Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c12.s3.t4.65

v2.c12.s3.t4.65

The Yoga school held that certain types of miraculous force can be obtained through samyama. This kind of miraculous force is in essence a supernormal power, aka *siddhis*. The force differs depending on the specific objects of samyama. The *Yoga-sūtra* mentioned many types of siddhis, which refer primarily to certain knowledge or abilities normal people could rarely acquire. For instance, through samyama on one’s body, one can become invisible; via samyama on differences between speeches and objects, one can understand animals’ sounds; through samyama on perception, one can read minds; through samyama on behaviours and consequences thereof, one can gain valuable insights into death; via samyama on the latent force, one can acquire knowledge about his or her former life; and through samyama on animals, the sun, the moon, the stars, body organs and functions thereof, etc., one can accordingly obtain a wealth of supernatural knowledge and miraculous ability. In addition, one may also acquire the *viveka-khyati* to distinguish between sattva (prakriti) and purusa (purusha). Once the yogis achieve this particular *viveka-khyati*, he can gain a mastery over all existences and infinite knowledge. If yogi went further and got rid of “viveka-khyati”, he could destroy the seeds of evil and enter into an absolute independent state. In this state, sattva (prakriti) and purusa (purusha) have the same nature of cleanliness. Both of them exist independently without combination. Thus, there is no basic condition for reincarnation, which makes elimination of suffering possible. This is a state pursued by the Samkhya school and the Yoga school.