Yoga Sūtra Chapter Three verse 6
तस्य भूमिषु विनियोगः ॥६॥
tasya bhūmiṣu viniyogaḥ ||6||
Its application is in stages.
tasya - its, of it, of thisbhūmi - step, degree, stage; ground; floor of a house; foundation; a place, situationviniyoga - employment, use, application; apportionment, distribution, divisionCommentaries and Reflections
Commentary by T Krishnamacharya:
“To derive Siddhi through
Saṃyama Dhāraṇā or
Savikalpa Samādhi,
Dhyānam and Samādhi
have to be practised.
These practices should
also be practised
according to one’s capacity.”
– T Krishnamacharya on Yoga Sūtra Chapter Three verse 6
Commentary by TKV Desikachar:
“This is what Patañjali says in that everything must be given step by step.
Yoga Sūtra Chapter Three verse 6 reflects this idea.”
“We should never forget what Patañjali has said –
Teach according to the strength, resources and weakness of the individual”.
“Meditation also depends on the meditator.”
“Nobody is ‘unfit’ to do Yoga.
It is a question of finding the right starting point.”
“Each person has their own threshold or level.
But the nature of Rāga and Dveṣa,
which are beginningless and endless,
affects our desire.”
“It is not possible for everyone to
reach the same level of meditation.
Even meditation should be
taught or presented in stages.
It should be used at a level suitable to
the student and gradually increased;
start simply and increase in complexity.
This is dependant on the growth of the
student and according to the purpose.”
“The abilities of people are different.
At least in the beginning.”
“You should never go beyond your capacity.
You should never go below your capacity.”
“If somebody has a higher potential,
let them go to a higher level.”
“Each step must precede the next.”
Commentary by S Ramaswami:
“There are many areas in which the technique of Saṃyama can be used.
I.e. Cakra as in Mūlādhāra to the Ājñā, or Ājñā to beyond.
Thus, you can use Saṃyama to go from the easy to the more difficult.
The idea is to develop the Saṃskāra of Saṃyama and go from there.
Haṭha Yogi would possibly use the Cakra.
Bhakti Yogi would possibly use a Deity.
However, the common idea is to start with an easily graspable principle and go onto more subtle aspects of that principle or other principles.
Once can use a Trāṭakam or Yantra or Vigraha and from the form go onto more subtle aspects or principles.
In Bhakti Yoga the Bāhya Sādhana is used when the practitioner desires to go straight onto the concept of Paramātman.
Āsana and Prāṇāyāma are a means to helping develop Bhakti.
In Haṭha Yoga where the person may not subscribe to the idea of a deity or creator, the emphasis is in understanding all there it so the known about the body both internally and externally.
Thus for him the Saṃyama is confined up to Aliṅga or Mūla Prakṛti.
The third chapter deals with this aspect or master of knowledge of that which is beyond the senses within Prakṛti.
However there must be a gradual progression one cannot skip over stages.
But the aims of the Bhakti and Haṭha Yogi are different one goes by stages towards God and the other goes by stages through the Siddhis.
The Bhakti does not concern himself with these things as they are only part of the play of Prakrti
This idea of stages was explained in 1.41, with Saṃprajñāta of Grāhya Samāpatti, Grahana Samāpatti and Grahītṛ Samāpatti.
The highest level or the last stage is Viveka Khyāti, reached after attaining perfection of the previous stages, one after another.
The highest stage cannot be reached all at once.
There is a saying in this respect:
“By Yoga, Yoga must be known.
Through Yoga, Yoga advances.
He who cares for Yoga.
In Yoga rests forever.”
Thus Saṃyama must be practiced to know its scope and potential.”