Love is the Core of Existence

Patanjali Yoga Sutras - Knowledge Sheet 18

Teevrasamvëganamasannaha  

tëvra = keen; samveganam = supremacy to it, first preference to it; asannaha = easy
“The spiritual path is very easy for one who gives first preference to it, who gives it supremacy over all other things.”
-Patanjali Yoga Sutra #21

What do we often do? We give priority to worldly things or survival and anything spiritual features last in our list. When you give first preference to your spiritual practice, then it is easier. If the focus of your life is spiritual growth, then all other things will be around that. Your first and foremost commitment in life is to be with the Truth, to evolve in Truth then work, social obligations come later in the list of preferences then it is very easy for you. So, it is very easy for one who gives first preference to it, for one whose mind really wants to move in this direction.

Even there (minds who want to move in this direction), there are three types.

Mrudumadhyadhimatratvattatoapi visheshaha

mridu = mild; madhya = middle; adhimatra = intense natures; tatah = further; api = also; visheshaha = differentiation
“A further differentiation of mild, middle and intense natures also exists.”
- Patanjali Yoga Sutra #22

People with three different grades: slow, medium and fast. “Okay, let me do it”, then “I have to do it”, and then “I cannot be without doing it”. Someone who is really into it 100 percent, someone who is a little mild about it and one who says, “Okay, let me do it, I have to do it”. The first grade, second grade and third grade.

Eshwara pranidhanad va

ëshwara = God; pranidhanad va = devotion to
"Just by one pointed devotion to God." 
- Patanjali Yoga Sutra #23

Just by surrendering to the Lord, you can achieve the fully blossomed state of consciousness. Now, what is the Lord? Who is the Lord? Where is He? It is easy to say surrender to God, but what is God? Where is God? Nobody has ever seen God. Then comes the next question: What is Lordship? What is that which rules this world?

You find that it is love that rules the world. The core of the existence rules this Universe. Like the sun is the center of the solar system and it rules all the planets, the very core of your life is ruled by love. Beyond your changing body, thoughts, feelings lies the very core of your existence which is very subtle, very delicate. That consciousness, the core of existence is responsible for this whole Creation. There lies the Lordship.

A bird feeds its young out of love. A flower blossoms because of love. Ducks hatch eggs out of love. Cows take care of their calves out of love. Have you seen monkeys? How they care for their young ones! Love is in-built in Creation. That is how the whole Creation functions. What you call as in-built is the core of consciousness. That is why Jesus said, “Love is God and God is Love.”

Next week: Patanjali in the next sutra beautifully analyses this state of consciousness.

<< Keep The Faith Patanjali yoga sutra introduction >>

(This is part of a series of knowledge sheets based on Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's commentaries on Patanjali Yoga Sutras.)

Photograph by Kaushani Desai