an essential factor in the process. The time taken by the Yogi is due entirely to the lack
of mastery of the technique.
- By mastering it (Samyama) the light of the higher consciousness.
It has already been pointed out in dealing with Samprajnata Samadhi (I-17) that
Prajna is the higher consciousness which appears in the state of Samadhi. But as the
word Samadhi covers a wide range of states of consciousness, so Prajna stands for all
the states of consciousness in Samadhi beginning with the Vitarka stage and ending
with the Asmita stage. There are two critical stages in the subtilization of Prajna. One
of these is referred to in I-47 where the light of spirituality irradiates the mental con-
sciousness. The other is indicated in III-36 when the consciousness of the Purusa be-
gins to illuminate the Yogi’s consciousness. The role of Prajna comes to an end when
Viveka Khyati or the pure awareness of Reality takes its place as indicated in IV-29.
- Its (of Samyama) use by stages.
This Sutra brings out another important fact about the application of Samyama.
Samyama, as has been pointed out already, is the composite process of Dharana, Dhy-
ana and Samadhi when applied to any object. But though the process will be essen-
tially the same in every case, it will be more or less complicated according to the na-
ture of the object to which it is applied. All objects in the Universe are not equally
mysterious if we may say so. The mystery which is hidden behind them depends upon