Our own plain rendering: Or, the mind can be steadied by contemplating a mind that is free from all attachments.

The Power of Exemplars

This sutra offers a psychological method for stabilization: focusing the mind on someone who has already achieved freedom from desires (vīta-rāga). In classical yoga, the mind is highly mimetic—it tends to take on the qualities of whatever it contemplates. By focusing on a "detached mind," our own citta begins to resonate with that state of detachment. Vyasa and other traditional commentators suggest focusing on great sages like Krishna, Buddha, or other liberated beings. The object of meditation here is not the person's physical form, but the quality of their consciousness—specifically their lack of "coloring" (rāga) by worldly attractions and repulsions.

The Mechanism of Resonance

Why does this work? Vachaspati Mishra explains that by contemplating a mind free from passion, the practitioner's own passions are temporarily suspended. This creates a "coolness" in the mind. In the framework of the gunas, a vīta-rāga mind is predominantly sattvic. By dwelling on such an exemplar, we invite sattva to rise within ourselves. Edwin Bryant notes that this is a common theme in Indian traditions—the idea that the company of the holy (satsaṅga), even in the form of mental contemplation, is a powerful tool for transformation. It provides a living proof that the goal of yoga is attainable.

Overcoming the Obstacle of Avirati

This practice is the direct antidote to avirati (overindulgence or obsession with sensory objects), one of the obstacles in 1.30. When the mind is caught in a loop of wanting, focusing on the "want-less" state of a sage provides a pathway out. I.K. Taimni points out that this is often easier for many people than focusing on an abstract principle or a light. The human mind relates well to other minds. However, Vijnanabhikshu reminds us that the goal is not to worship the sage as an external deity, but to use their state of mind as a template for our own stabilization.

Contemplating Detachment

This practice involves selecting a model of equanimity and "tuning" your mind to their frequency. It is a practice of mental imitation and absorption.

The Five-Step Practice of the Detached Mind

1. Selecting an Exemplar: Choose a figure (historical, traditional, or even known to you personally) who embodies detachment and peace. They should be someone for whom you have great respect.
2. Visualizing their Presence: Imagine this person sitting in a state of perfect stillness. See the expression of peace on their face and the relaxed posture of their body.
3. Contemplating their Freedom: Focus specifically on their freedom from craving. Reflect on how they are not pulled by likes or dislikes, but remain centered in their own being.
4. Internalizing the Quality: Imagine that their state of mind is like a perfume that you are breathing in. Let your own mind begin to mirror that same stillness and lack of "grasping."
5. Observing the Shift: Notice if your own current desires or anxieties seem smaller or less significant in the light of this contemplation. Rest in that newfound space.

The Trap of Personality Worship

A common misreading is to turn this into a devotional practice centered on the personality or life story of the sage. In classical yoga, the focus is strictly on the viṣaya (object) of their citta—which is the absence of rāga. If you spend your meditation time thinking about the miracles a saint performed, you are not practicing sutra 1.37; you are engaging in story-telling, which can be another form of mental fluctuation.

Misunderstanding 'Vīta-rāga' as Apathy

Another error is to confuse detachment with a lack of care or coldness. A vīta-rāga mind is not a dead mind; it is a mind that is free to act without being driven by neurotic needs. Swami Vivekananda emphasized that the most detached people are often the most active and compassionate, because they are not acting for their own ego. The "coolness" of the mind is not the coldness of the heart.