Purity -Benefits -YS II - 41

Yoga Sutra II-41 - SATTVASUDDHI SAUMANASYAIKAGRYEN-DRIYAJAYATMADARSANA YOGYATVANI CA - Moreover, one gains purity of sattva, cheerfulness of mind, one-pointedness, mastery over the senses, and fitness for Self-realization.

Swami Satchidananda tells us for this sutra that once there is an understanding of the body, the heart is purified as well. With a pure heart, one is always happy and concentration of the mind comes automatically. He points out that "an impure mind runs here and there, forcing us to bring it back again and again." The senses get controlled and the comes fitness for Self-realization which is referred to as Atma darshana yogyatvani. "These are all benefits of following niyama's first observance, purity. Just be pure in thought, word and deed." He says that this easy, however, the ego doesn't want us to accept things easily. "If we can practice purity for just one day, we will really enjoy the benefits."

"Purity of mind shows itself in a man's mood. He becomes increasingly dominated by sattva, the guna of illumination and peaceful happiness." - "How to Know God - The Yoga Aphorisms of Patanjali" translated and commented on by Swami Prabhavananda and Christopher Isherwood

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