UNDERSTANDING/PURIFICATION/BALANCE
By understanding ourselves we can overcome negative and harmful states of mind
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CONTENTS
- Separating the experiencer from the experience
- Understanding not repression
- LoveWisdomGoodness
- The Seven Deadly Sins (Poisons/Mistakes)
- Understanding Vice and Virtue
- Understanding and Education NOT punishment
- A Table of Negative Attitudes and Their Corresponding Positive Attitudes
- Developing Ethics, Morality, and Principles
- Virtue in Relationships
Separating the experiencer from the experience
We are not our experiences, we are the experiencer. The ability to separate the experience from the experiencer is essential to any self development work. This skill can very quickly be learned. For example, jealousy may arise in our emotions. We can relate to it in two ways.
- "I am jealous" - wrong
- "I am experiencing jealousy" - right
The first way is wrong because we mistakingly identify with the experience and this makes it more difficult to deal with. The second way is correct because we have separated the experiencer from the experience and this makes it easier to deal with the experience. We have separated the subject (the experiencer) from the object (the experience).
Understanding not repression
Recognizing and transforming destructive thoughts, attitudes, beliefs, opinions, and emotions lies at the heart of spiritual practice.
A great way to understand and master the human experience is to be able to center (identify) yourself with your soul deep within your heart center, or place yourself in an inner space from where you can observe all that is going on in the body, emotions, and mind. From this peaceful, non-attached vantage point we can observe the experience arising in the body, emotions, and mind and we can choose how to relate to all these experiences. For example, hatred may arise and from our vantage point we can choose whether to co-operate with it or not. We become self-masters when we are able to choose whether or not to cooperate with that which is arising in our body, emotions (heart), and mind. This is central to any self development work.
Throughout this section it is important to understand that the aim of purification does not concern repressing or judging the "bad" thoughts and feelings that are a normal and natural experience. We first have to accept the human experience in its TOTALITY and this includes all the undesirable thoughts and feelings that everybody has, the things we generally label as 'bad'. We are aiming to accept and understand, with complete honesty, what is happening in the realm of our thoughts and feelings. By accepting ourselves in our totality - with equanimity (balance) - we are embracing and befriending everything within ourselves. We learn to "face and embrace", to own, to be responsible for our thoughts and feelings, our attitudes and beliefs, and to familiarise ourselves with our totality - without judgement or condemnation.
"The practice of mindfulness helps us be aware of what is going on. Once we are able to see deeply the suffering and the roots of the suffering, we will be motivated to act, to practice. The energy we need is not fear or anger; it is the energy of understanding and compassion. There is no need to blame or condemn. Only understanding and compassion can liberate us." - Thich Nhat Hanh (The World We have, pg 77)
We must learn to observe and recognize every thought and feeling that arises within us. This must be done without judgement, fear, or condemnation. As the wise say; Whenever a wholesome thought arises acknowledge "A wholesome thought has arisen" and when a unwholesome thought arises acknowledge "An unwholesome thought has arisen." To begin to understand and master ourselves we need to learn to honestly observe, acknowledge, and recognise the thoughts and feelings that arise within us, only then are we in a position to better guide our actions. We must overcome any conditioning or beliefs about ourselves that prevent honest self-enquiry.
We acknowledge, befriend, and understand ourselves in our totality so that we are not confused or fearful of anything within ourselves. When anger arises we think "Hello my anger. What do you want? What's the matter? Why have your arisen?" and the same goes for everything else within. By doing this, then we will begin to know ourselves and we will not be suprised or overwhelmed when certain thoughts, emotions, desires, and aversions arise.
With mindfulness, just allowing everything inside ourselves to be as it is, observing, acknowledging, understanding, and not judging or condemning that which arises. Tuning in to ourselves, inviting everything inside into our conscious mind without fear, worry, or judgement. Thoughts and feelings are just thoughts and feelings they cannot hurt us or others unless we act upon them. With mindfulness, let everything arise - all that is inside is a part of us. If we desire to understand and master ourselves then we have to acknowledge and befriend all that is inside ourselves so that we can know ourselves and never need to fear or worry about what is inside of us every again.
Accepting ourselves fully and using mindfulness, we can begin to master ourselves. We can begin to choose that which we will act upon and that which we will not.
If our mind were a garden, then we learn to nurture and water the seeds and plants of goodness and to root out and destroy the seeds and harvest of badness. Over time, if we do not feed the seeds of badness then those thoughts, attitudes, emotions, and actions will drop away from us. They may still be there as seeds, but as soon as they arise we will learn not to act upon them or nurture them if it is inappropriate to do so.
if it's not an act of LoveWisdomGoodness then it's an incorrect act
Ignorance, egotism, and all resulting vice (sin, badness) are the enemies of life, soul, and God. At the same time, these bad qualities and attitudes are the very stuff that each soul must understand, acknowledge within ourself, and purify, as this is the central lesson of soul schools. Let us abandon defensive pride concerning these generic bad qualities that are a natural part of soul school, let us overcome them, and practice the opposing virtues so that our heart and mind gradually becomes an embodiement of virtue. This is the purpose of soul school.
Inside us all is good and bad. We must learn to understand good from bad and to choose goodness over badness. Inside our mind are minds of vice (badness) and minds of virtue (goodness). It is our duty to learn to choose virtue instead of vice - goodness over badness.
From the mind of vice arises all things vicious. From the mind of virtue arises all things good. As the mind, so the person. As within, so without - all external human behaviour and activity is a reflection of the inner activity and attitudes in our hearts and minds.
Virtues are not just good behaviours, they are GOLDEN BEHAVIOURS of infinite inner wealth. Let us discover, nurture, grow, and cherish this wealth that is the source of immense happiness for all. We should feel good when we are good and let that feeling grow.
The spiritually correct way to live is with reverence to life, nature (the source and maintainer of life on Earth), and - if you are at all spiritually minded - to God. Reverence for life is an attitude that we nurture in which we consider and treat life with profound awe, care, respect, wisdom, and love. To live life with reverence involves taking time to learn how life on Earth works (ecology) and how we can all help it to flourish. Reverence and LoveWidomGoodnessPeace are the correct attitudes that we nurture and they become the way in which we relate to ourself, others, and the environment. Reverence and love for life and God is the spiritually correct way for us to live.
Each individual can learn how to choose what the mind thinks and thus learn how to behave consciously instead of from conditioning, habit, and ignorance.
"Be Good. Goodness is the greatest virtue. Goodness implies kindness, benevolence and morality. Cultivate good habits. Entertain good, sublime, divine thoughts. The whole of ethics and conduct is contained in this. To be good is divine. If you want to be good, see what is good, hear what is good, think what is good, do what is good, speak what is good, read what is good, write what is good, eat what is good, drink what is good. Be good."
-Swami Sivananda: Divine Life Society
Let LoveWisdomGoodness be our standard and our guide
The mind actively generates our relationship with and experience of life. When we do not understand the mind, then it can subconsciously generate many problematic and unpleasant states that enslave us to a restricted experience of life. By understanding the mind, and the unpleasant mindstates that it can generate, we can gradually become free from this subconscious process and become a master of the heart and mind. This is the path that all souls must walk in order to attain spiritual realizations and freedom from the unconscious generation of unpleasant states of mind.
Our impurities - that give rise to confusion, self-dislike, and self disgust - show us that we have some purification work to do in those centers where the impurities arise.
Impurities need to be understand, purified, and behaviour forgiven - we live, learn, purify, and grow
"Good habits are your best helpers; preserve their force by stimulating them with good actions. Bad habits are your worst enemies; against your will they make you do the things that hurt you most. They are detrimental to your physical, social, mental, moral and spiritual happiness. Starve bad habits by refusing to give them any further food of bad actions."
- P.Yogananda 'Scientific Healing Affirmations'.
THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS
Sin means mistake or misunderstanding. All other negative (bad) attitudes and behaviours that we experience within ourselves and others have their root cause in these seven deadly mistakes. The deeper you investigate human behaviour the more you will realise this key truth: all unvirtuous behaviour arises out of these seven key mistakes.
You will notice that all the primary sins/mistakes are behaviours that are not Love-Wisdom-Goodness and are displays of egocentric selfishness in every case. Understanding this shows us that all these negative behaviours arise from a blocked heart chakra and disconnection from a socially healthy relationship with life, others, and the World.
This is why Egocentric Pride is called "The primary mistake from whence all the other mistakes arise."
| MISTAKE/SIN | EXPLANATION | RELATIVE CHAKRA |
| PRIDE The Primary Mistake Arrogance Egotism Spiritual Ignorance |
Arrogant Egotism, creates the experience of the Fall, rejection of God, rejection of the individual as a soul, gradual rejection of virtue that becomes replaced by vice, and rejection of the reality of spiritual existence - spiritual reality. Pride creates the highly negative experience of ego-consciousness and all the pain and suffering (vice/sin) related to this mistaken identity of the soul with the physical body. Pride also covers arrogance, conceit, vanity, boasting, egotism, inability to learn from others, narcissism, and the root of all anti-social personality disorders. In social terms, it is identified as a desire to be more important or attractive than others, failing to acknowledge the good work of others, and excessive love of self (narcissim). | 7 - Crown |
| DISHONESTY STEALING | The act or to act without honesty; a lack of probity, to cheat, lying or being deliberately deceptive; lacking in integrity; to be knavish, perfidious, corrupt or treacherous; charlatanism or quackery. Dishonesty is the fundamental component of a majority of offences relating to the acquisition, conversion and disposal of property. | 4 - Heart 5 - Communication 6 - Mind |
| WRATH | Uncontrolled (and sometimes persistent) feelings of hatred, anger, rage, sarcasm, mockery, put-downs, spite, resentment, and generally wishing ill-will and planning to do evil or harm to others. Wrath can also be directed inwards towards ourselves as in the case of extreme self-hatred, or self-harmers. Wrath is manifested in the individual who spurns love and opts instead for fury. It is also known as rage (excessive and unrelenting violent anger). | 6 - Mind 3 - Power 4 - Heart |
| ENVY | The desire for others' traits, status, abilities, or situation and the desire to prevent others from experiencing their own good fortune. Jealousy is resentment at others' good fortune, traits, status, abilities, or situation. Jealousy and Envy follow the rule of the tyrant - "It is not enough that I succeed, others must also fail. It is not enough that I fail, others must also fail." | 3 - Power 4 - Heart |
GREED | The excessive and addictive desire to possess and hoard things, often at the expense of our humanity and the needs of others. It is also called Avarice or Covetousness (longing/craving). | 1 - Base |
| LUST GLUTTONY | An unreasonable and selfish craving for the pleasures of the body. Generally referring to completely selfish and mercenary desire for sex and sensuality with no consideration for others or higher aspects and experiences of the human experience. Gluttony is Gluttony is an unreasonable selfish desire to consume more than that which one requires. | 2 - Sex and Sensuality |
| SLOTH | Not caring about life, excessive laziness, ignoring life and its needs, apathy, impassivity, distant, aloof, unconcerned, indifference, and procrastination in attending to living. | 1 - Base 3 - Power (lack of) |
We have the knowledge and simple techniques to overcome The Inner Enemy to successful and happy living for one and all.
The aim is not to whitewash our emotions with platitudes - all emotion serve a logical and realistic purpose. The aim is to understand ourself and use techniques such as "applying the opposite thought" to help us overcome persistently and unnecessarily negative attitudes, emotions, moods, and thoughts that create confusion, misery, pain, and disease.
UNDERSTANDING VICE (delusion) AND VIRTUE (goodness)
The civilized person considers others and therefore aims to understand themselves so that they do not hurt or harm others, and can also be in a position to help and assist others.
Pratipaksha Bhavana: Applying the opposite thought
Applying the opposite thoughts to our negative thoughts
As stated in "The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali";
Sutra 2: 33
VITARKA BADHANE PRATIPAKSA BHAVANAM
"When disturbed by negative thoughts, opposite [positive] ones should be thought of. This is pratipaksha bhavana."
This requires much practice in the first place but becomes easier and more consistent with time and commitment. Below you will find a table to help you replace negative (viceful/vicious) mindstates with their opposite, positive (virtuous) ones.
I feel that we must first "disarm" (not co-operate with) the selfish negative mindstates by applying the "neutral" opponent.
One way to control negative thoughts even before the thought overpowers us is to think of its aftereffect. Stop and consider. "What will happen if I allow this thought to continue? I'll lose my friends. If the other person is strong they may not even be affected at all. She might just laugh and walk away. But even before the other person is affected by this negative thinking, I am being affected by it. It will make me ill even it affects no other person.
Sutra 2: 34
When negative thoughts or acts such as violence, etc., are caused to be done or even approved of, whether incited by greed, anger, or infatuation, whether indulged in with mild, medium, or extreme intensity, they are based on ignorance and bring certain pain. Reflecting thus is also pratipaksha bhavana.
Suppose we bring pain to someone or cause harm to be brought to another. The reactions will come and ultimately result in ignorance and misery. We need not even cause pain directly for the reaction to occur. We can effect this just by approving of another's painbearing actions due to our own avariciousness, anger, hatred, or ignorance.
Much of the way we think and behave is linked to the conditions and learning of our childhood. So, before we begin to give ourselves a hard time about the way we are today, I suggest we continue reading.
IDENTIFYING VICE AND VIRTUE
Vicious (full of vice):
- Having the nature or quality of vice or immorality : depraved
- Defective , faulty ; also : invalid
- Impure , noxious
- Dangerously aggressive : savage : marked by violence or ferocity : fierce
- Malicious , spiteful (vicious gossip), slander, defame, lie
- Worsened by internal causes that reciprocally augment each other (vicious spiral)
Synonyms vicious: villainous , iniquitous , nefarious , corrupt , degenerate mean highly reprehensible or offensive in character, nature, or conduct. vicious may directly oppose virtuous in implying moral depravity, or may connote malignancy, cruelty, or destructive violence. villainous applies to any evil, depraved, or vile conduct or characteristic. iniquitous implies absence of all signs of justice or fairness. nefarious suggests flagrant breaching of time-honored laws and traditions of conduct. corrupt stresses a loss of moral integrity or probity causing betrayal of principle or sworn obligations. degenerate suggests having sunk to an especially vicious or enervated condition.
"Christian theologians have reasoned that the most destructive vice equates to a certain type of pride or the complete idolatry/worship of the self (egotism). It is argued that through this vice, which is essentially competitive, all the worst evils come into being." - Wikipedia
Vices are undesirable and unhealthy qualities that make you and others unhappy. Vice is a diseased attitude that leads to ill-health for one and all. The persistent indulgence in one or more vices will lead our heart and mind to the gates of Evil.
Virtues are desirable and healthy qualities that make you and others happy. Virtue is LoveWisdomGoodness that leads to health and happiness for one and all.
Vice and virtue are two sides of the same coin. We find that the virtue is on the opposite side to the vice. By applying the effort to turn over the coin, we are rewarded by finding the virtue that was hidden in the vice and the lessons that we learned through the vice.
AFFIRMATION FOR VIRTUE: "When I experience and observe the ignorance, egotism, and vice in this world, I vow to myself to learn how to refrain from such experience and how to embody the opposite qualities."
Ultimately we are trying to become established in the mode of goodness, so that we can bring LoveWisdomGoodness (and Godness) into our daily living, and enjoy living this way.
"For this is (for) the love of God that we keep his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome" (1Jn 5:3)
"If it is not an act of love then it is an incorrect action (a sin / vice)"
Three steps in dealing with vice:
- Identify the vice.
- Neutralize the vice: Refrain from doing it by affirming the opposite.
- Practice and apply the opposing virtue.
UNDERSTANDING AND EDUCATION NOT PUNISHMENT
It is incorrect to punish anybody for their behaviour if they do not understand their behaviour.
It is correct to help everybody to understand human behaviour and how to not cooperate with negative, damaging, and harmful behaviour and how to nurture positive, healthy, and life-affirming behaviour.
Change takes practice and time - be patient and steady
We will all experience moments of vice and deluded thinking, this is natural. The aim of this work is not to repress the natural emotions and experiences of life, but to help us overcome persistently negative states of mind that can lead to long term personality problems and unhappiness for all. We need to feel our emotions and acknowledge our attitudes and problems before we can set about improving and managing them.
The "force of Evil" in the world, in humanity, is created by the unguarded and habitual indulgence in one or more of these central vices (negative attitudes).
|
Vice/Sin/Unhealthy Attitude |
Refrain/Stop |
Virtue/Good/Healthy Attitude |
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I do not abuse my power or position |
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| Adolescent delinquency and sabotage of adult life. |
I refrain from delinquency and self-sabotage |
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I refrain from unnecessary anger but I can show anger when I feel it is necessary |
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Exaggerated pride or self-confidence often resulting in a negative consequence. |
I refrain from arrogance |
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I realize the ultimate folly of attachment |
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I refrain from attention seeking behaviour |
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Blaming others for our misfortunes or mistakes |
I do not wrongly blame others for my own faults |
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I do not bully others |
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| Carelessness | I am careful |
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Confusion |
I am clear and I accept that I get confused sometimes |
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Corruption Perversion of pure action |
I refrain from corruption I only do that which is moderate, healthy, good, and natural |
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Crab mentality: describes a way of thinking best described by the phrase "if I can't have it, neither can you." |
I refrain from preventing others having things and experiences that I have not |
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Craving to long for; want greatly; desire eagerly |
I refrain from being a victim of craving that which I don't need and/or is uneccessay |
Desires are ok but I am not ruled by them. I realise the most cravings are selfish, temporary, and passing desires. I am the master of my heart and mind. |
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I refrain from cruelty and harm I do not harm myself or others |
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Delusion Delinquency |
I am learning about human behaviour |
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| Despair | I calm myself (try relaxation breathing) knowing that despair does not help either the present nor the future | Nurture hope and perform healthy and positive action |
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Dishonesty
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I am honest |
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Dogma A belief that is held to be "truth" or the authority. |
I am not dogmatic |
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Excuses (dishonest) A dishonest defense of our offensive behavior or our failure to keep a promise, often accompanied by dishonestly blaming others. |
I am refrain from giving dishonest excuses concerning my failings |
I take full responsibility for my mistakes |
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An excessive or exaggerated sense of self-importance. In extreme forms, egotism (as egotism) may include narcissism, personality disorders, and antisocial behavior. |
I am not egotistical |
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Covetousness |
I am not envious |
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Exploit: The act of utilizing something or someone in an unjust or cruel manner. |
I refrain from exploitation, understanding that I must relate to life with fairness, justice, and respect |
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Fall
(From God centered living) |
I refrain from denying the possible existence of God and of my identity as being a soul that is not limited to the lifespan of this current physical body. |
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| Glamour | I refrain from being blinded by the superficial outward appearance of people and things in the world |
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Hoarding Miserliness |
I refrain from greed |
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Haste |
I am not hasty |
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I do not harbor hatred I may experience natural aversion to people, places, and things but this is of the moment and not a persistent problem |
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Hostility |
I refrain from unnecessary hostility towards self and others |
I practice friendliness, compassion, kindness, and understanding |
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Hypocrisy Hypocrisy (alternately spelled hypocricy in American English), is acting in a manner contradictory to one's professed beliefs and feelings, or conversely, expressing false beliefs and opinions in order to conceal one's real feelings or motives. For example, a smoker would be hypocritical if he or she were to criticize someone else for smoking tobacco. The term hypocrisy is often used in a religious context to refer to someone who gives a false appearance of virtue or religion, or does not "practice what he or she preaches". Psychologically, hypocrisy can be an unconscious act of self-deception. |
I refrain from hypocrisy |
I practice that which I believe in |
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Idolatry Iconolatry |
I do not idolize others |
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Ignorance |
I want to learn |
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Imitation |
I refrain from imitation |
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Impatience |
I am patient |
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Inconsiderate |
I consider others |
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Indifference |
I consider others |
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Irrational Guilt |
I only feel guilty when I know I have done something wrong |
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I am not jealous |
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I do not judge others I refrain from prejudice |
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I refrain from selfish lust and the mercenary pursuit of selfish sense gratification |
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Malevolence |
I refrain from malice |
Benevolence |
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Malice
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I refrain from malice |
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I refrain from mockery |
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Misanthropic Hatred towards humanity in general |
I refrain from misanthropic attitudes |
Philanthropic |
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Naive innocence |
I don't want to remain naive |
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I refrain from selfish self adoration |
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I am identifying and overcoming my negative habits |
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Neurotic fear |
I refrain from unnecessary fear |
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Passion |
I refrain from immoderate passionate behaviour |
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Persistent indecision |
I make choices and accept the consequences |
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Possessiveness (unhealthy) especially concerning other people |
I let go and allow others to enjoy themselves. I do not own anybody. |
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Power games |
I have no need to play immature power games |
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I do not project my problems and issues onto other people I take responsibility for my problems and issues |
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Spite |
I am not resentful |
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Revenge |
I refrain from revenge |
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I refrain from scorn |
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Self pity |
I refrain from self-pity |
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Selfish attachment |
I am not selfish I consider others I refrain from selfish attachment |
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Self-righteousness.
Making others wrong so that you feel right. |
I am not self-righteous |
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I only feel shame when I know that I have done something wrong |
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Sloth Laziness Procrastination |
I am not lazy and I do not procrastinate |
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Spite: to intentionally annoy, hurt, or upset. Spiteful words or actions are delivered in such a way in which it's clear that the person is delivering them just to annoy, hurt, or upset. When the intent to annoy, hurt, or upset is shown subtly, behavior is considered catty. |
I refrain from spite and respond in a thoughtful, considerate, and mature mannner |
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Stubborn |
I refrain from being stubborn |
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The unfounded and unquestioned belief in things that you don't understand. |
I am not superstitious |
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Temptation |
I am not tempted |
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Unappreciative |
I refrain from being unappreciative |
I appreciate all the goodness in life and the efforts of others that help nurture and support life on Earth |
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I refrain from vanity |
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| Wasteful |
I am not wasteful
I am prudent |
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Wrath
Manifested in the individual who spurns love and opts instead for selfish egotism, fury, hatred, resentment, self-pity, narcissism, anti-social behavior, and persistent anger. It is also known as rage (excessive and unrelenting violent anger). |
I purify my heart and mind of all selfish and destructive impurities
I fill my heart with love |
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Fear and hatred of lifestyles that are different from your own: attitude, beliefs, culture, opinions, views. |
I am interested in others who are different to myself I do not hate others who think differently to myself |
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We can use this procedure to purify and transform any negative thought or quality in our mind and personality:
- Identify the negativity (vice).
- Neutralize the vice by positive and realistic affirmation.
- Apply the positive opponent (virtue).
Developing Ethics, Morality, and Principles
Although central to our experience, the mind is not the only area of activity, we should be attempting to purify our total personality - purifying the seven centers.
In The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali we are given some wise counsel concerning developing our morality - the 5 Yamas and the 5 Niyamas.
- Yama means abstinence, which means "not doing" - abstaining from.
- Niyama means observance, which means "doing".
The Yamas and Niyamas are the foundation stones of ethical and humanitarian behavior without which we cannot build authentic civilization.
YAMA - Abstinence.
Sutra 2.30
AHIMSA SATYASTEYA BRAHMACARYAPARIGRAHA YAMAH.
| Ahimsa: | Harmlessness, Non-violence. |
| Satya: | Straightforward, truthful, unaffected (by pride and pretence) and honest. |
| Asteya: | Non-stealing, non-covetousness, non-jealous, non-envy. |
| Brahmacharya: | Humility and conscious self mastery of bodily, mental, and emotional functions. |
| Aparigraha: | Non-greed. |
| Yamah: | Abstinence. |
| YAMA - Abstinence | Meaning. |
| AHIMSA | |
| SATYA |
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| ASTEYA |
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| BRAHMACHARYA | |
| APARIGRAHA |
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AHIMSA
Not causing pain. Some authors translate it as non-killing, but it is not that. Himsa means to cause pain; ahimsa, not to cause pain. Killing is different from causing pain. Causing pain can be even more harmful than killing. Even by our words, even by our thoughts and our emotions, we can cause pain.
SATYA
Truthfulness and honesty, not lying. It also involves the consideration of appropriate and diplomatic ways in which to communicate with others. Satya implies subtlety in the way in which we are honest. Sometimes if we are simply basic and blunt then we can hurt other's feelings (ref: Ahimsa). So we must consider how our holistic activities will affect others. Satya also means being straightforward and appropriate to the situation.
Satya also refers to being honest with ourselves. Honestly reviewing and appraising our own life, achievements, beliefs, opinions, values, and holistic behaviour.
ASTEYA
Non-stealing. Not just the abstinence from physical theft, but also from envy, jealousy, and egocentric possessiveness (stealing in the mind). There are many things that we can steal from people - not just their material belongings. We can steal peoples health, their inner wealth, their freedom, their beauty, their satisfactions, and their happiness and feelings of well being, their confidence and self respect, their family and friends, and finally their life. We can also steal from others in our mind - by being envious, jealous, manipulative, exploitative, and overly possessive.
BRAHMACHARYA
Self control and healthy, responsible moderation - especially concerning sexual and sensual enjoyment. Brahmacharya involves consideration of the consequences of our activities (in action, thought, and speech). 'Brahma' means 'Creative energy of Existence' and 'Acharya' means 'Master'. Thus, the real meaning of 'brahmacharya' is conscious self mastery over the energy, expressions, and connections of the seven chakra system - not being ruled by selfish tamasic aversion and rajasic desire (selfish egotism).
APARIGRAHA
The last part of yama - which can be translated in two ways. One is non-hoarding of things, not being greedy and overly possessive, not accumulating beyond our capacity to use things in the proper way. The other translation of aparigraha is not accepting gifts. We can also be greedy by holding back from giving to life, that is another form of hoarding.
These five principles make up yama, the abstentions. These things seem so elementary but are, at the same time, "elephantary." They shouldn't be discarded as being mild. They are not easy to perfect. The mind is often so used to having it's own way that new habits require dedicated and committed practice.
NIYAMA - Observances.
Sutra 2.32
SAUCA SAMTOSA TAPAH SVADHYAYESVARAPRANIDHANANI NIYAMAH
| Saucha: | Purity. |
| Samtosha: | Contentment |
| Tapah: | Accepting pain and not causing pain in self or others. |
| Svadhyaya: | Study of intelligent and illuminating books |
| Isvarapranidhanani: | Transcendent considerations. |
| Niyamah: | Observances |
| Niyama - Observances | Meaning. |
| SAUCHA |
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| SAMTOSHA |
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| TAPAH |
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| SVADHYAYA |
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| ISVARAPRANIDHANAM |
The five points of yama, together with the five points of niyama, remind us of the Ten Commandments of the Christian and Jewish faiths, as well as of the ten virtues of Buddhism.
In fact, there is no religion without these moral or ethical codes.
Sutra 2.31
JATI DESA KALA SAMAYANAVACCHINNAH SARVABHAUMA MAHAVRATAM
Jati = class; desa = place; kala = time; samaya = circumstance; anavachchhinnah = not limited by; sarvabhaumah = universal; mahavratam = great vows.
These Great Vows are universal, not limited by class, place, time or circumstance.
Patanjali calls these the maha vratam, or great vows, because they can never be broken by any excuse: not time, place, purpose, social or caste rule, not by winter, summer, morning or evening, or by this country or that nationality. These points are for whole-time, dedicated Yogis; and so, for them, Patanjali allows no excuses. For people who aren't that one-pointed toward the Yogic goal, these vows can be modified according to their position in life.
Relating to others with virtue
Yoga Sutras of Patanjali :1.33
In relationships, 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.
(maitri karuna mudita upekshanam sukha duhka punya apunya vishayanam
bhavanatah chitta prasadanam)
- maitri = friendliness, pleasantness, lovingness
- karuna = compassion, mercy
- mudita = gladness, goodwill
- upekshanam = acceptance, equanimity, indifference, disregard, neutrality
- sukha = happy, comfortable, joyous
- duhka = pain, misery, suffering, sorrow
- punya = virtuous, meritorious, benevolent
- apunya = non-virtuous, vice, bad, wicked, evil, bad, demerit, non-meritorious,
- vishayanam = regarding those subjects, in relation to those objects
- bhavanatah = by cultivating habits, by constant reflection, developing attitude, cultivating, impressing on oneself
- chitta = mind field, consciousness
- prasadanam = purified, clear, serene, pleasant, pacified, undisturbed, peaceful, calm
Each attitude is a type of meditation: Each of these four attitudes (friendliness, compassion, goodwill, and neutrality) is, in a sense, a meditation unto itself. While it is actually a preparation practice, it has become popular to use the word meditation in a very broad way, rather than as the specific state of dhyana (3.2), as normally used by the yogis. Some schools of meditation base their entire approach on one or more of these four attitudes. However, to the seeker of the absolute reality (1.3), these are practiced as valuable steps along the journey, but not the end itself.
Getting free from negativity with other people: In sutra 2.33-2.34, the question is posed as to what to do when one does not act or think in accordance with yogic values such as non-violence, but rather, has negative emotions. What is one to do with such strong negative thought patterns? The suggestion is made in those sutras, that we cultivate an opposite attitude by reminding ourselves (through internal dialogue) that holding onto this negative attitude is going to do nothing but bring unending pain and misery (2.34). It also points out that, in terms of the inner reaction and effects, there is really no difference between three kinds of actions:
- We, ourselves carrying out such a negative act
- Soliciting another person to do it for us, or
- Approving of the act when it happens, but without our effort.
To work with these four attitudes of friendliness, compassion, goodwill, and neutrality specifically, we can make much easier progress with the practices of the yamas (2.30) and the instructions to cultivate the opposite when we become negative (2.34).
Four perceptions of other people to cultivate: Here, in this practice, four specific types of people are mentioned (happy, suffering, virtuous, non-virtuous), how we perceive them, and what attitudes we might cultivate to stabilize, purify, or calm our own mind (attitudes of friendliness, compassion, goodwill, and neutrality).
These four encompass most of our relationships: By memorizing these four, and actively observing them in daily life, and during daily quiet time, it is much easier to see the vagaries of the mind, and to regulate them. Having a short list of four makes the process pretty easy to do. Many, if not most or all, of our relationship challenges with people encompass one or more of these four.
Have a specific antidote for each: Having a specific attitude to cultivate for each of the four also makes cultivating change much easier to do. It does not mean that you replace all of your other fine ideas about how to have good people relationships, but these four sure do make a useful practice.
Intentional meditation on these four attitudes: During daily meditation time, it can be very useful to spend some time reflecting on these four attitudes. You might do them all, or you might practice with only one of them for an extended period of time. Simply choose one of the four attitudes and allow some person or persons to arise in the mind field. You will notice your reactions, the coloring mentioned earlier (1.5). As your attention rests on that inner impression of that person, allow yourself to cultivate the positive or useful attitude. Gradually, the negativity or coloring weakens or attenuates (2.4). This is part of the preparation for meditation.
Talk to yourself: When you notice any of the negative attitudes above, it is very useful to literally remind yourself that this is not useful (2.33). You might literally say to yourself, "Mind, this is not useful. This attitude is going to bring nothing but pain. You need to let go of this." It is also good to remind yourself, "I need to cultivate friendliness with this person" (compassion, goodwill, or neutrality).
What to do with really "bad" people: It is common for meditators to question these four attitude meditations in relation to really "bad" people such as certain political or religious leaders, present or historical. How can I feel friendliness, compassion, goodwill, or acceptance towards someone like "him?" I'll not mention any names here, but you can easily think of some of them yourself. It can sound like Yoga is suggesting that we agree with, or validate the behavior of such people, which is not the case. The questions of approving of behavior and dealing with our own internal states are very different issues. I believe that it is important to realise that all souls here on Earth are in soul-school and are in the process of learning the difference between good and bad, right and wrong, soul realization, and the Spiritual Nature of Reality and Self. When we realise this then we can forgive all souls because "forgive them, they know not what they do...". Eventually, through many lives, all souls will give up ignorance and egotistical behaviour as they realise the truth of soul, spiritual reality, and virtue.
A LIST OF VIRTUES
- Acceptance: To consider circumstances, especially those that can not be changed, as satisfactory.
- Bravery: The ability to do things that you would not normally want to, especially activities that may bring danger, loss, or pain.
- Caution: Avoidance of rashness, attention to safety.
- Charity: To freely give to deserving others who are lacking.
- Clarity: To understand things with a degree of ease.
- Compassion: Sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others.
- Contentedness: The ability to experience real and honest satisfaction
- Courage: Bravery
- Curiosity: A desire to find out and know things.
- Defiance: Bold resistance.
- Determination: Firmness of purpose.
- Devotion: A great love, loyalty, enthusiastic zeal.
- Diplomacy: Skill and tact in dealing with people.
- Discretion: Being discrete in ones speech, keeping secrets.
- Empathy: The ability to understand and share the feelings of another.
- Endurance: Perseverance
- Flexibility: Adaptable, able to be changed to suit circumstances.
- Focus: Concentrated awareness and effort.
- Forgiveness: To cease to feel anger, hate, or bitterness towards a person or about an offense.
- Friendship: The ability to like others.
- Generosity: Giving or ready to give freely, free from meanness or prejudice.
- Gentleness: Moderate; mild, considerate, careful, not rough or severe.
- Gratitude: Being thankful.
- Harmlessness: Abstaining from causing hurt or harm. It is gentleness and non injury, whether physical, mental or emotional.
- Honesty: Truthful; sincere; not lieing or cheating.
- Humbleness: Modest; not arrogant or boastful.
- Humor: The ability to perceive, enjoy, or express what is amusing, comical, incongruous, or absurd.
- Impartiality: Fair.
- Industry: Diligent, hardworking.
- Innocence: Pure and good, not guilty.
- Intelligence: The ability to understand and relate responsibly to the world. Reasoning, rationality, logic, knowledge, behaviour.
- Jovial: Of good spirits. Happy and merry without intoxication. Of a happy character.
- Justice: Fair, impartial, giving a deserved response.
- Kindness: Friendly, helpful, well meaning.
- Listening: The ability to suspend your own ideas, prejudices, and judgements and listen to another person.
- Love: A deep, tender, ineffable feeling of affection and solicitude toward a person, such as that arising from kinship, recognition of attractive qualities, or a sense of underlying oneness. Corinthians 13:4-7: Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
- Loyalty: Faithful to a person, ideal, custom, cause, or duty.
- Majesty: Great and impressive dignity.
- Manners: To behave in a respectful, gentle, and careful way whilst in social company.
- Moderation: The avoidance of extremes in one�s thought, actions or opinions.
- Obedience: Willingness to obey, to be controlled when necessary, to carry out orders.
- Openness: Ready and willing to talk candidly. Unsecretive.
- Patience: The ability to endure delay, trouble, pain or hardship.
- Peace: Freedom from mental or emotional agitation; serenity.
- Perseverance: Continue in a course of action in spite of difficulty or lack of success.
- Politeness: To behave in a respectful, gentle, and careful way whilst in social company.
- Prudence: Wise or careful in conduct. Shrewd or thrifty in planning ahead.
- Reliability: Can be trusted to do something.
- Respect: Respect is esteem for, or a sense of the worth or excellence of, a person, a personal quality, ability, or a manifestation of a personal quality or ability. It is sometimes, but should not be, confused with loyalty or fear for a person. Also, to treat life with gentleness, humility, and care.
- Responsibility: Having control over and accountability for appropriate events.
- Righteous: Does not rejoice in wrongdoing and may seek to stop or prevent it.
- Sacrifice: To do things for others usually with some voluntary loss to oneself.
- Self-control: The ability to understand and control oneself if and when necessary.
- Sensitivity: Heightened awareness of oneself and others within the context of social and personal relationships.
- Simplicity: Straightforward; not complex or complicated. Unpretentious.
- Sincerity: Free from pretense or deceit in manner or actions. Respectful, genuine, and truthful.
- Skill: The ability to do something well with expertise.
- Sobriety: Serious, solemn and calm. Free from intoxication.
- Spontaneity: Natural, not planned.
- Steadfastness: Firm, resolute; determinedly unwavering.
- Straightforward: Honesty, genuine, unaffected by pride or pretence.
- Strength: Capable of exerting great force.
- Thrift: Carefulness and prudence in the use of money and other resources.
- Tolerance: To patiently endure or allow something unpleasant or disagreeable
- Tranquility: Serenely quite and peaceful; undisturbed.
- Trust: Having confidence in others; lacking suspicion.
- Trustworthiness: Able to be trusted or depended on; reliable.
- Work: The ability to get things done.
- Wisdom: Having or showing experience, knowledge, and good judgement.
SELFISHNESS
So we now understand that all this selfishness arises from the mechanics of egotism - ignorance and forgetfulness that life on Earth is "One Unified System" and the life of the Cosmos is One Entity - the real Self.
This ignorance and misidentification with the experience of the individual (body/mind) produces our egotism, greed, competitiveness, and unnecessary fear about life.
Do not pursue the path of selfish happiness because it is actually the path of misery.
ATTITUDES TO AVOID IN THE SEVEN CHAKRAS
- CHAKRA ONE:
Base/root chakra.
Refrain from greed, miserliness, and unnecessary hoarding.
Refrain from physically damaging and unhealthy behaviors.
Refrain from clinging to bodily life.
Refrain from selfish attachment to the material world. - CHAKRA TWO:
Sacral chakra.
Refrain from selfish lust for sexual and sensual pleasure.
Refrain from sexual misconduct.
Refrain from addiction to sensual pleasure.
Refrain from nurturing disappointment.
Refrain from selfish attachment to sex and sensual pleasure. - CHAKRA THREE: Solar plexus
chakra.
Refrain from envy and jealousy towards others.
Refrain from damaging, unhealthy, and antisocial behavior.
Refrain from sloth.
Refrain from nurturing anger and frustration.
Refrain from hyper-activity.
Refrain from egotistical and selfish abuse of power.
Refrain from selfish attachment to life's activities. - CHAKRA FOUR: Heart
chakra.
Refrain from hatred.
Refrain from nurturing grief and sorrow.
Refrain from harmful behavior.
Refrain from selfish attachment to love. - CHAKRA FIVE: Throat chakra.
Refrain from unnecessary harmful and negative communications.
Refrain from unpleasant and harmful creativity.
Refrain from selfish attachment to communication and creativity. - CHAKRA SIX: Brow chakra.
Refrain from cooperation with negative and unpleasant thought-forms.
Refrain from over-intellectualizing life.
Refrain from selfish attachment to the intellect and thought-forms. - CHAKRA SEVEN: Crown chakra.
Refrain from attachment to the body and mind.
Refrain from losing contact with or forgetting about the reality of the Mystery of Existence.
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