विवेकख्यातिरविप्लवा हानोपायः॥२६॥
viveka = discrimination; khyaatih = discernment; aviplavaa = undeviating; haana = freedom, liberation; upaayaH = the means
Sw. Satchidananda
“Uninterrupted discriminative discernment is the method for its removal.”
Bryant
“The means to liberation is uninterrupted discriminative discernment”
Discussion
Previously we have seen that suffering (dukham) can be eliminated by removing the cause of suffering, which is avidya (ignorance). In sutra 25, we saw that by removing avidya, purusha can attain the state of “kaivalya” or complete non-identification with buddhi (representing prakriti). In the present sutra, Patanjali provides a means of achieving this goal of eliminating avidya so suffering can be eliminated. This means is “viveka khyati” or discriminatory wisdom with the qualification “a-viplava” (undisturbed or uninterrupted).
Having a clear understanding of the distinction between Purusha and Buddhi (representing Prakriti) is discriminative discernment. Viveka khyati initially is not firmly established since the samskaras of avidya (ignorance) keep surfacing up. It is only over a period of time that these samskaras begin to loose their power and gradually become like “burnt seeds” (dagdha-bija). At that time they become ineffective as they can’t sprout any longer to produce painful vrittis in the mind.
How do you develop discriminative discernment? The commentators recommend deep study of shastras, the ancient scriptures like the Vedas, Upanishads etc. Then follows a long period of contemplation and meditation on the concepts studied. Further development is done through the practice of yoga as mentioned by Patanjali in sutra 2.28. Once this discrimination gets deeply established, the ‘sattva’ guna of the buddhi is not disturbed by rajas and tamas. This eventually leads to the state of kaivalya, final liberation.
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