17/09/2024
Yoga philosophy teaches that our perception of reality is shaped by the "coloring" of the mind, as stated in the Yoga Sutras. It emphasizes that "we see the world not as it is, but as we are." This suggests that our internal states—emotions, past experiences, and biases—directly influence how we interpret the world around us.
Sutra 4.17 says- An object becomes known or unknown depending on the coloring of perception.
चित्त को वस्तु का ज्ञान होना एवं न होना वस्तु के साथ उपराग की अपेक्षा से होता है ।
This means that our understanding of anything is influenced by the lens through which we view it.
In the Yoga Sutras (1.7), perception is defined as "direct cognition of objects arising from the contact of the senses with their objects."
While perception is a means of acquiring knowledge, Yoga philosophy cautions us that it does not represent ultimate reality. The mind often distorts what we perceive, like a reflection on a turbulent lake—imperfect and ever-changing. To transcend these subjective illusions, Yoga encourages meditation and discernment (viveka). Through these, one aims to quiet the mind, see beyond personal biases, and approach a clearer, more unfiltered understanding of reality.
(Perception in Yoga Explained)
