The importance of Iśvara has been explored in the last 6 sutras I.23, I.24, I.25, I.26, I.27, I.28. The previous sutra wraps the topic of Iśvara for now. We are discussing the first chapter out of four chapters in Yoga Sutras. Patañjali is explaining what is Yoga, what is not Yoga and how to achieve Yoga. Iśvara is one of the pathways that one can achieve the State of Yoga.
Iśvara is someone like god and that he is a special being, quite extraordinary. He is untouched by delusion, agitations, actions, afflictions, consequences and time. He represents past, present and future. He knows everything that is to be known. He is simply the teacher of all the teachers. He is addressed by a special symbol Pranava that specifies the qualities of Iśvara . By meditating on Iśvara, one can realize oneself (or go nearer). By meditating on an object, one imbibes the qualities of the object. How can meditating on Iśvara make oneself realize themselves? Iśvara is within all of us and one needs to be able to see for themselves. Iśvara is part and parcel of all of us.
You can read all the sutras that have been discussed on this blog.
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