Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 44

एतयैव सविचारा निर्विचारा च सूक्ष्मविषय व्याख्याता ॥४४॥

etayā-eva savicārā nirvicārā ca sūkṣma-viṣayā vyākhyātā ||44||

By this,
thus the process of subtle reflection,
without and with refinement,
for subtle objects is explained.

etayā - by thiseva - indeed, truly, really; thus; so, just so, exactly sosavicārā - unrefined subtle reflectionnirvicārā - refined subtle reflectionca - andsūkṣma - subtle; atomic; intangibleviṣaya - an object of sense; anything perceptible by the senses; any object of affection or concern or attentionvyākhyātā - explained; that explains or expounds

Commentaries and Reflections

Commentary by Paul Harvey:

By these same steps the process of reflection on a subtle object is explained,
firstly in an unrefined stage of reflection,
intermixed with words, purpose, knowledge and imagination around that object,
and then in a refined stage,
with a purification of memory,
so as if empty of its own content;
in the refined stage of reflection,
only the true nature of the subtle object shines forth.

Inspirational Quote

“To be a philosopher is not merely to have subtle thoughts; but so to love wisdom as to live according to its dictates.” Henry David Thoreau