A treatise on Comparison between Yoga sutras of Patanjali and Bhakti

Sutras of Naradha an overview.

-Nibha V.S. III year BNYS., SDM college of Naturopathy and Yogic science.

Introduction:

All our philosophical text books are written out by the great seers and thinkers in the form of
Sutras., The term `Sutra’ means-string- the string on which the arguments and thoughts are strung
together to form a garland of ideas.

Philosopher’s Job is not only explain but also to explore the inner meaning of the sutras. All the Six
schools of philosophy (Darshanas) is given out in the form of Sutras.,

Apart from that, all basic philosophy of Buddhism also written in the form of Suktas., in pali
language sukta represents Sutra.

The beginning:

Naradha bhakti sutra begins, like this, Now therefore, the doctrine of devotion we shall expound.,
This is the usual style of the Acharyas when they open a Sutra-textbook. In Brahmasutra and
Jaiminisutra we find the same idiom used. “Athato Jignasa” is the first sutra of Badarayana; and
Jaimini starts his Sutras employing the same idiom.

After having developed all the qualifications necessary for the practice of Devotion (Atha), the
student feels no spiritual satisfaction, and therefore (Atha), he must now diligently walk the path of
Devotion. According to Ramanuja, the teacher of Visishtadvaita, there are seven qualifications
necessary in a seeker who plans to pursue Devotion. They are

1) Discrimination in food (Viveka)

2) Freedom from desire (Vimukha)
3) Practice (Abhyas)
4) Habit of doing good to others (Kriya)
5) Purity in thought, word and deed, non-violence, charity and such other virtues
6) Cheerfulness (Anavasada) and
7) Absense of excessive hilariousness (Anuddharasa)

Devotion is defined in various ways by various teachers but to Devarishi Narada it is indeed “ the
supreme love for God.” It depends upon nothing else. A mind totally turned towards God in love,
demanding nothing, not even liberation, is a mind filled with devotion. Thoughts constantly flowing
in love towards the Supreme is devotion. Nobody else. Nothing

else; no one else, but Narayana this attitude of the heart is love. This state is called exclusive love
and this total love for the Lord is devotion.
And the beginning in Yoga Sutra;
The Patanjali Yoga Sutras begin by answering the question, What is Yoga? When the high state of
consciousness is attained, where thoughts, mental images, emotions and desires naturally and
spontaneously subside without any forceful suppression, this state is called Yoga. When this occurs
Pure Consciousness shines forth, and you know that you are One with the Infinite Whole, a wave of
bliss and beauty in the vast ocean of consciousness. At all other times however, we are disturbed by
our thoughts, mental images, emotions and desires, and we identify ourselves with these,
mistaking our thoughts, mental images, emotions and desires for ourselves, when in fact we are
none other than Pure Consciousness

Levels of Meditation

A mind, through repeated practice over a period of time and through non-attachment, attains a
high level of meditation. There are 4 levels of meditation depending on the object that is meditated
upon.

These 4 levels of meditation and their objects of meditation are:

1. Vitarka: Gross objects such as in rituals, external light, loud mantra repetition
2. Vichara: Subtle objects in purely internal meditation practices such as silent mantra
3. Ananda: Deeper states when meditation is so subtle it goes to the level of feeling and captures
the essence of the object meditated upon
4. Asmita: Meditation upon the false sense of identity, the last veil that covers our true nature

Subtler than these 4 levels of meditation with object, is the level of meditation without an object.

What is Objectless Meditation and how can one attain this?

This state of Objectless Meditation can be attained through constant effortless unbroken practice
of Supreme Non-attachment, that is recognising and knowing that all the external world and the
ripples of thoughts, mental images, emotions and desires are transient and changing and our true
nature is nothing other than Pure Consciousness.

The conclusion:

Whoever he be, he who hears these great Aphorisms on Love and Yoga given out by Narada and
Patanjali according to the command of Siva, and who has faith in these shall attain the desired
object. Whoever tries to live it gains this Art of Love-supreme by Lord Siva is suggested by some
commentators who therefore translate it as ‘taught by Lord siva: the term Anusasana can also
mean instructions.

Either Bhakti or Yoga sadana one can attain the abode of Lord for which lot of patience and
constant effort (vairagya) is required.