6
b. Scope of study
The scope of study is quite focussed in the sense that it deals with the first six verses of a specific text – the
Yogasūtra of Pātānjali see Appendix A. It also deals with a specific aspect of these verses, the psychological dimension of the Science of Mind. What do we mean by a ‘psychological’
understanding? The cognitive, volitional, and affective aspects of the human experience are what will be explored in this perspective. In other words, what are the mental structures and processes
which are set out by Pātānjali in his Science of Mind for the practitioner to understand and deal
with, on his journey to realising his true nature. The primary source of the study is the original Sanskrit text written by
Pātānjali , the main bhāșya or commentary by
Vyāsa and the subcommentary vivaņra on this bhāșya by Śa
ṁ
kara the Yogasūtrabhāșya vivarņa. The primary and secondary sources are classified and listed in the
bibliography.
c. Limitations of study
This study will not attempt to situate the psychological model in the Yogasūtra within the modern
paradigms of western psychology. It will focus on the self contained model of the operations of the mind and its underlying structures and functions as set out by
Pātānjali . The study does not go into the debates within the
Sā
ṁ
khya or Yoga philosophy and metaphysics nor does it enter into the philosophical and metaphysical debates between the two. It does not attempt
to look at other aspects of Yoga such as its historical development, comparison with other presentations of Yoga in the Hindu traditions unless it is relevant to the main argument of the
Yogasūtra as a Science of Mind. The complex and detailed aspects of
Samādhi meditation-absorption are not discussed as these fall beyond the scope of the psychological understanding. They are discussed only to the extent that the
7 Science of Mind and its application deal with the preparation of the mind to reach these states of
concentration, meditation and meditative absorption.
II. Literature Review
a. Introduction