Sutra 1.42: The Process of Integration in Meditation
Sutra 1.42: Tatra-Sabda-Artha-Jnana-Vikalpaih-Sankirna-Savitarka-Samapattih
The first stage of meditation in which the mind begins to integrate sound, object, and knowing.
Sutra 1.42 links us back to sutra 1.41 and dives deeper into Samapatti and its’ different stages. Samapatti is when the observer becomes completely absorbed in the object of observation. This sutra outlines the minds’ journey to arrive at this place of purity. The first stage is called Savitarka Samapatti. Savitarka can be defined as, “with reasoning.” In this stage there is still a mingling present, the mingling is between the object, its name, and your prior knowledge. We can see how easily truth becomes distorted; just the name of the object varies from peoples to peoples, layer on top of that, your specific association with that object and we realize that every single person on earth will have a slightly different “knowing” that is true for them.
Recognizing your individual interpretation of any object will most certainly contain aspects of your past, emotions from the time that memory was stamped, what your parents told you about it, what your society told you about it, your acceptance or rejection of those tellings and so on. Savitarka Samapatti is not about any of that. It is about seeing the process your mind goes through when focusing on an object. When we can objectively observe the rising of this process and allow for the falling of this process, we begin to attain a new kind of clarity that opens up a previously unseen space, to take us beyond the bondage of our own minds’ limitations.
Patanjali is speaking of a very in depth stage of meditation, however we can take this same wisdom and apply it to our general day at hand. What happens in my mind when I see Jane? Well, Jane had an affair with a co-worker, not only do I have strong opinions about cheating, it reminds me of the affair my ex-husband had with one of his co-workers and so on, and on, and right down the reaction rabbit hole. Rather than play hopscotch with these opinions and memories, I have the power to observe what my mind does every time I see Jane. Yoga is not only observing this pattern, but also using our intellect to decide it’s not a healthy pattern and then empowering ourselves to throw a wrench in-between the thought and the emotion I am having due to the thought. Use your intellect to steer the mind and you get to be your own genie in a bottle, granting yourself a hell of a lot more than just three wishes, but a lifetime of guidance from you, for you, as your very own guru.
Muchas Gracias dear Reader,
As always I am grateful for your consideration. Detangling all the information presented in the sutras into a way that is digestible for me and feels helpful for my present day reality, is extremely beneficial, and also can be quite challenging. I hope it inspires you and may you find my perspective offer some clarity for you.
Blessings,
Andrea Dawn
