What is cognition according to Yoga and not according to Patanjala's Yoga?

Answer 1

Cognition is the threefold act of perceiving, learning and reasoning.

The word 'Yoga' is both a verb and a noun.

The verb 'yoga' means controlling as in discipline (controlling your energies to be aligned with universal energies - like 'yoking' two oxes together so their energies are aligned).

The noun 'yoga' is the living union of the process.

The many approaches to yoga allow you to choose the path by which you will align your energies with universal energies. In general there are four: Bhakti - Devotion, Jnana - Knowledge, Karma - Work and Raja - Meditation.

All approaches are a journey that unfold from the gross to the subtle and each has clear 'signs' that indicate the level of your current understanding.

One of the most significant signs is the 'cognition' of the spirit-nature of Being. This is the penultimate 'step' in the journey as it simultaneously marks the end of intellectual seeking and the beginning of the greatest journey.

The greatest journey is a single 'step' (backwards). It is that 18 inch journey from your head to your heart where the 'union' of Living Yoga is realized as the 'Peace Beyond Understanding'.

May You Be Richly Blessed,
James

Answer 2

Cognition :

There are 3 elements in Congnition.
The perceived, the perception (referring to tools of perception) and the perceiver.

So When there 3 are present and unite (Yuj Dhatu - from which Yoga is derived means union) the cognition happens.

For a clear perception or vision or cognition it is imperative that :
Perceiver is refineded, the tools of perception are refined and
in yoga preferrably you will like to perceive a good or a refined thing.

So in Yoga all 3 are refined.
Hence a better cognition takes place !

Hence the goal of any yoga is :
1. refine the perceiver
2. refine the tools of peception (like eyes, ears, skin etc.)
3. perceive good and noble or Godly things.

Answer 3

Yoga means sum or addition. The knowledge of union with the Supreme is Yoga.