Kapila's Samkhya Patanjali's Yoga: Theory and Practice by Brahmrishi Vishvatma Bawra

Author:Brahmrishi Vishvatma Bawra [Bawra, Brahmrishi Vishvatma]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Brahmrishi Yoga Publications
Published: 2012-04-06T18:30:00+00:00

I-33

maitrī-karunā-muditopeksānām sukha-duhkha-punyāpunya-visayānām bhāvanātaś citta prasādanam.

Purity and happiness are maintained by practicing friendliness with happy people, compassion with suffering people, gladness with virtuous people, and indifference toward vicious people.

We may be eager to focus our minds but living in society challenges our practice. To support our practice while interacting with others, Patañjali describes four categories of human beings: the happy, the suffering, the virtuous and the vicious. There are so few people who lead a happy life, while the numbers of people who suffer are countless. Those who are spiritual, gentle, helpful and selfless are virtuous or divine. Cruel, selfish, or vicious people are demonic. [89]

Patañjali suggests four attitudes: friendliness, compassion, gladness and indifference. When others are happy, we should be friendly with them not jealous. Jealousy in the presence of others’ success and happiness drags us away from practice. With those who are suffering, he advises compassion. Compassion is the gateway to divinity. We should try to help people who are suffering, offering them empathy and providing practical help.

We should be inspired and glad to be with a virtuous person. We naturally rejoice in the presence of someone who is uplifting. Cruel and selfish people have a very different effect on us. Patañjali suggests indifference toward vicious people. If we befriend them, they will lead us astray, and if we make them our enemy, we suffer from aversion and anger. We should avoid destructive people and be neutral toward them if we must be in their company.

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