Patanjali Yoga Sutras

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junction of the seer and the seen.
Who is the seer? The Self of Man, the PuruSa. What is the
seen? The whole of nature, beginning with the mind, down to
gross matter. All this pleasure and pain arises from the
junction between this PuruSa and the mind. The PuruSa, you
must remember, according to this philosophy, is pure; it is
when it is joined to nature, and by reflection, that it appears to
feel either pleasure or pain.
18. प्रकाशक्रियास्थितिशीलं भूतेन्द्रियात्मकं भोगापवर्गार्थं दृश्यम् ॥ १८॥
prakashakriyasthitishilan bhootendriyatmakan
bhogapavargarthan drishyam
The experienced is composed of elements and organs,
is of the nature of illumination, action and intertia,
and is for the purpose of experience and release (of
the experiencer).
The experienced, that is nature, is composed of elements and
organs—the elements gross and fine which compose the
whole of nature, and the organs of the senses, mind, etc., and
is of the nature of illumination, action, and intertia. These are
what in Sanskrit are called Sattva (illumination), Rajas
(action), and Tamas (darkness); each is for the purpose of
experience and relase. What is the purpose of the whole of
nature? That the PuruSa may gain experience. The PuruSa
has, as it were, forgotten its mighty, godly, nature. There is a
story that the king of the gods, Indra, once became a pig,
wallowing in mire; he had a she pig, and a lot of baby pigs,
and was very happy. Then some other angels saw his plight,

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