Sanskrit | Yoga Sūtras | Lists
(these are a work in progress)
Original Text
tat-paraṁ puruṣa-khyāter guṇa-vaitṛṣṇyam
Translation
The highest dispassion arises with the clear seeing of the Self, when even the pull of nature’s qualities no longer captivates.
Background
This sūtra points to the pinnacle of inner freedom. It's one thing to let go of distractions and desires; it’s another to see through the very structure of experience and to recognize that even the “good,” “productive,” or “spiritual” qualities of the mind are still part of nature (prakṛti), not the true Self (puruṣa).
Such dispassion doesn’t come from effort alone. It arises naturally from insight, a quiet seeing that reveals what we are beyond moods, roles, and identities. And from that place, peace is no longer dependent on conditions.