Yoga Sutra 3.55 | Tārakaṃ sarvaviṣayaṃ sarvathāviṣayam akramaṃ ceti vivekajaṃ jñānam

Yoga Sutra 3.55 in Context

Sanskrit Text

Tārakaṃ sarvaviṣayaṃ sarvathāviṣayam akramaṃ ceti vivekajaṃ jñānam.

Literal Translation

“Knowledge born of discernment (vivekaja-jñānam) is liberating, universal, transcending all objects, beyond all forms, and beyond sequence.”

Yoga Sutra 3.55 highlights the culmination of yogic wisdom, emphasizing a type of knowledge that is liberating (tāraka), all-encompassing (sarvaviṣayaṃ), and transcendent. This knowledge surpasses conventional forms of understanding and unfolds outside the confines of linear progression (akramaṃ), enabling the practitioner to experience absolute truth.

Historical and Cultural Significance

Vivekaja-Jñānam (Knowledge Born of Discernment)

This advanced knowledge arises from the refined discernment cultivated through yogic practices such as samyama. Ancient commentators have described it as the key to transcending ignorance and perceiving reality in its purest form.

The Liberating Nature of Knowledge

The term tāraka implies that this knowledge is not merely intellectual but serves as a bridge to ultimate liberation, helping practitioners transcend the limitations of the material and mental realms.

Guidelines for Students

Striving for Discernment

Students are encouraged to refine their perception and deepen their meditation practices to cultivate the discernment necessary for vivekaja-jñānam.

Transcending Limitations

This sutra reminds students to move beyond sequential or logical thinking, embracing the intuitive, all-encompassing nature of this advanced knowledge.

Insights and Strategies for Teachers

Guiding Advanced Students

Teachers can support students in cultivating the clarity and focus required for attaining vivekaja-jñānam. This includes offering guidance on advanced meditative practices and encouraging deeper self-inquiry.

Encouraging Universal Perspective

Help students expand their perspective, seeing beyond individual experiences to embrace the interconnectedness and universality described in this sutra.

Philosophical and Practical Takeaways

Yoga Sutra 3.55 encapsulates the essence of yogic wisdom, inviting practitioners to access liberating knowledge that transcends all boundaries. For students, it serves as a reminder to persist in their practice and embrace the boundless nature of truth.

For teachers, this sutra highlights their role in helping students navigate the subtleties of advanced wisdom, fostering a sense of interconnectedness and liberation.

As Swami Vivekananda profoundly expressed, “True knowledge breaks all barriers, uniting the finite with the infinite.” Yoga Sutra 3.55 invites practitioners to embrace this transformative knowledge and achieve ultimate freedom.

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