Sutra 2: 25
The destruction of ignorance through right knowledge breaks the link binding the seer to the seen. This is kaivalya, emancipation.
As you probably already know, unless you have been living and graced by the contemplative life for a long while, we are more prone to living focused on human issues (finances, family, chores, work etc…) than naturally turning our mind to God. This sutra is saying that when we have mastered this ignorance and set our focus on God, through right knowledge of his word, we are no longer bound to nature. In other words, we are emancipated from the flesh and walking with God and the Holy Spirit, which in yoga, is freedom. As Christians, attaining freedom in Christ and emancipation from fleshly desires and emotions is living in love.
Beloved, let us love one another because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. 10In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. 12No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us. 13By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14And we have seen and do testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world. 15God abides in those who confess that Jesus is the Son of God, and they abide in God. 16So we have known and believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. 17Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this world. 18There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. 19We love because he first loved us. 20Those who say, “I love God,” and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen. 21The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also. (1 John 4:7-21)
One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ (NIV, Mark 12:28-30)
The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these. (NRSV, Mark 12:31)
Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,” and whatever other commandments there may be, are summed up in this one rule: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. (NIV, Romans 13:8-10)
I also think God agrees with this sutra although it is he that gives us love, and he who gives us understanding. It is up to us to master our will and learn to live in love and God in all situations. I imagine doing this would give great peace and love to our hearts all the time and create freedom in our hearts and souls.
