yoga sutras of patanjali

Yoga Sutras of Pantajali

yoga philosophy for modern living [page 1] [page 2]

In these sections we look at aspects of Yoga philosophy that relate very much to our present working lives.

Those of you who read self help books or read books on basic psychology will be surprised by how much is reflected in the scriptures of Yoga.

None of what follows is connected to a specific religious path, it relates to all paths and if anything is a lesson in common sense and basic human nature.

The Bhagavad Gita - Facing difficult situations [new - next page]
The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali Book One Verse 33 to help you keep a peaceful and serene mind [this page]

The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali Book One Verse 33

By cultivating attitudes of friendliness towards the happy, compassion for the unhappy, delight in the virtuous, and disregard toward the wicked, the mind stuff retains its undisturbed calmness.

This verse from the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali can be a guiding light in keeping a relaxed and serene mind. Here Patanjali gives us four keys: friendliness, compassion, delight and disregard. There are only four kinds of locks in the world. Keep these four keys always with you, and when you come across any one of these four locks you will have the proper key to open it.

So what are these four locks? - the happy people, unhappy people, the virtuous and the wicked. At any given moment, you can fit any person into one these four locks. When you see a happy person, use the friendliness key. Why does Patanjali say this? Because even four thousand years ago there must have been people who were not happy at seeing others happy. It is still the same now. Suppose somebody drives up in a big new car, parks in front of a large palatial house and gets out. Some other people are standing on the pavement in the hot sun getting tired. How many of those people will be happy? Not many. They will be saying 'See that big car? She doesn't work you know or who does she think she is?'

We come across people like that; they are always jealous. when a person gets a name, fame or a high position, they try to criticize that person. 'Oh don't you know her brother is so and so; she must have pulled some strings somewhere.' They will never admit that she might have gone up by her own merit. By that jealously, you will not disturb her, but you will disturb your own serenity. She simply got out of the car and walked into the house, but you could be burning up inside. Instead think, 'Oh good for them, such a fortunate person. If everybody were like that how happy the world would be. May god bless everybody to have such comforts. Perhaps I will also get that one day.' Make that person your friend. That response is missed in many cases, not only between individuals but even amongst nations!

And what of the next lock, the unhappy people? Well, we should have compassion. If you can lend a helping hand, do it. If you can share something, share it. Be merciful and compassionate always. By doing that you will retain the peace and poise of your mind. Remember, our goal is to keep the serenity of our minds. Whether our mercy is going to help that person or not, by our own feeling of mercy, at least we are helped.

Then comes the third lock , the virtuous people. when you see a virtuous person, feel delighted. 'Oh, how great they are, they are like a hero, perhaps I could learn from their qualities. Don't envy them, don't try and put them down. Appreciate the virtuous qualities they have and try to cultivate them into your own daily life.

And lastly the wicked. We come across wicked or small minded people sometimes. We can't deny that. So what should be our attitude? Indifference. 'Well. some people are like that. Probably I was like that yesterday. Am I not a better person now? He or she might be ok tomorrow.' Don't try to advise such people because wicked people seldom take advice. If you try to advise them you will lose your peace.

One rainy day, a monkey was sitting on a tree branch getting completely drenched. Right opposite on another branch of the same tree there was a small sparrow sitting in its hanging nest. Normally a sparrow builds its nest on the edge of a branch so it can hang down and swing gently in the breeze. It has a nice cabin inside with an upper chamber, a reception room, a bedroom below and even a delivery room if it is going to give birth to a little ones. You should see and admire a sparrows nest sometime!

So, it was warm and cosy inside its nest and the sparrow just peeped out and, seeing the poor monkey said, 'Oh my dear friend, I am so small; I don't even have hands like you, only a small beak. But with only that I built a nice house, expecting this rainy day. Even if the rain continues for days and days, I will be warm inside. I heard Darwin saying that your are the forefather of the human beings, so why don't you use your brain? Build a nice, small hut somewhere to protect yourself during the rain.'

You should have seen the face of that monkey. It was terrible! 'Oh you little devil! How dare you advise me? Because you are warm and cosy in your nest you are teasing me. Wait, you will see where you are!' The monkey then proceeded to tear the nest to pieces, and the poor bird had to fly out and get drenched like the monkey.

This is a good story to remember, sometimes we come across such monkeys, and if you advise them they take it as an insult. They think you are proud of your position. If you sense even a little of that tendency in somebody, stay away. He or she will have to learn by experience. By giving advice to such people, you will only lose your peace of mind.

Patanjali groups all people into these four ways: the happy, the unhappy, the virtuous and the wicked. so have these four attributes: friendliness, compassion, gladness and indifference. These four keys should always be with you in your pocket. If you use the right key with the right person you will retain your peace. Nothing in the world can upset you then. Remember your goal is to keep a serene mind, this yoga sutra will help you do that.

Adapted from The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali - Translation and commentary by Sri Swami Satchidananda (Integral Yoga publications 1997)

Notes: The Sutras date approximately from 5000BC to 300AD No one knows exactly who Patanjali was or even if he was one man. There are 200 sutras which basically means thread. The idea was to give an outline to a teaching which could then be reinterpreted by the teacher.

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