My Chosen 'Sutra' (Thread)

My homework due at training this evening is an essay about a specific Sutra or "thread" from the book "The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali." The whole of the work is broken up into four books which each contain different Sutras, essentially basic guides for life. We were to choose one Sutra and then write a reaction to it. Below is what I'll turn in tonight (minus the pics!).

Patanjali: The Man, The Myth, The Yogi

Book One, Sutra 33

“Maitri karuna muditopeksanam sukha duhka punyapuna visayanam bhavanatas citta prasadanam. By cultivating attitudes of friendliness toward the happy, compassion for the unhappy, delight in the virtuous, and disregard toward the wicked, the mind-stuff retains its undisturbed calmness.”

    This Sutra is echoed by the more modern teaching of The Golden Rule, “Do unto others as you would have done to you.” In the Sutra however, Patanjali breaks down this idea further by describing the four types of people one may encounter. The happy, unhappy, virtuous and the wicked must all be treated in certain ways by the yogi. By treating each type of person appropriately, the yogi may stay balanced and peaceful in her own mind while addressing those around her in a positive way. 

          
  By greeting the happy with friendliness, the yogi stays free from jealousy and negative speculation about the happy person. Friendliness and well wishes basically ensure those feelings are returned by the happy person, thus creating a positive experience for both parties. By offering friendliness the yogi also keeps at bay her own wickedness which otherwise would cloud the mind-stuff and destroy any chance for calmness and peace.

          
  When we offer compassion for the unhappy, we show that we are sympathetic to their feelings of unhappiness, despite the matters of why they have come to be unhappy in the first place. The yogi does not place blame or judgment on the unhappy, but offers empathy and mercy towards them. These actions certainly will not increase unhappiness, and may possibly serve to reverse the feelings of sorrow and elevate the unhappy to a better emotional position. By offering compassion, the yogi inadvertently invites compassion to be returned and keeps a stable, peaceful mind.  

           
    Virtuous people are often envied or resented for their luck and accomplishments. These feelings stem from inadequacies one feels about themselves. However by treating the virtuous with delight, as Patanjali suggests, the yogi may in turn learn to strengthen and grow the virtuous qualities already in their possession. In our modern culture, the virtuous are often coveted and despised by the jealous and envious. Some are not able to delight in the success of others, and must then focus on shortcomings of the virtuous and attempt to tear them down out of spite. This takes an enormous amount of mental and emotional energy, distracting the envious from their virtues, successes and delights. The mind cannot be peaceful and calm when it is poisoned by jealousy and malice. 

            
    This leads us to the final of the four types of people Patanjali describes in this Sutra, the wicked. According to Patanjali, the yogi is to treat the wicked with indifference. By doing this, the yogi does not give up her peace or clarity of mind. The wicked do not want assistance or guidance from the yogi, therefore it is best that they are treated with indifference. It is likely that at one time the yogi has acted wickedly, and that must be remembered. Hope the wicked will recover and become a better person in the future, rather than despising or engaging them. The wicked will never accept well intentioned advice therefore the yogi should not offer it lest she lose her own serenity.

             
    Sri Swami Satchidananda’s commentary on this Sutra asks the reader if she can think of another type of person not mentioned by Patanjali here. I offer the arrogant person as an additional character. Arrogance is a corrupted form of pride. The truly arrogant are most likely overcompensating for feelings of inferiority despite virtuous accomplishments. They are never pleased with themselves nor do they know how to maintain a serene mind. The arrogant attempt to make those around them believe an exaggerated version of reality. The arrogant however, are not truly proud in the pure and positive sense. They are liars who spread falsehoods to themselves and those around them in an attempt to quell internal conflict. I believe this type of person should be treated with a combination of compassion and indifference for all of the same reasons listed in the previous examples. I agree with Satchidananda that this Sutra in particular is an important one to keep handy in the mental rolodex. These ideas are basic, positive ways to treat others which in turn help the yogi to achieve peace, serenity and calmness within.