TKV Desikachar Sāṃkhya Kārikā of Īśvara Kṛṣṇa Quotes Collected and Collated
“Sāṃkhya will not make sense to
those people who have not tried anything.
i.e. Prayer, Mantra, Medicine.”
– TKV Desikachar on Sāṃkhya and Yoga
“Sāṃkhya postulates what appears
and what causes it to appear.”
– TKV Desikachar on Sāṃkhya and Yoga
“Sāṃkhya proposes a permanent solution to suffering.
If we look and see.
And see what produces what we see.”
– TKV Desikachar on Sāṃkhya and Yoga
“The mind has the characteristics that make other things possible.
To develop tendencies or Saṃskāra.
The mind can also adapt and change or Pariṇāma.
Saṃskāra is the opposite of Pariṇāma.”
– TKV Desikachar on Sāṃkhya and Yoga
“Pariṇāma is change and can be from one moment to the next.
Suppose we are listening to music we like, a Saṃskāra or tendency,
and something happens to jar the appreciation.
The change is immediate and opposite to how we were.
Thus the Saṃskāra of listening to a particular style of music
causes friction when there is change.”
– TKV Desikachar on Sāṃkhya and Yoga
“When Saṃskāra takes one view and
Pariṇāma another there is friction.
Coming to Madras is Pariṇāma,
being unable to have those things you had before causes friction.
When you want those things you are used to through Saṃskāra,
then the Pariṇāma which caused this can bring Duḥkha.”
– TKV Desikachar on Sāṃkhya and Yoga
“Depending on what and how you feed Pariṇāma and Saṃskāra
you can have good or bad reactions.
Pariṇāma relates to perception,
Saṃskāra relates to memory .”
– TKV Desikachar on Sāṃkhya and Yoga
“The practice of Yoga is an attempt to influence
Saṃskāra and Pariṇāma in a positive way.
If not the practice is wrong.
Therefore Yoga is a Saṃskāra which
gradually changes from old Saṃskāra.”
– TKV Desikachar on Sāṃkhya and Yoga
“The learning process
is only possible with Pariṇāma.
Remembering what you have learned
is only possible with Saṃskāra.”
– TKV Desikachar on Sāṃkhya and Yoga
“A Yogi is one in who Pariṇāma and Saṃskāra are in harmony.
When there is no harmony there is the wrong
combination of Pariṇāma and Saṃskāra.
This is known as Avidyā or not knowing a thing as it is.
The right combination is Vidyā.”
– TKV Desikachar on Sāṃkhya and Yoga
“There is a relationship between
Pariṇāma, Tāpa and Saṃskāra.
When you recognise this phenomena
there is something that recognises it.
That something is not part of the phenomena.”
– TKV Desikachar on Sāṃkhya and Yoga
“Lightness or Sattva is not always correct.
Sometimes it is necessary to create
heaviness and activity for memory, etc.”
– TKV Desikachar on Sāṃkhya and Yoga
“There is an impression in some schools
that Tamas and Rajas are to be rejected.
This is not so, both are necessary.
It is the combination thats important.”
– TKV Desikachar on Sāṃkhya and Yoga
“Everything we see,
including the instrument of mind,
has three qualities or natures.
All matter has the three qualities.
In Saṃskṛta they are known as Guṇa.
In Sāṃkhya it is said that every problem
comes from the Guṇa and their interplay.
The effects can be based on what we see, eat, hear,
and the effects of what we see, eat, hear.
In Yoga one who has mastered themselves is one
who can produce whatever Guṇa is required.”
– TKV Desikachar on Sāṃkhya and Yoga
“One’s own actions can develop or make one Guṇa prominent.
Thus we can plan or practice Āsana or Prāṇāyāma to promote one Guṇa.
The practice of Yoga can influence the Guṇa.
the room where you practice can affect the Guṇa
by photographs, colour of paint, smell.
Even Mantra are classified into Guṇa.
This needs to be considered when using Mantra for the individual.
Meditation can be related to the Guṇa.
The object of our inquiry must be related or,
in accordance with what we want to produce.”
– TKV Desikachar on Sāṃkhya and Yoga
“For Yoga Teachers it is
important to understand
the movement of the mind
as well as of the body.”
– TKV Desikachar on Sāṃkhya and Yoga
“The mind is basically neutral.
It depends on what happens to us.”
– TKV Desikachar on Sāṃkhya and Yoga
“In observing, we must remember a few more things:
When we are not able to see something,
It is either because something else is more obvious,
or because it is too close to us.
(Sāṃkhya Kārikā of Īśvara Kṛṣṇa Āryā Seven)
We can only observe when there is an inclination to do so.
(Yoga Sūtra Chapter Four verse 17)
Because of our own memories, backgrounds, cultures, etc.
Each person looks at the same problem differently,
which may cause problems.
(Yoga Sūtra Chapter Four verse 15)
We must respect time and change,
although the tendency nowadays is otherwise.
We must wait and observe more than once
so as not to be trapped by the fact
that things appear like this one day
and like that another day.”
– TKV Desikachar on Sāṃkhya and Yoga
“Its the combination (of Guṇa) thats important.
There is the simile of the oil lamp in the Sāṃkhya Kārikā Śloka 13.
The cotton wick – Light Property (Sattva)
The basin or bowl – Heavy Property (Tamas)
The oil – Flows this way or that (Rajas)
The moment you dip the cotton in the oil it takes on that property.
Thus the Guṇa work together to produce the flame.”
– TKV Desikachar on Sāṃkhya and Yoga
– Last Updated 3rd June 2021
