“According to Patañjali (Yoga Sūtra Chapter Four verse 17),
comprehension is dependent upon two things:
1. Your interest
and
2. The proximity of the object.
Apekṣā is the interest of the Puruṣa for the object.
The success of Dhyāna depends on the force (Śakti) of the Puruṣa
that pushes the mind to direct itself towards an object.
Without interest, there is no question and no answer.
If you have the interest, you will discover the proximity.”
– TKV Desikachar Madras December 19th 1988

Question: “Can you explain for me the relationship between this ‘Apekṣa‘ and ‘Upekṣā‘ in Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 33 please?”
Response: “In terms of relationship, the two terms fall into an opposite framing as in ‘interest’ in Yoga Sūtra Chapter Four verse 17 and ‘disinterest’ in Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 33, whilst sharing a commonality in terms of both being an active process as in active interest and active disinterest.”

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