Śrī Datta Bhagavān Uvāca:-
[God Śrī Datta Spoke]:-

[O Rājīva! You are very intelligent, as shown by the two excellent questions you asked. First, I will explain both Yogas:- i) Nirīśvara Sāṅkhya Yoga of Kapila and ii) Seśvara Sāṅkhya Yoga of Patanjali.]

[Since the cause of the subtle energy was Parabrahman, who is beyond even imagination, the Mūla Prakṛti or the inert energy is the starting point for the creation and therefore, the unimaginable God was not touched in the context of creation by Kapila. In the Bhāgavatam, Śrī Kapila concentrated on God while preaching His mother.]

[Even Śrī Kapila concentrated on God. But based on the context of creation, He was propagated as an atheist and His philosophy was stamped as atheistic philosophy. There cannot be anything more unfortunate than this. Even in the context of creation, He mentioned God as Puruṣa, who initiates the creation. Much was not told about God here and His plurality of Puruṣa means multiple incarnations of God.]

[After Mūla Prakṛti, Mahat (intelligence) is evolved. Ahaṅkāra (ego) of Sattvam generates the mind and the ten indriyas of Jñāna and Karma. Ahaṅkāra (ego) of Tamas generates five Tanmātras and five elements. Puruṣa is the last 25^th item.]

{1. Mūla Prakṛti, 2. Mahat (Intelligence), 3. Ahaṅkāra;

From Sattva-ego:- 4. Mind, Five Jñānendriyas i.e., 5. Skin, 6. Eyes, 7. Ears, 8. Tongue, 9. Nose; And five Karmendriyas i.e., 10. Speech, 11. Hands, 12. Legs, 13. Anus, 14. Sexual organ;

From Tamas-ego:- Five Tanmātras i.e., 15. Sound, 16. Touch, 17. Form, 18. Mouth, 19. Scent; And five elements i.e., 20. Space, 21. Air, 22. Fire, 23. Water, 24. Earth, 25. Puruṣa}

[The meaning of the word ‘Puruṣa’ stands for God, His incarnations and Yogis because they are also detached from their activities. Without Rajas quality, there cannot exist even an atom of trace of ego. Hence, rajas is not separately mentioned, which is counted in Ahaṅkāra itself.]

[The quality of Rajas activates everything in the system. It is like the electricity needed for an industry. Therefore, Rajas is mentioned in the term of Ahaṅkāra or basic ego. Rajas activates every action, which is the main essence of ego.]

[The people, who are ignorant, claimed that Kapila is an atheist. Such people also say that Buddha is an atheist. Actually, Kapila and Buddha are the incarnations of God Viṣṇu. These people propagated that both the above-said Preachers are atheists. Moreover, the Gītā says that Sāṅkhya-Yoga and Patanjali-Yoga are one and the same. The word ‘Yoga’ can be applied to Patanjali’s philosophy of Yoga Sūtras also.]

[The silence of Buddha about God says that God is unimaginable Nirguṇa Brahman and hence, He is beyond words (yato vāco nivartante– Veda). His silence is misinterpreted by ignorant people that Buddha kept silent about God, which means that Buddha does not believe in God. Even Śrī Śaṅkara told that God is to be really expressed through silence since He is beyond the imagination of anybody (Mauna vyākhyā prakaṭita Parabrahma tattvam…). This is not atheism, but real theism that speaks about original unmediated God.]

[The meaning of the word ‘Yoga’ is also Karma yoga, which is service and sacrifice. To attain this stage, interest in God must be developed to climax. This climax interest and firm decision are called Samādhi. The theoretical devotion and meditation are necessary for the practical devotion to God. Such practical devotion is attained by unshakable determination (Samādhi) that can be obtained by meditation on God.]

[Yama means controlling external senses. Niyama means controlling inner senses like mind. Āsana means the mode or posture in which you can continue without any vibration while meditating upon God. While you are in Āsana, you must not feel any inconvenience so that you like to discontinue the meditation. Āsana is different from the exercise of body, which is also important but, does not come under Āsana.]

[The health of the body is very very important. The exercise must be done by eight parts and limbs of the body for attaining such good health of body. One must keep God Hanumān in the place of Guru or Preacher because physical health is very useful in physical service to be done to God. Śrī Madhva always worshipped God Hanumān for good health of the body so that He can serve God well.] 

[There are four parts of body:- i) Stomach, ii) Chest, iii) Neck, iv) Head and there are four limbs of the body:- v) & vi) Two legs, vii) & viii) Two hands. These eight together are called as Aṣṭāṅgas. These eight parts and limbs of the body must be strongly moved, which will give good health to body and this is called Aṣṭāṅga vyāyāma.]

[This exercise of eight parts and limbs of the body can be done by a person in sitting or even lying positions. This will facilitate the people of all ages. Moreover, if the body is heavy, standing or walking is not good because the weight of the body damages the knee-joints.]

[Now, prāṇāyāma is explained. Pūraka means taking the air inside through one nostril. Kumbhaka means retaining the inhaled fresh air. Recaka means leaving the inhaled air through another nostril. This prāṇāyāma must be done in garden or forest because the fresh oxygenated air is plenty available in such places. In this, the middle stage Kumbhaka (retaining the inhaled air) is very important because the purification of blood by oxygen takes place for a long time. In this way, the aim of prāṇāyāma is purification of blood.]

[The next step is Pratyāhāra, which is the forcible withdrawal of senses from fascinating items of the world so that the mind can strongly stand on God. This world is full of fascinating items. If the mind is not withdrawn from the world, the mind will not be constantly attached to God.]

[The next step is called dhāraṇam, which means catching the Human Incarnation to attain spiritual knowledge, which increases devotion to God and also guides regarding the practical procedure. This should not be taken in the sense of catching statues or photos, which are inert and do not give knowledge.]

[The next step to be attained is called dhyānam or meditation on God. Meditation is always done by mind based on love to God. This will increase the concentration on God. Scholars describe this stage as surrendering mind to God with love.]

[The final step is samādhi. This is related to the intelligence that always takes the decision. The unshakable faith in the Sadguru (Divine Preacher) is called Nirvikalpa samādhi. If the faith is often shaken by opponent worldly forces, such state is called as Savikalpa samādhi.]

[Of course, in the beginning stage, till you get the Human incarnation as Sadguru, you can worship and meditate upon statues and photos of God. Even though God comes as Human Incarnation in every human generation, searching for the Human Incarnation and developing firm faith will take some time. In this time, the worship of statues and photos is recommended. This point is told in the scripture “Pratimā hyalpa buddhīnām”.]

[Merely catching the Human Incarnation or Sadguru is not the final step and the ultimate benefit. You must dedicate to the knowledge preached by Him and also practice it. This is the most important point. Mere attainment of Human Incarnation does not give any result.]

[Some souls are always strongly immersed in worldly activities only. They are always searching for food like animals, birds etc. They are always after food and drinking. They are always interested in sleeping and in producing children. These people never think about God even for a moment. For such souls, God gives the births of birds, animals, insects, worms etc., so that they can fully concentrate their entire life on those things only, which they always liked in this world. This is not anger or revenge of God on such souls. This is only the highest love of God on such souls so that they can enjoy always their liked items in such births without any disturbance from theists, devotees, saints etc.]