--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "emptybill" <emptybill@...> wrote:
>
>
> Can we take our own future enlightenment as our ishta-devataa
> (meditation deity) in this lifetime?
>
>
>
> One of the definitions of final enlightenment (samyak.sam.bodhi) is
> omniscience (sarva-jñana) and supremacy over all states of existence.
>
>
>
> Patanjali Yoga Sutra 3.49 says:
>
> Only one discerning (khaati) the difference (anyataa) between purusha
> and sattva gains supremacy (adhi.staat.rtva) over all states (bhaava)
> and all-knowingness (sarvajñaat.rtva).
>
The next suutra goes like this:
tad-vairaagyaad api doSa-biija-kSaye kaivalyam.
Taimni:
By non-attachment (vairaagyaat; ablative singular) even (api) to
that (tat: omnipotence and omniscience) on the very seed (biija)
of bondage (doSa) being destroyed (kSaye; locative singular)
follows (understood[?] predicate verb) kaivalya.
So, does Patañjali imply that the the "ultimate" siddhi (omnipotence
and omniscience) is necessary for enlightenment? At least I wouldn't be able to
know whether I'm "virakta"[1] towards that siddhi without
first "having" it...
1. "root" of 'vairaagya'
virakta mfn. discoloured , changed in colour Ragh. ; changed in disposition ,
disaffected , estranged , averse , indifferent to i.e. having no interest in
(abl. loc. acc. with %{prati} , or comp.) MBh. Ka1v. &c. ;
