Yoga Sutras on Nonattachment

Yoga Sutras (YS) 1.15: Drishta anusravika vishaya vitrishnasya vasikara samjna vairagyam, Nonattachment is the manifestation of self-mastery in one who is free from craving for objects seen or heard about.

A symptom of "self-mastery", or one who has quieted the fluctuations of the mind (see 1.2) is vairagya or nonattachment. Vairagya literally means "without color". It is a state of not clinging. Reverend Carrera in his commentary says "it is the ability to keep the distortions of selfish motives and intents out of every relationship, action, and process of learning." When one is fulfilled from within there is no getting seduced by the temporal pleasures of the senses. It is similar to when your two year old child clings to his toy and doesn't want to share it until his five year old brother walks in with a more sophisticated five year old toy. Immediately the two year old discards his toy and starts crying for the more sophisticated toy. When one is totally fulfilled from direct experience of the Self there is no attraction to the lesser pleasure of "objects seen or heard about." In this sutra Patanjali refers to spiritual experiences, heaven, or supernatural abilities (siddhis) as objects heard about. Even spiritual experiences can be objects of attachment.

Sutra 1.16: Tat param purusha khyater Guna Vaitrishnyam, When there is non-thirst for even the gunas due to realization of the purusha that is supreme nonattachment.

This is a continuation of the previous sutra. "Even the gunas"(qualities of nature) is just another way of saying anything in nature. Carrera says in his commentary on this sutra "Supreme nonattachment is based on having an inner experience so sweet, satisfying, and compelling that there is nothing on the outside that can compete with it."

The Yogi is completely free from cravings for anything in creation.
This is not to say that one doesn't enjoy the things in life. One is less encumbered in the present moment by all the self-serving cravings and more able to enjoy the sunset, good food, or companionship of a loved-one; or able to feel the sorrow of loss or frustration of a friend without being totally overwhelmed by the experience.

Now for those of us not manifesting self-mastery or supreme nonattachment, we keep practicing and work toward healthy relationships with the gunas.