- On being firmly established in non-violence there is abandonment of hos-
tility in (his) presence.
In this and the subsequent ten Sutras Patanjali gives the specific results of prac-
tising the ten elements of Yama-Niyama. The purpose of pointing out these accom-
plishments which mark the culmination of the practice of Yama-Niyama, is two-fold.
In the first place, it serves to emphasize that the virtue has to be developed or the prac-
tice has to be carried on to a high degree of perfection. Too many people begin to
imagine they have acquired perfection in the development of a particular virtue while
they are still at the initial stage. In the second place, by indicating the nature of the
developments which take place when the virtue has been acquired in perfection, the
author provides a measuring rod for the Sadhaka by which he can judge his progress
anct know definitely when he has succeeded in accomplishing that particular task. It
need hardly be pointed out that these extraordinary developments are not based on pi-
ous hopes but strict, scientific laws verified by innumerable Yogis and saints. The re-
sults follow as surely though not so easily as the production of fruit from a sapling
planted in the ground and nurtured carefully. But, of course, as in all scientific ex-
periments, the correct conditions must be provided if the desired results are to be ob-
tained. Whether it is necessary for the Sadhaka to develop each quality to the degree
indicated in the Sutras is another question, but there should be no doubt that the thing
can be done.
The student of Yogic philosophy will see in these unusual developments which
take place on practising Yama-Niyama the tremendous possibilities which lie hidden in
the apparently simple things of life. It appears that one has only to penetrate deeply
into any manifestation of life to encounter the most fascinating mysteries and sources
of power. Physical science which deals with the crudest manifestation of life touches
the mere fringe of these mysteries and the results which it has achieved are little short
of miraculous. There is, therefore, nothing, to be surprised at in the fact that the Yogi
who dives into the far subtler phenomena of mind and consciousness finds still deeper
mysteries and extraordinary powers. This point will be made clearer when we deal
with the question of Siddhis.
II-35 gives the specific result of developing Ahimsa. This is what should be ex-
pected if Ahimsa is a positive and dynamic quality of universal love and not a mere