thing are in different conditions and thus naturally get different impressions from the
same object. When one vibrating body strikes another vibrating body the result of the
impact depends upon the condition of both the bodies at the time of the impact. The
mental body which comes in contact with the object of perception is not a passive or
static thing. It is vibrating in all sorts of ways and, therefore, must modify every im-
pression received by its own rate of vibration. It is, therefore, not possible to obtain a
true impression of the object as long as the mind itself is not free from its Vrttis. The
impression created will depend upon the condition of the receiving mind and as all
minds are in different conditions, because they have followed different paths in their
evolution, they must get different impressions from the same object. The student
should keep in mind the distinction between the mental body which vibrates and the
mind in which the Vrttis are produced by these vibrations.
Is it possible to get a true impression of an object underxany circumstances?
Yes, when the mind has been freed from its Vrttis and does not, in consequence, mod-
ify the impression made upon it by the object. When the Vrttis have been eliminated
the mind becomes one with the object (I-41), which is another way of saying that it
receives an exact impression of the object without its own modifying influence. So it is
only in Samadhi, when all the Vrttis have been suppressed, that it is possible to know
the object as it really is.
Even in our everyday life we find that the more a mind is influenced by differ-
ent biases, prejudices and other disturbances the greater is the distortion produced in
the impressions which are made upon it by men and things. A calm and dispassionate
mind can alone see things correctly as far as this is possible under the limitations of
ordinary life.
- Nor is an object dependent on one mind. What would become of it when
not cognized by that mind?