- In the intervals arise other Pratyayas from the force of Samskaras.
This Sutra describes the swaying, to and from of consciousness, in the border-
land which separates the Real from the unreal. The Yogi is trying to maintain his foot-
hold in the world of Reality but he is thrown back again and again into the realm of
Illusion, though this Illusion is of the subtlest kind. He cannot maintain steadily that
condition of consciousness which is indicated by Viveka Khyati and each relaxation in
effort is followed instantly by the appearance of a Pratyaya which characterizes the
functioning of consciousness through the medium of Citta. Pratyaya, as we have seen
already, is a word used generally for the content of consciousness when it is function-
ing normally through a vehicle of any degree of subtlety. Emergence of a Pratyaya,
therefore, means that the consciousness has temporarily receded from the Reality real-
ized in Nirbija Samadhi and is functioning at one or another level of Citta. It may be
worthwhile pointing out here again that the word Pratyaya like Citta or Vasana is of
universal import and is co-extensive with them. Wherever consciousness is functioning
normally through any level of Citta in a vehicle there must be a content of conscious-
ness which is called Pratyaya in Yogic terminology. It is only in Asamprajnata
Samadhi that there is no Pratyaya but this is so because consciousness is passing
through a critical phase and is really hovering between two vehicles. Even on the
highest level of Citta corresponding to the Atmic plane there is a Pratyaya although it
is impossible for us to visualize what it is like. When consciousness is thrown back
into the Atmic or any other lower vehicle owing to the relaxation of Viveka, Pratyaya
of the corresponding plane emerges at once into the field of consciousness.
Why is the Yogi’s consciousness thrown back into the vehicles which he has
transcended and why do these Pratyayas appear, again and again, in this stage of his
progress towards Self-realization? Because the Samskaras which he has brought over
from his past are still present in his vehicles in a dormant condition and emerge into