 The thirty-eighth yoga sutra explains about the dichotomy of such hindrances, which hampers in the path of samadhi. These divine perceptions stand in the way of a yogi, whose wisdom is supreme and goal is spiritual absorption. The attainments come within the range of the gunas, and after such an accomplishment, a sadhaka stands every chance to become misled from his original path to self-realisation. He can think the attainments as the spiritual heights in yogic practice, which is very wrong in his path.
te they (divine perceptions) samadhau in samadhi upasargah hindrances, obstacles vyut hane rising up, following one's own inclination, outgoing mind siddhayah powers These attainments are impediments to samadhi, although they are powers in active life. Divine perceptions are hindrances to a yogi, whose wisdom is supreme and whose goal is spiritual absorption. They are great accomplishments, but he should know that they fall within the range of the gunas of nature, and in acquiring them, he might forget his main aim in life and luxuriate within them. If they are shunned, however, they become aids to samadhi. The yogi may mistake these accomplishments and rewards for the end and aim of yogic practices. He might imagine that he has attained great spiritual heights, and that whatever is attainable through yoga has been achieved. In this process, he can forget the goal of Self-Realisation. Patanjali warns yogis to treat these powers as impediments in their sadhana. One should control them as whole-heartedly as one fought earlier to conquer the afflictions of the body and fluctuations of the mind. Then one can move forward towards kaivalya, emancipation. |
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