1.41 – When the ripples in consciousness become weak and powerless, consciousness becomes like a transparent crystal that is perfectly colored by whatever object it’s on. That state of absorption may be on the experiencer, the process of experiencing, or that which is experienced.
क्षीणवृत्तेरभिजातस्येव मणेर्ग्रहीतृग्रहणग्राह्येषु तत्स्थतदञ्जनता समापत्तिः ॥४१॥
kshinna-vritti abhijatasya iva maneh grahitri grahana grahyeshu tat-stha tat-anjanata samapattih
- kshinna-vritti – diminishing, weakening or wearing away of the fluctuations/ripples in consciousness
- abhijatasya – pure; transparent
- iva – like; as
- maneh – crystal; jewel
- grahitri – perceiver; experiencer
- grahana – perceiving; experiencing
- grahyeshu – that which is perceived; object of experience
- tat-stha – resting on that; becoming stable in that; focusing on that
- tat-anjanata – becoming colored by any near object
- samapattih – state of absorption or engrossment; coming together
When there are no more ripples within consciousness, there are no more distortions. Patanjali uses the analogy of a perfect gemstone to describe this undistorted state. He tells us that consciousness becomes like a transparent crystal that takes on the color of whatever object we place it on.
When turned inward, Awareness shines through. When directed outward, it perceives unfiltered reality, the world as it is. It also has the power to reflect the subtle act of seeing itself.
In that state of absorption, consciousness is fully engrossed in its object and becomes colored by that object alone. In doing so, one acquires true knowledge of whatever is contemplated.
Various stages of absorption are described in the following sutras.
