Yoga of Patanjali opens his subject ..!
Chapter. 4
Patanjali opens his subject by pointing out that control of the vagrant impulses in the mind is the first necessary step. The mind grew up to serve the body - to help to fulfil desires, then to decide which desires to help or serve, then to work for the improvement of the desires, and at last to respond to the inner purpose of life and bring is more and more into effect. In the last case it learns a new obedience, well stated as 'Be still and know that I am God'. When
there is not this obedience, the mind, taking up more and more responses to the conflicting demands of bodily pleasure and of pride, becomes a danger to it self.
there is not this obedience, the mind, taking up more and more responses to the conflicting demands of bodily pleasure and of pride, becomes a danger to it self.
In these days, in which it is well known that our civilized countries are reeking with cases of psychosomatic disorder, the follower of yoga might well say : 'I told you so. It is dangerous to have a mind in the condition in which most minds are kept. We tell you that you should do something about it before the real trouble begins. Besides, the same mind that pulls you down can also lift you up. It is not you yourself, but a subtle machine which must either obey your will or obey the behests of bodily pleasure or of pride. 'What then should we do ?' quavers the rather terrified enquirer. In response, Patanjali says, 'You must control the flow of ideas in your mind. If you will you can be your own true man, but if not you will be the pitiful victim of circumstances.' And then Patanjali gives his first item of almost psychiatric psychology. He says: The ideas are of five kinds, painful and pleasant. Right knowledge, wrong knowledge, fancy, sleep, and memories.
