Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, Book II

Sutra 1 names the practices making for union with the Soul: fervent aspiration, spiritual reading, and obedience to the Master. Sutra 2 states their aim: to bring soul-vision and wear away hindrances. Sutra 3 lists the hindrances: the darkness of unwisdom, self-assertion, lust, hate, attachment. Sutra 4 calls unwisdom the field of the others, which may be dormant, worn thin, suspended, or expanded. Sutra 5 defines the darkness of ignorance as holding the unenduring, impure, painful, not-Soul to be eternal, pure, joyful, Soul. Sutra 6 defines self-assertion as thinking the Seer and the instrument of vision one self. Sutra 7 defines lust as resting in enjoyment; Sutra 8 defines hate as resting in pain; Sutra 9 defines attachment as the desire toward life, present even in the wise. Sutra 10 says subtle hindrances are removed by a countercurrent; Sutra 11 says their active turnings are removed by meditation. Sutra 12 roots the bondage to sorrow in these hindrances, felt in this or an unmanifested life. Sutra 13 says the root yields fruits of birth, life-span, and experience; Sutra 14 says these bear rejoicing or affliction from holy or unholy works. Sutra 15 states that to the discerning all personal life is misery. Sutra 16 says this pain is to be warded off before it comes. Sutra 17 names its cause: the Seer's absorption in things seen. Sutra 18 attributes to things seen manifestation, action, inertia, serving experience and liberation. Sutra 19 grades the Three Potencies as defined, undefined, with and without distinctive mark. Sutra 20 calls the Seer pure vision looking through the mind. Sutras 21–24 state that things seen exist for the Seer, remain for others, occasion realization of both natures, and arise through unwisdom. Sutra 25 identifies ending this association with liberation. Sutra 26 names unwavering discernment as the means; Sutra 27 describes sevenfold illumination; Sutra 28 links following Yoga's means to illumination. Sutra 29 lists the eight means. Sutra 30 gives the Commandments; Sutra 31 calls them universal. Sutra 32 gives the Rules. Sutras 33–34 treat casting weight against transgressions. Sutras 35–37 name powers from perfecting non-injury, truth, and non-stealing.

For him perfect in continence comes valour and virility, the creative power turned to spiritual uses and the engendering of spiritual children; one commentary says the attained can transfer knowledge of divine union to disciples. Conquest of covetousness brings the how and why of life, including knowledge of former births. Purity brings withdrawal from one's own bodily life and ceasing from infatuation with others' bodily life. To the pure of heart come a quiet spirit, one-pointed thought, victory over sensuality, and fitness to behold the Soul. From acceptance the disciple gains happiness supreme. Perfection of the bodily powers comes through wearing away impurities and through fervent aspiration. Through spiritual reading the disciple gains communion with the divine Power. Soul-vision is perfected through obedience to the Master. Right poise must be firm and without strain, gained by steady and temperate effort and by setting the heart on the everlasting; its fruit is strength to resist the shocks of infatuation or sorrow. Then follows guidance of the life-currents, the control of incoming and outgoing breath. The life-current is outward, inward, or balanced, regulated by place, time, number, prolonged and subtle. The fourth degree transcends external and internal objects. Thereby the veil covering the light is worn away. Thence comes the mind's power to hold itself in the light. Right Withdrawal disengages the powers from outer things. Thereupon follows perfect mastery over the powers.