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The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali - Book 2 - The Steps to Union
39. When abstention from avarice is perfected, there comes an understanding of the law of rebirth. This sutra gives in unequivocal terms the great teaching that it is desire for form of some kind which brings the spirit into incarnation. When desirelessness is present, then the three worlds can no longer hold the yogi. We forge our own chains in the furnace of desire and of a various longing for things, for experience and for form life. When contentment is cultivated and present, gradually these chains drop off and no others are forged. As we disentangle ourselves from the world of illusion, our vision becomes cleared, and [201] the laws of being and of existence become apparent to us and are little by little understood. The how and the why of life are answered. The reason for and the method of physical plane existence is no longer a problem, and the yogi understands why the past has been and what its characteristics are; he understands the reason for the present life cycle and experience and can make practical application of the law each day, and he knows well what he has to do for the future. Thus he frees himself, desires nothing in the three worlds and reorients himself to the conditions in the world of spiritual being. In these qualities we have the carrying out of the five Commandments.
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