पातंजल योगदर्शन सूत्र २.१७

                             

(13) द्रष्टदृश्ययो: संयोगो हेयहेतू: | -साधनपाद २.१७.

Patanjali has defined the living beings by two criteria-

(1)  The witness-द्रष्टा-One who can see, experience; one who has organs of body to receive signals from outside world as well as from inside of its body.

(2)  The seen- दृश्य-whatever is knowable; these are generally objects which are capable to send signals of their presence / existence within their zone of influence. The spread, extent and strength of this zone depends upon the size and energy it possesses. For example, sun is a largest object as well as greatest mass of energy. Its signals are innumerable, the main and prominent signal is the Light which enables all to see.

The living being is said to be living, if and only if, it has capacity and ability to be receiver of the transmissions from everything that emits out its energy. In this sense, दृश्य is also द्रष्टा because it can also receive signals by reciprocation. But दृश्य may not have organs and therefore दृश्य includes living as well non-living beings.

                   As far as द्रष्टा is considered in its fundamental & critical form & aspect, it is प्राणशक्ती, an energy which is manifests as दृश्य. The merger of both, द्रष्टा and दृश्य constitutes what is called the world; the माया as is perceived, experienced and lived in by us.

                   Patanjali elaborates further that द्रष्टा is प्रत्ययानुपश्य:meaning thereby that द्रष्टा being an energy is perceived only by corroboration i.e. प्रत्यय because energy by itself is neither object nor an entity. It is pervading phenomenon of life as such. In this sense, द्रष्टा is also called as पुरुष in its precinct form. Therefore, it is also the soul-आत्मा and it is known or identified indirectly by three tests-

(1) The movement-एजत-whatever is capable of moving leaves its place by shifting, spreading, bouncing, etc.

(2) The movement which is called निमिषत-It happens within a fraction of second as small as duration between movements of eyelids.

(3) The movement is caused by respiration-प्राणत-whatever that needs the air, atmosphere, a milieu, has got to receive the same. For receiving air or its equivalent, movement howsoever small, fractional, the movement is must.
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