By Swami Harshananda
Ṛtambharaprajñā literally means ‘truth-bearing consciousness’.
The Yogasutras of Patañjali[1] is the most systematic and basic work of psychology which deals with the characteristics of a healthy mind. While dealing with samādhi or the super-conscious state of mind, Patañjali has used the word ‘ṛtambharaprajñā’.[2]
Ṛtambharaprajñā, Definition[edit]
When the mind of the yogi[3] is rid of the impurities of rajas and tamas, it learns to flow unhindered, culminating the experience of the puruṣa or the ātman.[4] When such a mind is directed towards any object, it can give a direct and clear knowledge of that object untainted and unhindered. Hence it is called ṛtambharaprajñā. It refers to the knowledge that is full of the true nature of that object. The samādhi state in which this occurs is called ‘dharmamegha-samādhi’.
References[edit]
- The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore