1:33 The mind becomes purified by cultivating feelings of friendliness towards those who are happy, compassion for those who are suffering, goodwill towards those who are virtuous, and indifference or neutrality towards those we perceive as wicked or evil. (version by Swami Jnaneshvara Bharati)
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Wisdom from the Yoga Sutra
The philosophy of yoga that is over 2,000 years old and still speaks to us today. We who practice yoga as a complete system--not just exercise--know that in order to get the most benefit from it, we need to first practice the yamas and niyamas. These are universal moral and ethical principles, such as non-violence, telling the truth, and non-stealing.
Many yogis turn the Yoga Sutra for guidance and clarification on how to practice. There are 3 verses in the Yoga Sutra that come to mind now. In addition to 2.34 (above) are these two: |
from the second pada, or chapter, of the Yoga Sutra
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2.34 Uncertain knowledge giving rise to violence, whether done directly or indirectly, or condoned, is caused by greed, anger or delusion. It can be in mild, moderate or intense degree. It results in endless pain and ignorance. Through introspection comes the end of pain and ignorance. (version by BKS Iyengar)
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the Yoga Sutra is still memorized and chanted today
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2.35 When non-violence in speech, thought and action is established, one's aggressive nature is relinquished and others abandon hostility in one's presence. (translation by BKS Iyengar)
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Here is an inspiring example from one Latina woman who was on the streets of Charlottesville on Saturday. I heard her speak at a community forum in C'ville on Sunday Aug 13:
“I was determined not to go and hate. I stood on the sidewalk while they marched by. It was scary, and I'm not naive, I know they are dangerous. But I would say things like “I like your hat” or “I like your beard.” That would disarm them. If they said “Heil, Hitler” I said, oh, so you speak German! I speak Spanish. . .If they said “Build the Wall” I said, sorry, I can't pay for it. . . or if they started saying really bad things to me, I would just reply in Spanish. To the laughter of many, she added “oh, so you don't want to have brown children? I'm OK with that. . .”
I doubt I could have witnessed love in the face of hate like that. And I'm under no delusion that just because I am a long-time practitioner of yoga, there is no anger in my heart. But I prefer to not turn away from the ugliness I don't want to see, but to learn to see clearly, what in Sanskrit is called Vidya.
“I was determined not to go and hate. I stood on the sidewalk while they marched by. It was scary, and I'm not naive, I know they are dangerous. But I would say things like “I like your hat” or “I like your beard.” That would disarm them. If they said “Heil, Hitler” I said, oh, so you speak German! I speak Spanish. . .If they said “Build the Wall” I said, sorry, I can't pay for it. . . or if they started saying really bad things to me, I would just reply in Spanish. To the laughter of many, she added “oh, so you don't want to have brown children? I'm OK with that. . .”
I doubt I could have witnessed love in the face of hate like that. And I'm under no delusion that just because I am a long-time practitioner of yoga, there is no anger in my heart. But I prefer to not turn away from the ugliness I don't want to see, but to learn to see clearly, what in Sanskrit is called Vidya.