- Kaivalya is the state (of Enlightenment) following remergence of the
Gunas because of their becoming devoid of the object of the Purusa. In this state the
Purusa is established in his Real nature which is pure Consciousness. Finis.
We now come to the last Sutra which defines and sums up the ultimate state of
Enlightenment which is called Kaivalya. The meaning of the Sutra may be expressed
simply in the following words: 'Kaivalya is that state of Self-realization in which the
Purusa gets established finally when the purpose of his long evolutionary unfoldment
has been attained. In this state the Gunas, haying fulfilled their purpose, recede to a
condition of equilibrium and therefore the power of pure Consciousness can function
without any obscuration or limitation.'
It should be noted that this is not a description of the content of Consciousness
in the state of Kaivalya. As has been pointed out before, no one living in the world of
the unreal can understand or describe the Reality of which the Yogi becomes aware on
attaining Kaivalya. This Sutra merely points out in a general way certain conditions
which are present in Kaivalya and which serve to distinguish it from the exalted condi-
tions of consciousness
which precede it.
It is natural that vagueness should exist and a large number of misconceptions
be prevalent about a state of consciousness and a goal of human achievement which is
so utterly beyond human comprehension. But some of these misconceptions are so ob-
vious that it would be worthwhile pointing them out before bringing this chapter to a
close.