सत्त्वशुद्धिसौमनस्यैकाग्र्येन्द्रियजयात्मदर्शनयोग्यत्वानि च॥४१॥
sattva = sattva guna; shuddhi = purification; soumanasya = cheerfulness; ekaagrya = one-pointedness; indriya = senses; jaya = control; atmadarshana = vision of oneself; yogyatvaani = qualification, fitness; cha = and
Sw. Satchidananda
"Moreover, one gains purity of sattva, cheerfulness of mind, one-pointedness, mastery over the senses, and fitness for Self-realization."
Practicing the purity of thought, word and deed will bring about all the benefits listed in the sutra. Even if you resolve to be pure, celibate and honest just for one day, your benefits will make you repeat the experiment often.
Bryant
"Upon the purification of the mind, [one attains] cheerfulness, one-pointedness, sense control, and fitness to perceive the self."
Sattva, in the context of this sutra, means the buddhi (intellect) as sattva is its main constituent. The previous stura talked about the cleansing of the body. In this sutra we learn the benefits of the purification of the mind. As per Vyasa, this sutra lists a chronological sequence of the benefits – cleanliness leads to making the mind sattvic, which leads to cheerfulness etc., all the way to perception of the self (atman).
Cheerfulness of the mind is attained when the mind gives up the obstacles of arrogance, pride and attachment, and becomes aloof toward the body and material possessions.
Discussion
(Commentary by Kailasam Iyer)
"ALSO purity of discriminative intelligence, pleasant disposition, acuity in meditation, and control over the senses happen in succession to ready the mind ( make it eligible) for the reception of the knowledge of the Self."
I suggest strongly that we read Subhash’s post on the three benefits of Yoga before working to understand this sutra. I also recommend that we take the “cha” ( also, and) a little more seriously than usually. An individual who exhibits distaste for his body and avoids the company of others would be considered odd at the least and in need of help if he did not ALSO display a sustained joy about his lifestyle and pursuit. State of depression is the farthest from the mental state of a yoga practitioner who, because of his discipline, is healthy of body and mind.
Discriminating aspect of intelligence is refined; disposition is suffused with wellness; distractions are eliminated; and the practitioner is in control of the senses instead of the other way around. These attributes grow and flourish in the mind which is prepared for the grace of revelation of the Self. No mean accomplishment!
This sutra, in many ways, is a restatement of YSP I- 43 and I- 49. Athmadarshanam refers to the revelation of the core shorn of subjective layers of perception. The word revelation signifies that this is not knowledge that can be gained by methods of knowing. This is knowing itself, a presupposition to knowledge, which shines on methods and the resultant object-oriented learning. The mind has to be in a state of clarity and readiness to accept the image. Immersion in day-to-day life keeps you away from recognizing the core.
I recommend an experiment. Relax and wait for a thought, any thought, to begin to happen and it will as a reaction to some change in your body or external environment. Wrench yourself away from the object of the thought and “listen” to the process. When does the thought begin? How does it grow? What connections to past impressions does it make as it grows? What modifications happen as it develops? How does it subside? Does it leave any residue? Can you erase the residue? To be honest, I have found this experiment to be very difficult but it gets easier with practice. See if the image of the attachment helps.
The type of preparation described in this sutra confers a unique type of freedom on the practitioner. The nature of freedom and the joy it brings about to create a sense of comfort is described in the next sutra.
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