What is vibhuti pada in Patanjali Yoga Sutra Chapter 3?
1- First, the ability to narrow the area of brain activity is dharana (flow).
2- Next, keeping the narrow activity in monotonous tone is dhyana (meditation).
3- Finally, when word goes beyond meaning and merges into nothing, that is samadhi (Liberation).
4- These 3 together are called samyama or binding (the technical term for the above 3 fold process of dhyana + dharana + samadhi).
5- Mastery gives one luminescent awareness.
6- But, this should be practiced in stages.
7- These three are more internal as compared with the previous limbs.
8- However, these are still external to the seedless state (nirbeeja samadhi).
9- When negative inclination of mental activity is prevented by keeping it on the right course and cleansing it regularly, control is the outcome
10- Then, serenity flows into the impressions created by mental activity.
11- As a result of single point focus, rising-depleting mental activity merge.
What happens in vibhuti pada?
12- Serenity (confidence in ability) increases with the experience of reinforcement of single pointed focus.
13- In this state, the senses metamorphose and these are reflected in the changed attributes of one’s dharma (conditioning).
14- Consequently, the serenity which arises has no direction and depends on the maturity of conditioning in the practitioner.
15- The sequence with which change occurs is dependent on individual distinctiveness.
16- Altogether, the change induced by samyama (dhyana + dharana + samadhi) gives one insight into the past and future.
17- Meaning of the word, its reflection, context and differentiation, samyama gives one insight into all forms of communication.
18- With training in the practice, previous lineage comes in direct cognisance to the insight.
19- Also, one is able to get direct perception of other’s thoughts.
20- But, not the underlying nature, because that is not the intent.
How can one transcend vibhuti pada?
21- In samyama, the perception form of any object to be attained becomes steady, and if required can be made invisible.
22- Thus, the internal sounds also cease.
23- There are 2 types of karma, that which will fructify immediately and that which will fructify later. With samyama, one gets insight into one’s separation from the body.
24- Friendliness gives strength.
25- This strength is like the strength of an elephant.
26- Source of inner light can be directed to get insight into hidden and remote subtle entities
What are the different samyama in vibhuti pada?
27- Samyama on the Sun gives insight into the physical world.
28- Insight into the moon and stars arrangement.
29- Insight into the polestar (Dhruva) and its movement.
30- Samyama into the nabhi chakra (manipura) results in insight into the constitution of the body.
31- Also, samyama on the laryngeal cavity (base of the throat) results in cessation of hunger and thirst.
32- Next, samyama on the koorma-nadi (about 3 cm below the collar bone, just above the sternum) leads to steadiness.
33- Samyama on the radiance at the top of the head leads to visibility of liberated masters.
34- However, a pure person can get all this without samyama.
35- Samyama on the heart gives insight of mental activity/ intelligence.
36- The balanced person who is very detached, whose attitude is even-handed towards pleasure or material goods, samyama on self-desires results in insight into manhood.
37- This results in intuitive hearing, touch, sight, taste and smell.
How to transcend materiality in vibhuti pada?
38- These are not a hindrance for those that have attained samadhi, but for those still materially oriented.
39- Also, when the cause of bonds is relinquished, it is possible to enter other bodies with knowledge of the nerve channels (nadis).
40- By gaining control over the udana-vayu (the vayu above the chest), one can sever contact with water, mud, swamp, thorn and so on and control over dying.
41- Next, by controlling the samana-vayu (the digestive vayu), fire is controlled.
42- Samyama on the equality of relationship between hearing and space gives divine hearing.
43- Next, samyama on the equality of relationship between the body and space gives the body lightness of cotton to move in space.
44- Samyama on external dispositions which are large and bodyless, thence the light destroys the veil covering the knowledge.
45- By samyama on the gross, the own form and the subtle meaning of existence, one gets control over present awareness.
46- When the ability to reduce in size (anima) is manifested to perfection, the ability to conform to conditioning faces no resistance.
47- Form, grace and charm, strength and adamantine like hardness are acquired by the perfect body.
49- Samyama on the function and connection between the attachment of Self to the body results in control over sentience.
How can one transcend internal change in vibhuti pada.
50- Thence, there is quickness of understanding and mastery over disturbing situations.
51- The difference between a balanced person and others is that he has mastery over all feelings and insight into the Self.
52- That non-attachment (vairagyam) destroys even the seed of impurity and results in liberation.
53- He should avoid being enamoured by invitations from high positions for undesirable results come from such contacts.
54- Whether in a moment or after successive efforts in meditation, discrimination (vivekam) is gained from it.
55- There is knowledge of lineage, quality of character, region (desau-anyata), lack of distinguishing features between any 2 entities.
56- Liberation from all topics simultaneously and completely comes from knowledge born out of discrimination (vivekam).
57- The harmonious person achieves liberation due to cleanliness and treating all entities equally.
You can also read about Yoga in my book, The Yoga Manual, available at all major e-marts.
- Notion Press – https://direct.notionpress.com/in/read/the-yoga-manual
- Amazon – https://www.amazon.in/dp/B0FNWN35BK?&tag=notionpcom-21
- Flipkart – https://www.flipkart.com/the-yoga-manual/p/itmc241083c7e7bd?pid=9798896734147&affid=editornoti
- Amazon world-wide – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FNWN35B
- Amazon UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FNWN35BK
