Nor must it be supposed that this constant tempting by these Powers is the re-
sult of malice on their part. Their work should be taken as a beneficent force working
in Nature which tests us at every step so that we may be able to remove our weak-
nesses and may be able to advance steadily towards our goal. The student should try to
imagine what would happen if there were no such agencies at work. Those who are
treading the path of Self-realization would remain unconscious of their weaknesses,
tied down to the lower stages and unable to advance further. The sword of temptation
which searches out and strikes our weaknesses certainly causes us temporary suffering
and anguish but it also gives us an opportunity for removing those weaknesses and
thus frees us for advancing further on the Path.
- Knowledge born of awareness of Reality by performing Samyama on
moment and (the process of) its succession.
This Sutra should be studied along with IV-33 in discussing which the Yogic
theory of Ksana and nature of time has been explained. Ksana-Tat-Kramayoh is the
process by which the eternal Reality which transcends time is projected in manifesta-
tion in terms of time. This obviously is the last veil of illusion which must be pierced
before the Yogi can attain Kaivalya. The technique of piercing this final veil is the
same as in the case of others—Samyama. The knowledge which is gained as a result of
performing Samyama on the process of time is the highest kind of knowledge which
can be attained—even higher than Omniscience referred to in III-50. It is called
Vivekajam-Jnanam ‘knowledge born of the awareness of Reality’. The word Viveka is
generally translated into English by the word ‘discrimination’ but the use of this word
in the present context is not appropriate. The word ‘discrimination’ is used ordinarily
for that process of spiritual discernment which enables us to detect the illusions of life
and to discover the relative reality hidejen behind them. But the word Viveka in the