Patanjali Yoga Sutra Part 02

This document is the second part of Osho's Hindi translation of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, titled "Patanjali Yoga Sutra Part 02". It contains Osho's discourses on various aspects of Yoga, focusing on awareness, the mind, and the nature of consciousness, drawing heavily from Patanjali's teachings.

Here's a comprehensive summary of the key themes and concepts discussed in the provided text:

The Nature of Mind and Consciousness:

• Three Dimensions of Mind: Osho explains that the mind has three dimensions: conscious, unconscious, and superconscious, akin to the three dimensions of physical matter. The conscious mind is active when awake, the unconscious is active during sleep and dreams, and the superconscious is related to meditation and bliss.
• The Iceberg Analogy: The mind is compared to an iceberg, where only a tenth is visible (conscious), and the rest is submerged (unconscious). Even more elusive is the superconscious, like vapor from the iceberg forming a cloud in the sky.
• Levels of Listening: Osho differentiates three ways of listening: through the conscious mind (intellectual understanding), through the unconscious (heart-to-heart connection, love), and through the superconscious (emptiness, beyond thought and emotion). True listening, for deep impact, occurs through the unconscious and superconscious.

Understanding Sleep and Dreams (Patanjali Sutras 38-40):

• Awareness in Sleep: Patanjali suggests meditating on the awareness that comes during sleep. Sleep is not just an absence of waking; it has its own creative presence and meaning, as evidenced by dreams.
• Dreams as Powerful Actions: Dreams are described as powerful and meaningful actions, reflecting deeper layers of the psyche than waking thoughts. The unconscious mind, being vast and potent, actively processes experiences through dreams.
• Five Types of Dreams: Osho categorizes dreams into five types:
  1. Trash Dreams: These are the most common (about 90%) and consist of discarded mental residue from the day. They are considered futile by psychoanalysts.
  2. Wish Fulfillment Dreams: These arise from suppressed desires and needs, often stemming from societal conditioning and condemnation of natural instincts.
  3. Superconscious Dreams: These are rare signals from the superconscious, offering guidance and leading towards the true Guru.
  4. Past Life Dreams: These dreams reveal memories from previous existences, which can transform one's present perspective by showing repetitive patterns.
  5. Future-oriented Dreams: These offer glimpses of future possibilities.
• The Goal of Dream Yoga: By becoming aware of dreams, one can gain insight into the unconscious, which holds wisdom from past lives.

The Path of Meditation:

• Focus on Attraction: Patanjali suggests meditating on whatever attracts you, emphasizing that meditation should not be a forceful effort but a natural flow stemming from genuine attraction.
• Conscious Living: The effort to be more aware while awake is crucial for transitioning to awareness in sleep. Every activity, from walking to eating, becomes a practice for conscious living.
• Sacrifice of the Self: True spiritual effort involves becoming a witness, observing without judgment, and allowing the conscious mind to surrender to the unconscious and superconscious.
• The Nature of the Guru: A true Guru is not a teacher or a lover but a guide who leads to the superconscious. Devotion to the Guru helps in this journey.
• The Illusion of Meaning: Life itself has no inherent meaning. The search for meaning is a product of the conscious mind. The unconscious knows only hunger, thirst, and needs. True beauty exists in existence itself, without the need for imposed meaning.

Overcoming Obstacles:

• The Ego: The ego is seen as the root of neurosis and all illusions. It thrives on conflict and the illusion of control.
• Suppression vs. Awareness: Osho distinguishes between suppression (forcing things down) and awareness (observing without judgment). True spiritual growth comes from awareness, not suppression.
• Accepting Paradox: The text emphasizes embracing the paradoxical nature of life and consciousness, moving beyond dualistic thinking.

The Nature of Reality and Consciousness:

• Consciousness as the Ultimate Reality: The ultimate reality is consciousness itself, which is pure awareness, untouched by the happenings of the mind or the body.
• The World as Maya: The world, as perceived through the senses and interpreted by the mind, is considered Maya (illusion), similar to a dream. True reality lies beyond the mind's interpretations.
• The Self as Witness: The ultimate realization is to become the witness, the pure consciousness that observes all phenomena without identification. This state is described as the ultimate state of awareness, beyond all mind states.

Key Techniques and Concepts:

• Dhyana (Meditation): Not forceful concentration but a natural process of being with something that attracts you.
• Tapas (Self-Control/Discipline): Not self-torture, but a simple, natural living, free from complexities and artificial demands.
• Svadhyaya (Self-Study): Understanding oneself through introspection, observing inner states without judgment.
• Ishvara Pranidhana (Surrender to the Divine/Cosmic Consciousness): This is the ultimate surrender, which happens when the ego dissolves, and one recognizes their true nature as part of the universal consciousness.
• Pratyahara (Withdrawal of the Senses): The practice of turning inward and withdrawing from external distractions.
• Dharana (Concentration): Fixing the mind on a single point.
• Dhyana (Meditation): A state of effortless, continuous awareness.
• Samadhi (Absorption): A state of profound absorption where the distinction between the meditator, the act of meditating, and the object of meditation dissolves.
• Savikapa Samadhi: A lower form of samadhi where the mind is still partially engaged with reasoning and interpretation.
• Nirvikapa Samadhi: A higher form of samadhi where the mind transcends thought and duality, leading to direct experience of reality.
• Ritambhara Pragya: The ultimate wisdom that dawns in Nirvicara Samadhi, a state of pure, unbiased awareness.

Critique of Western Psychology:

• Osho suggests that Western psychology, particularly Freudian and Jungian analysis, is limited because it focuses on the mind and its problems rather than transcending the mind altogether. It often aims to make individuals "normal" within societal constructs, which is seen as a form of imprisonment rather than liberation.

The Importance of the Guru:

• A Guru is essential, especially for those who cannot achieve inner stillness alone. A Guru acts as a catalytic agent, helping disciples transcend their limitations and move towards ultimate consciousness. The Guru-disciple relationship is not about imitation but about facilitating the disciple's own discovery of their true nature.

In essence, Osho's interpretation of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras emphasizes the journey from the conscious mind through the unconscious to the superconscious, advocating for awareness, surrender, and the understanding of the self as a witness to all phenomena. He highlights the importance of living consciously in the present moment and embracing all aspects of life, including seemingly negative experiences, as part of a greater whole. The path is not about forceful control but about effortless being and understanding the true nature of reality beyond the mind's limitations.