The thirteenth yoga sutra speaks about the three segments of time that intermix in a balanced manner. They hugely alter the constitution of nature`s properties in a vast manner. The three primary motivations - desire, action and reward are the driving force of man that govern his past and present experiences. And this started giving rise to dichotomies, and time was again misled into a different notion. It is however just a succession of moments. And a true yogi is the one, who has learned to be free from this cycle of ignorance and distorted knowledge.

te they (past, present and future)
vyakta manifest
suksmah subtle
gunatmanah the nature of qualities

The three phases of time intermingle rhythmically and interweave with the qualities of nature. They change the composition of nature`s properties into gross and subtle.

Desires, actions and rewards are not only intertwined with the cycle of time, but are also composed and hidden according to the rhythmic movement of sattva, rajas and tamas. They may manifest and be brought to the surface, or remain hidden and rise up later.

Bound to the wheel of time by the gunas, man started to form ideas, fuelled by desires in the fire of consciousness. Then, through past actions and experiences, he began to mould his life in order to gain freedom from dualities. This involved time, which has no beginning or end, is simply a succession of moments. Though each moment is eternal and real in its continuous flow, it changes into movement. To be free from the cycles of cause and effect, man has to mould his behaviour from moment to moment. The cause is subtle but the effect is felt. The effects of one`s actions of yesterday are the cause of today; and the experience of one`s actions today becomes the seed of the actions tomorrow. All actions revolve around time and the qualities of nature.

A yogi has learned to weaken ignorance and increase the light of knowledge. He has moved from ignorance to knowledge, and darkness to light, from death to immortality. He alone knows how to live freely, unaffected by the onslaughts of nature. This is kaivalya.