The Elimination of Pramana is the Result of Yogic Practice

On the other hand, yoga sadhana such as advocated in Sadhana Pada (Chapter 2) and in particular, meditation, takes us considerably further beyond the limitations of fixations on any belief systems (pramana) based on dualistic perceptions (pratyaksha), authoritative testimony from books or authority figures (agama), and logical or intellectual methods (anumana). So in sutra I -12, Patanjali says not to get caught up with any vrttis, because they reinforce the vrtti of pramana. Especially not those things (such as agama, anumana, and pratyaksha) that uphold the vrtti of pramana, because in the authentic yoga that is being taught here, that is not where liberation or samadhi comes from, rather they hold one back. Those methods may be helpful for studying engineering, mathematics, law, mechanics, or construction, but they should be put aside (vairagya) when practicing yoga -- especially so when applied to the main method, the practice of meditation.

The point is, that the theory is not the experience, while rigid theories (even though not erroneous) too often precludes it because it is severely "limited". Granted a good theory may lead us eventually to the experience (and the experience may even prove that the theory was correct), but in truth the reductionist objectification process which is pramana, must in either case cease altogether if we are to get to the universal boundless Mind which is the true nature of Mind. Pramana is like a theory, principle, or "derived" law while agama, anumana, and pratyaksha are its apparent operators of proof; but Patanjali says that as such this will reinforce the vrtti. In other words walking around with such constructs in the mind (mindsets), we superimpose artificially a very severe limitation upon the potential and very profound/sacred innate depth of our experience, i.e., Reality-As-It-Is -- or swarupa. This filter, matrix, or veil serves as an obstruction, which yoga meditation is designed to utterly destroy. When this dissonance between consciousness and beingness (between sattva and purusha) is destroyed the underlying profound non-dual transpersonal and trans-conceptional REALITY is revealed.

The "view" separated from the path of direct experience, through objectified belief systems or faith-based systems is severely fettered and limited. It will not let "reality-as-it-is" shine through in most cases. "View" must correspond to how things are-as-they-are, not the other way around. When we are afflicted by pramana we all filter reality through the matrix of our beliefs -- we see and find what we are looking for or which we can identify, while too often leaving behind 99% of "the rest" -- the unexpected.

Thus in the end of Pada III in Sutra 55, Patanjali says: III. 55 sattva-purushayoh shuddhi-samye kaivalyam. Translated: "By perfectly balancing (samye) pure beingness (sattva) with pure undifferentiated universal consciousness (purusha) the obstructions are removed (shuddhi) thus disclosing and opening the gate to kaivalyam (absolute liberation)."

Pramana, as a surrogate or adopted belief system, ideology, mindset, or "ism", may be difficult to let go of, especially so when we have not been brought up to do our own critical/creative thinking and true self inquiry; but rather to become dependent upon the "boss", master, experts, or consensus external prejudice of our culture or times (so called "reality"). This is where the limitations of dogma and ideology become rigidified as well. This is another good reason to drop it, because real yoga can not be achieved in such a sorry state. This is also the defect of religion, where it demands conformity to behavior, but fails to provide revelation. In fact the dogma compensates for authentic experience and most precludes such. Rather, genuine spiritual discipline is based on providing direct communion. Thus Patanjali quite clearly says that pramana, that which are dependent upon the proofs of pratyaksha (observation), anumana (inference), and agama (authority), may be at best neutral in some situations, but for a yogi whose intention is to realize the Truth in samadhi, all vrtti must be dropped.

It should be mentioned that some advanced spiritual souls may want to point out another kind of belief or world view (which some may call a pramana, but it is not so defined by Patanjali) which is not a theory, judgment, or conclusion based upon observation (pratyaksha), anumana (inference), and agama (external authoritative sources), but rather which is derived from direct yogic experience. Then would that be the kind of pramana which Patanjali calls a vrtti? No, Patanjali is defining pramana in his own way (as a proven theory based upon agama, anumana, and pratyaksha), If however our view of reality and "self" is informed by our direct yogic experience, that understanding is taught by the intrinsic seed source residing -- the omniscient Source as a direct experience of the Great Continuum, then that is by definition not pramana-vrtti according to Patanjali.

Ordinary people (lost in dualistic thinking) limit their experiences, sometimes quite severely, because of limited belief systems. In the past accepted authoritative beliefs like: "the world is flat, the sun rotates around the earth, such and such is impossible, and so forth held people back". Likewise today many conventional beliefs supported by apparent observation, inference, and authority severely constrict people back (on and off the meditation cushion). This limitation is due to the imposition of beliefs (right or wrong) upon present experience so that we do not allow ourselves to experience anything outside the box (except in dream or fantasy). The opposite way to go is to have our experiences inform the neo-cortex (where the conceptual functions reside) as to what is going on instead of the neo-cortex dictating to the neurology what is real and what is not. If our experiences can actually feed the entire nervous system as a whole -- without distortion, resistance, or conditioned interpretation born from the imprints and adaptation of childhood games, fear of punishment, desire, ego, pride, jealousy -- in short the kleshas, then a greater sense of inter-connectedness is experienced, greater wholistic function, health and creative expression is realized. This in turn sparkles over into a deeper kind of direct profound experience -- a deepening of the ordinary modality of sense perception or mind perception to a synchrony of both inner and outer worlds -- the inner and outer ecology pulsate as one -- experience and consciousness --heaven and earth -- are merged. It is this profound inner non-dual transpersonal interconnection, which then informs, leads the mind, and shapes the view, not ordinary perception, logic, or the testimony of others.

When we acknowledge and honor our deepest heart/core spiritual experiences as our guide in everyday life and are open to this in All Our Relations, then we have no need of the dictates, referents, or external guideposts of beliefs that are born from books, authority, the process of ideation, conceptional fabrication, rational constructs, or ordinary dualistic methods of perception for we have gained insight.

Now the above statements may sound bizarre to the beginner, but it is the common language for practiced meditators, which is the main practice in the Yoga Sutras. Also scientific research has also shown through experiments run with experienced/practicing meditators that the conceptual tendencies of the frontal cortex (in its function of mental fabrication and rationalizing) is greatly reduced, ceases, rests, or is stilled measurably. Meditation may or may not be the common man's game, but it is designed to provide this fruit should one decide to eat from the tree. That is why I recommend Patanjali's "Yoga Sutras".

In this non-dual "reality" which is not constructed by man, but exists by itself (is self-arisen) from the very beginning then -- this profound or sacred non-dual state, then even the process of feeling other people's grief or simply -- of being empathic, is also not being inter-connected with all beings and all things -- with the grand integrity of everything, but rather it is a fixation on one event or person at the sacrifice of everything else.

Common examples will reveal the common plight of those afflicted by pramana and why it is so insidious. One may gather "right knowledge" and facts and has even been taught how to organize these facts "correctly", so that for instance, one may believe that God is omnipresent, Eternal, Pure Love, and other similar details that may be true in one sense, but still one is not closer to realization really. Unfortunately, here we have even taken a step backwards if our acquired external knowledge creates pride, delusion, false identification, and even greater over-objectification and alienation, which is often the case. Such beliefs are based simply on facts and logic, not the experience. It is rather an objective theory, not the experiential truth or realization. Part of the spiritual malaise is that mankind (especially in the West has already become over objectified -- lost in mental theories, abstraction, and mental processes (vrtti) which have not been reconciled with his everyday experience, but rather tend on the most part to preclude or diminish subjective experience. This is not the way to experience direct spiritual truth.

It does not matter much if these theories (pramana) coincide with the way things "really are" or on the other hand if they are a miscalculation (viparyaya), dream, hallucination, etc., because one still remains separate and estranged from experiencing Reality directly if we become rigidified around it -- unable to let it go, so that we can experience the universal reality which awaits us HERE. One can try to put all these facts and beliefs in one's pocket or computer or even learn to memorize them and recite them at will, but that is not the enlightenment that authentic yoga aims toward. The bigger danger here, is that such walking encyclopedias of politically correct belief systems (BS) too often confuse their external knowledge from spiritual wisdom and thus self perpetuate their own spiritual stagnation unknowingly. Rather it is far more expedient to skip this neurotic behavior from the start as Patanjali recommends, emphasizing the value of developing direct experience through yogic practice, revealing the inner wisdom, or innate buddha nature. This is why yogis always say, that yoga is neither a philosophy nor a religion. It is not based on theory, on books, nor words, but on direct experience through authentic yoga sadhana.

In practice, we may find ourselves ignorant and not knowing. It is far better to humbly acknowledge our ignorance and thus humbly say to ourselves that we do not know, than to act in acts of defensive/offensive denial and justification. By saying that we do not know in humility, we bequeath upon ourselves the ability to learn and become expanded. This way we seek out the truth and reinforce our passion for self understanding. It would be counter-productive to instead to adopt some one else's belief system (BS), no matter how authoritative (agama), logical (anumana), or seemingly objective (pratyaksha). Rather it is this very humble search of the true seeker who is not afraid to say that "I do not know" -- who is not satisfied with patented answers, that serves as the flame that rekindles the eternal and authentic spiritual fire within.

So here it is again praxis, *not* theory based on analysis of fragmented data acquisition techniques and tested by past laws, theories, or conclusions that become definitive superseding past assumptions are and expectations. In short, one must get wet, waddle in the mud, become one with the data -- you are both the data and observer in its implicate context of timeless integrity, where the all defines the parts, and the parts define the all -- where the all defines the all completely, inherently, unmodified, free from citta-vrtta.