Reading Yoga Sutra 2.18

Prakasha Kriya Stithi Silam Bhutndriyatmakam Bhogapavargarhtam Drysam

Prakasha -- illumination

Kriya-- action

Stithi-- inertia

Silam-- nature

Bhuta-- elements

Indriya-- sense organs

Atmakam-- consists of

Bhoga-- experience

Apavarga-- liberation

Arhtam – it's purpose

Drisyam-- the seen

“The seen is of the nature of the gunas: illumination, action and inertia; and consists of elements and sense organs, whose purpose is to provide both experiences and liberation”

Drisya is the reality of the world we see. The Yoga Sutras investigate into aspects of our experience and are always asking Why and What? What is the seen that gives us the experience of being a Seer? We are going to understand ourselves by our relationship to what is outside of us-- like a sounding board. The Yoga Sutras are inquiring into existence in that trippy way of wondering if there is a plastic reality or if we all have our own experience based on our own perceptions... What is the purpose of life?! Nature, the earth elements and organs (sense organs, mind, intellect) are here to provide: Experience and Liberation. Great, there we go-- life is Experience and life is Liberation.

In his commentary Swami Satchidananda, “Nature is here to give you experience and ultimately to oiberate you from bondage. Even if people do not want to be liberated, it educates them gradually so that one day they will come to feel, 'I'm tired of the whole thing. I don't want it anymore. I've had enough.” (p.104)

“Nothing in nature can bring the mind continuous, unchanging happiness, because the mind itself changes constantly”, therefore we have to accept changes in the mind, in the outside world, and not cling to anything in the outside world. The Sutras present these concepts for us to try, to test and see if they are true for us, if they resonate. What is nature and what is our relationship to Nature? The Sutras are saying that we are nature and nature is Us-- we are all made up of the same cells and energy and it is always changing, changing intelligently to teach us to live in harmony, to live FREE.

When we make the decision to seek Truth, our own Truth nature will guide us. We begin to find Freedom and Feeling healthy and complete are not apart from Nature-- that is unveiling Nature's harmony in us, to find our organic vibe, to return to union-- Yoga.