The seer, the true Self, is pure consciousness. Though it appears to perceive the world through the mind’s activities, in essence it remains untouched, the ever-pure witness. All that is seen—the world and its myriad forms—exists solely for the sake of this seer, serving the purpose of experience and realization. For one who has reached the goal and recognized the true nature of the seer, the seen loses its hold and ceases to exist as a source of bondage. Yet, for others still journeying, the world continues, for its existence is shared among all beings. The interplay between the seer and the seen—their conjunction—arises so that the power and true nature of both may be understood. However, this union is rooted in ignorance: the mistaken identification of the self with the mind and the objects perceived. When ignorance is removed, the conjunction dissolves, and the seer stands liberated, free from all entanglement. The means to this freedom is unwavering discriminative knowledge—a clear, steady discernment between the seer and the seen. For one who cultivates this knowledge, wisdom unfolds in seven progressive stages, reaching its highest fulfillment. This unfolding is aided by the practice of yoga’s limbs. As impurities are gradually destroyed through these practices, the light of knowledge arises, culminating in discriminative wisdom. The eight limbs of yoga are: restraint (yama), observance (niyama), posture (asana), breath control (pranayama), withdrawal of the senses (pratyahara), concentration (dharana), meditation (dhyana), and absorption (samadhi). The restraints are non-violence, truthfulness, non-stealing, chastity, and non-possessiveness. These are universal great vows, transcending distinctions of class, place, time, or circumstance. The observances are purity, contentment, austerity, self-study, and devotion to the Lord. When negative thoughts arise, one should deliberately cultivate their opposites. Negative thoughts—such as violence—whether enacted, encouraged, or merely approved, whether arising from greed, anger, or delusion, and whether mild or intense, lead only to endless suffering and ignorance. Therefore, always cultivate their opposites. When one is firmly established in non-violence, hostility ceases in his presence. When truthfulness is steadfast, actions bear their fruit unfailingly. When non-stealing is perfected, all precious things come unbidden. Chastity brings great vigor, and when non-possessiveness is unwavering, the knowledge of the causes and nature of birth arises. From purity springs a distaste for one’s own body and a natural avoidance of unnecessary contact with others. This brings clarity of mind, cheerfulness, one-pointedness, mastery over the senses, and readiness for self-realization. Contentment yields unsurpassed happiness. Through austerity, impurities are destroyed, resulting in perfection of the body and senses. Through self-study, union with one’s chosen deity is attained. Devotion to the Lord leads to perfection in samadhi, the highest absorption. Posture, or asana, is to be steady and comfortable. This is achieved by relaxing effort and becoming absorbed in the infinite. Then, one is undisturbed by the pairs of opposites such as heat and cold, pleasure and pain. Once posture is established, the regulation of breath—pranayama—follows, involving the measured flow of inhalation and exhalation. The movements of breath—external, internal, and suspended—are refined according to place, time, and count, gradually becoming long and subtle. There is a fourth pranayama, which transcends all external and internal objects. With mastery of breath, the veil covering the inner light is gradually lifted, and the mind becomes fit for concentration. Next is withdrawal of the senses, where the senses imitate the mind by not engaging with their objects, turning inward. Then comes supreme mastery over the senses. Concentration is the binding of the mind to a single place. When this focus becomes an uninterrupted flow toward the object, it is meditation. When only the object shines forth, and the sense of self recedes, that is samadhi. Practiced together on a single point, these three—concentration, meditation, and absorption—constitute samyama, the gateway to profound knowledge and realization.