Day 3
You assume the form in the mind. What are the activities in the mind? The modulations of the mind are of five forms - klishta and aklishta. Some are problematic, and some are non-problematic.
There are certain vrittis of the mind which are problematic and which cause troubles and difficulties, and certain others which are not problematic - unpleasant and pleasant vrtittis. Pratyaksha, viparyaya, vikalpa, nidraa and smritayaha.
Five modes of consciousness arise in you - five modes in the mind. Mind, consciousness or chitta are the same. Pramaana, the mind is engaged in wanting proof for everything. There are three types of Pramaana - pratyaksha, anumaana, aagamana.
Pratyaksha means that which is obvious or can be experienced. You may be in Switzerland. You have a proof of this in your mind. The proof is that you can see the Swiss Alps. Whatever you see is a proof. You know that you are feeling cold. Nobody wants to tell u that. This is Pratyaksha.
Our mind is constantly smart to have some obvious, solid or experiential proof. This is one mode of activity of the mind.
Another is Anumaana. It means something is not so obvious, but which can be guessed. You will believe in whatever you guess.
The guessing of the mind is called Anumaana. Then there is Aagamana, the scriptures. They are believed because they were written. There are three types of proof you look for. Even today in certain remote villages, in the third world countries, anything that is printed is gospel truth.
People feel that, since many follow it, it must be the truth. A few people can be fooled in this way but not many. The mind feels that the thousands are not fools. And if they are, then the mind feels that it can also be a fool. The mind works this way. It takes proof from scriptures or from the belief of many.
You are constantly looking for proof of something or anything. This is one mode of activity of mind. Yoga is when you drop this. Then alone can you abide in the Self. Retreating from the activity of the mind of wanting proof is released from that vritti, or activity of the mind, and going back to the Self.
You may need proof of whether you are in Switzerland and your senses will tell you that. But you don't need proof, through your senses, whether you are where you are currently. You could be taken to Austria or to Canada. You will see similar snowy mountains and lakes there.
You may think that you are in Switzerland but you are not. Your senses may fool you. But the feeling of "I am and I exist" is beyond proof. Abiding in the Self doesn't need proof. Truth can't be understood through proof. Anything that can be proved can also be disproved. Truth is beyond proof or disproof. God is beyond proof.
You can neither prove God, nor can you disprove Him. Proof is connected with logic, and logic is very limited in its purview. It is the same with enlightenment and with love. Love cannot be proved or disproved.
Someone's actions or behavior is not a proof of love. Many movie actors and actresses exhibit a lot of love and romance in the movie but they need not experience real love or romance. They can just display it. One can act the emotion of love very well without feeling it or living it.
Self is beyond all this proof. Proof is own of the main activities of the mind. Proof is one of the main things that you are stuck in this world. You what proof for everything. This is not in the realm of the seer. A seer is beyond proof. Pramaana is the first modulation or activity of the mind.
Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankarji
PATANJALI YOGA SUTRAS
