Omniscience

 

 

Sutra 1.25 The intelligence of consciousness is boundless.

The Sanskrit root of the term “Tatra” is “Tat.” Tat means Consciousness Absolute. We see this word in the mahavakya “Tat-tvam-asi” in the Upanishads; which translates to “That thou art.” We understand by this aphorism that our true identity is boundless pure consciousness, or omniscience. Typically we don’t think of ourselves as omniscient, because it is the mind that is thinking this. The mind is not omniscient, but consciousness that is the observer of the mind, is. When the mind is still, and pure consciousness is at the forefront of observation, omniscience is present. Omniscience doesn’t necessarily mean that we can recite the taxonomy of paleopiscetology or encompass the collected works of all scholars. Omniscience means being so clear that inspiration shines the light of Truth at every moment and we somehow just know the right action that is perfect in each circumstance. When the mind is undistracted by its own dream then we are totally open to the wisdom of divine omniscience. Our inner knowing is far beyond, and much greater than, the deductive processes and emotional knee jerks of the mind. The key is the clarity of the thought-free state (nirvikalpa).

~Dennis Hill

Yoga Sutras