about the computer and the battery in it .
     The spirit is the SELF or the SEER , which is the cause for the human body to breath and walk and talk and feel sorrow or pleasure. But the SEER itself does not FEEL the pleasure or sorrow. But due to ignorance it feels that it is the PHYSICAL BODY and so Feels everything that the body feels . It could be compared to the caged parrot ,When it is released from the cage , it still comes back there as it feels that is it's real home .
     One time sage Narada was visiting Lord Vishnu. So when the subject of this attachment came , the Lord Vishnu asked Narada , 'how is it that thee SELF which is spirit and knowledge it self, gets fooled?' The sage Narada asked him to try himself. So the Lord Vishnu became a female pig sow. He had told the sage Narada that Narada should call him by name if He does not come out in certain time.The Lord in the form of sow had piglets .The Lord was so much in love and engrossed in the life of mother PIG that even when the sage Narada called he could not here or may be did not want to leave and END the life .So finally the Narada put a knife in the belly of the sow and the Lord Vishnu came out . Then he stated that 'now I realised how much hard it is for the ordinary human being.

  

SADHANA PAD SUTRA-19

           VISHESHA  AVISHESHA  LINGAMATRA  ALINGANI  GUNAPARVANI

(THREE)  GUNAS  HAVE FOUR STAGES  NAMELY VISHESH ,AVISHESHA, LINGA  AND

                                                                     ALINGA
          (CAN  NOT  TRANSLATE  THESE 4  STAGES IN  ENGLISH IN  ONE  WORD)

      In this Sutra we are told how the three Gunas have different stages. One has to know the origin of the universe. In HINDU philosophy, the universe goes through the cycles of creation and the dissolution. This does not occur for many ,many , many years. There are calculation for the life of the universe, and I would not go in to it in this Sutra. But the concept is that at the END of the cycle, there is dissolution of EVERYTHING in to singularity.This includes all the JIVA or the souls and the mind , intellect and all the elements and the 3 GUNAS or the 3 qualities . So the forces of the 3 qualities, namely Satwic , Rajasic and Tamasic are in balance . So there is no activity or any movement. So we are told how from this stage of the dissolved Universe an another Universe starts or comes alive .
     So the Singularity has no movement or any activity as all 3 Gunas -the PURE or knowledge , The activating and the laziness - are in complete balance. This is the ALINGA state. There is no specific characteristic to this state. So that is why it is called ALINGA OR WITHOUT ANY MARKINGS. But then there is a' DIETUBANCE' or imbalance in the 3 Gunas. This is called 'GUNAKSHOBHINI' which leads to the MAHATATWA The disturbance and the first step in the beginning of the Universe, is denoted by the MAHATATWA. So that is the SIGN or Mark of this state. So it is called LINGA STATUS. At the time of PRALAY or dissolution of the previous universe, all the previous egos and souls and everything else is dissolved in the singularity. So from the Mahatatwa, the ASMITA or 'I AM ' arises. This was dissolved at the end of previous cycle. This ASMITA  at macrocosm, is called AHANKAR OR EGO . The reflection of the CHAITANYA or the SPIRIT is called the JIVA..Now the 3 Gunas start acting up . From the TAMASIC quality precursor of the SOUND, TOUCH , APPEARANCE, TASTE and the SMELL are formed . These are called TANMATRA .These are 5  and the ASMITA in all 6 ,is a status that is called AWISHESH.
     As was mentioned in the past the three Gunas are always together So the other two Gunas also get activated and the RAJASIC guna when combines with 5 TANMATRA  causes the origin of 5 organs of ACTION,namely the Hands , Legs , Speech . procreation and Excretion. When the SATWIC Guna combines with the 5TANMATRA , it causes the 5 SENSES,namely the Skin(touch) , Eyes, Ears(Hearing), Tongue(Taste) and the Nose(Smell). Tamasic Guna also causes the origin of 5 Elements namely EARTH,WATER, ENERGY OR FIRE , WIND AND THE SPACE. The SATWIC guna also causes the CHITTA or the mind -stuff. This stage is called VISHESH STATE .(It has 16 total -5 each of senses , organs of action and elements and the CHITTA )
      So this is the origin of the universe as is stated in Hindu concept. The reason we are told about it as when we are trying to meditate , we need to trace backward, So we need to know the sequence of events . It is difficult as we have not experienced it . 

SADHANA PAD SUTRA- 18

         PRAKASH  KRIYA  STHITI  SHILAM  BHUTA  INDRIYA  ATMAKAM  BHOGA

                                            APAWARGA  ARTHAM  DRUSHAM

(WHATEVER IS) SEEN  HAS THE QUALITIES  OR NATURE   OF LIGHT, ACTIVITY  AND

 INERTIA AND CONSISTS  OF ELEMENTS AND SENSES,(THIS IS THE NATURE OF THE

 SEEN) AND CAUSES THE ENJOYMENT AND (HELPS) IN LIBERATION OF THE SOUL

                                                                      (JIVA)

       This Sutra is interesting as it tells the secret of achieving the liberation . We are often told that the enjoyment is not good as it will hinder in achieving the liberation . But we are told in this Sutra that as much as we get pleasure from the things that are seen in this world, they also help us in liberation.
        So whatever we experience , through our senses, comes from the nature or the prakruti. And the Prakruti or the nature has 3 Gunas or 3 qualities, namely SATWIC , RAJASIC AND THE TAMASIC. The satwik quality is refereed here as one with Light. Light is the only thing in nature that is constant and permanent. So the speed of Light is not relative, but constant. If you see a picture of  GOD or a saint , they will show hallow around the head . This is representation of the predominance of SATWIC Guna. The RAJASIC  Guna causes the activity in us or anywhere in the nature. Remember all the actions are due to RAJASIC Guna , but action could be satwic or rajasic or Tamasic . (which means the effect of the action could be either one of the 3 Gunas ). The things in nature could be Tamasic or one which creates inertia or laziness . The alcohol or drug addiction or certain food can do this . So the things in nature has 3 qualities.It is said that our body has 5 elements of Earth . Water, Energy, Air and the Space or Ether or AKASH. These are 4 great elements and when thy combine with 3 Gunas , they create the human body The Satwic quality creates 5 senses with the combination of 5 Elements. The Rajasic quality when combines with the Rajasic Guna , creates 5 organs of action namely hand , legs , speech , procreation and excretion.
     So now we can see that everything in nature is for 'our' enjoyment. In past we are also told that when the senses come in contact with it's substrate , there is pleasure or sorrow and that creates attachment and desire and further actions. So how can it help us in our goal of Liberation? To answer this dilemma one must understand that the SOUL is without any Gunas or qualities and is independent observer. It can not 'DO' anything without association with the nature. So for the soul to get detached , it has to get help from the senses and the organs of actions . If we have great carpenter, who can create great furniture or carving, but he can't do much without the tools of his craft. So the Soul is like the expert carpenter, who is pure and all knowing , but without the tools of the 'body' he can't do anything. This is what this Sutra is stating.
     Everything in nature has 3 qualities and 5 elements and senses and organs of action and they help us in having pleasure and help us in liberation. 

SADHANA PAD SUTRA-17

                          DRUSTRI  DRUSTRAYOH  SANYOGA  HEYA  HETU

THE  CONTACT BETWEEN  THE SEER AND SEEN IS THE CAUSE  OF  THE PAIN (AND

                                                 SHOULD BE ABANDONED)
     In the last Sutra we were told that the the sorrows that have not yet occur and will occur in can be avoided.So it was discussed that the future pain and problems that can occur are related to our actions.So in this Sutra we are told that the contact between SEER and the SEEN causes the pain . We did see that the senses when come in contact , causes the experience which either causes pleasure or displeasure and that leads to the future desire. So in this  sutra we are told the whatever is SEEN is different from that what SEES or PERCEIVES. The SEER is Independent of SEEN . The spirit is the SEER, which is the PURUSH or the Spirit and the SEEN is the nature or the PRAKRUTI. The Purush has no GUNAS or qualities and it SEES through the CHITTA or the MIND STUFF. So when the two get together , the impression , desires and actions which again leads to impression and this continues as a circle . But this leads to the PAIN . Though the PURUSHA or the SPIRIT is independent and is not directly involved in these experiences, it does it through the CHITTA and then it is mistaken as the SOUL or the SPIRIT or JAVA. So if one can avoid this contact or gets detaches from the experience of the pleasure, we can avoid the further effects of arising desire which leads to future actions . This breaks the circle.
      In past I have heard that some of the swamis or SEEKERS , do not take 'seconds' when they are eating meals . Some will mix everything that is in the plate and then eat it , so as to avoid attachment to one particular food item. If they eat it separately, they may like one food item and if they do not like one they will have DESIRE to avoid it . So this is in earlier stage of the development of Independence of the feeling .