YOGA SUTRA 1:33

1. INTRODUCTION

MIND

By nature, the mind - also called the inner instrument (antahkarana) is serene crystal clear.

With the help of the mind, the consciousness breathes life into the body and sense organs - thereby allowing us to experience the beauty and joy contained in an infinite variety of objects of the external world.

This inner instrument is the means through which we come to know ourselves and the world, both outside and within. It is a tool of perception and expression.

But when there are impurities, such as i.e ignorance, the mind loses its ability to stay still. With impurities, the mind runs purposelessly from one object to another, exhausting itself in the process.

A clear and stable mind allows awareness to shine through. Unless the impurities are removed, none of the techniques to make the mind calm works well..

LOVE

Love is perhaps the greatest driving force of all human beings.

Like the sun is in the center of our solar system and it rules all the planets, the very core of our lives and inseparable part of our nature, is love.

There are 4 qualities of the heart that are prerequisites to authentic love:

1. Friendliness / loving kindness (metta) 2. Compassion (karuna) 3. Joy (mudita) 4. Equanimity (upekkha)

Both Patanjali and Budha taught the importance of cultivating these 4 qualities and we shall look into each of them individually in more detail.

2. FOUR QUALITIES OF OUR HEART

1. Metta (Loving Kindness)

- Quality of unconditional benevolence - Genuine wish and care for the wellbeing of others - Not sentimental, nor possessive & clingy - Loyal acceptance with a deep sense of appreciation and regard

By strengthening metta in our lives, we live with greater gentleness, ease and thoroughness.

2. Karuna (Compassion)

- Emphatic connection - Compels to move forward, help others to move forward, help others with their worries or troubles - Budha described Karuna as the “trembling of the heart” that we experience when we are open and able to truly see suffering and be moved to do something about it - We do not need to suffer ourselves in order to alleviate the suffering of another person - as doctor does not need to suffer the illness to relieve patient’s pain

In the experience of compassion our hearts turn from preoccupation with our own joys and sorrows to the suffering of other beings.

We are touched, feel their pain as our own, learn to bear it with them without protecting ourselves through distancing or removing awareness.

3. Mudita (Joy)

- Pleasure that comes when we delight in other people’s well-being rather than resentment - As “karuna” connects us to the suffering and sorrow of others, “mudita” is a quality through which we resonate with the joy and success of others - Opposite of envy and jealousy - Also the joy we take in the simple pleasures such as the breath or to see a smile or the blueness of the clear sky

Mudita should not be mistaken for excited states of happiness. It is grounded in peace, faith and vision of life that experiences the harmony behind all events and objects.

4. Uphekka (Equinamity)

Satisfaction or pleasure when one sees some evil person punished might feel like the person deserves that punishment. From a yogi perspective such feeling of pleasure or satisfaction from seeing another person in unfortunate or painful circumstances is harmful and undesirable.

- Can be translated as “disregard” - It is manifested by non reactiveness, spaciousness and clarity of attitude - It helps us to accept the way thighs are as they are right now, allowing us to look more deeply into the nature of experience without attraction, aversion or blindness - Illustrative: mother who lets go of controlling her child as he grows up - continuing to support him and wish him well, while recognizing that his choices are his to make, good or bad.

3. FOUR LOCKS & FOUR KEYS SUTRA

Sutra 1:33 is often called the "4 Locks & 4 Keys Sutra" providing us with 4 keys to peace and teaching how to maintain it in all the circumstances.

Patanjali claims that at any moment you can fit any person into one of these 4 categories.

Sukha - happy Dukha - unhappy Punya - virtuous Apunya - wicked

These categories are considered as locks and if you use the right key with the right person, you will retain your peace.

𝗟𝗢𝗖𝗞: 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻 - 𝗞𝗘𝗬: 𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 - Share the happiness or good fortune instead of jealousy, bitter attitude or negative verbal comments

𝗟𝗢𝗖𝗞: 𝘂𝗻𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 - 𝗞𝗘𝗬: 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 - Try to comfort if you can - Do not take pleasure in seeing someone suffer - “Through compassion you find that all human beings are just like you.” Dalai Lama

𝗟𝗢𝗖𝗞: 𝘃𝗶𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻 - 𝗞𝗘𝗬: 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 - Do not envy - Appreciate qualities and try to cultivate them in your life, value knowing that such greatness is possible

𝗟𝗢𝗖𝗞: 𝗻𝗼𝗻 𝘃𝗶𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻 - 𝗞𝗘𝗬: 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗿𝗱, 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 - We need to develop equanimity towards those whose actions oppose our values

If we can be pleased with others who are happier than ourselves, compassionate towards those who are unhappy, joyful with those doing praiseworthy things and remain undisturbed by the errors of others, our mind will be tranquil.