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The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali - Book 1 - The Problem of Union

39. Peace can also be reached through concentration upon that which is dearest to the heart.

Sutra 39 in its very simplicity carries with it, its own powerful appeal. In it can be traced the various stages of acquirement-desire, longing, concentrated determination to possess, the negation of all that does not meet that requirement, the emptying of the hands so as to be free for new possession, then possession itself, satisfaction, peace. But with all things pertaining to [87] the lower desires, the peace is but temporary, a new desire awakes and that which has been held so joyously is relinquished. Only that which is the fruition of the ages, only that which is the regaining of an old possession fully satisfies. Let the student therefore study and ascertain whether that which is dearest to his heart is temporal, transitory and ephemeral, or whether it is, as the great Lord has said, "treasure laid up in heaven."

We now come to the most comprehensive sutra in the book: (40). It might be pointed out here that these "seven ways to psychic peace," as they have been called, cover the seven methods of the seven rays in connection with the control of the psychic nature. It is important to emphasise this. These seven ways have a direct relation to the four initiations of the threshhold, for there is no major initiation for any son of God who has not achieved a measure of psychic peace. Students will find it of interest to work out these seven ways to peace in relation to one or other of the seven rays, assigning the way to the ray wherever it seems to them appropriate.

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