Iyengar: Nature and intelligence exist solely to serve the seer’s true purpose, emancipation.
In the Iyengar system, we discuss avidya (ignorance) as the root of all our human suffering. BKS Iyengar says that the “soul’s agents” which is the mind, senses of perception, and organs of action – cause use to be drawn to this sensory world but we can avoid this through discrimination which is developed by sadhana (practice).
Bryant: The essential nature of that which is seen is exclusively for the sake of the seer.
Bryant points out that this sutra is related to 2.18 which tells us the purpose of the seen (prakrti) is to provide experience and libration to the seer (purusa). Bryant uses two analogies from Indian literature: Experience consists of pleasure and pain but are experienced by the seer, just like the purpose of a bed is not for itself but for the sleeper. And Bryant ends his commentary with a question: What happens when prakrti’s purpose is fulfilled? Would it cease to exist? Hmm…
Taimni: The very being of the Seen is for his sake (i.e. Prakrti exists only for his sake).
Taimni supports the previous commentary by saying: “ The whole drama of creation is being played in order to provide experience for the growth and Self-realization of the Purusa who are involved in the show.”
Carrera: The seen exists only for the sake of the Seer.
Carrera that life exists to serve the purpose of the Creator (which is liberation of the individual). He says: “There is no simple satisfying answer as to why life is this way….we will discover the answer not by use of logic but by transcending ignorance.”
Personally this sutra has a connection to my mediation practice. I have a practice where I become aware of the seer and the seen. This is the simply practice of observing your thoughts but you don’t connect or act upon them. You watch them float by like clouds. In this kind of practice there are two distinct entities, your observer (the seer – purusa) and the thoughts themselves (the seen, prakrti). In modern day language, if we connect more to our seer part, we tend not to react strongly to pleasure and pain, but observe and know that what is happening is all part of the plan to liberate ourselves.
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