By cultivating attitudes of friendliness toward those who are happy, compassion to those who are suffering, delight toward the virtuous and equanimity toward detractors, one’s thoughts are purified and the obstacles to self-realization are lessened. {Yoga Sutra 1.33}
We are still working through Yoga Sutra 1,33 in my *in person* classes and I’ve been having some pretty transformative (for me) light-switch moments.
Like…
Being happy and staying in the love have almost nothing to do with external circumstances. Awesome shit happens. Shitty shit happens. To everyone. If I can slow down enough to pause and to accept that what is happening is happening whether I want it to or not, I can move from that place of stillness in a way that is authentic to us, i.e. aligned with my true nature.
Equanimity does not mean I just capitulate and subscribe to what I know to be untrue or unjust. It means I practice getting still enough to be objective about the situation, pausing and moving from a place aligned with my true nature.
This is hard work. But necessary to stay happy and productive in the world. Where we humans interact with others all day long. Spinning my wheels with reactionary emotion leaves me feeling drained, terrible and rarely changes anyone else’s mind.
If I can get quiet enough to let my truest self shine through, that feels good.
When I had the good fortune to practice with Erich Schiffmann this fall in Ojai, he offered some advice. “Do whatever it takes to stay relaxed.” Get quiet, be YOU, then do the work.
Thoughts have power. I don’t mean that in a “manifest a parking spot” kind of way, but that one’s thoughts about self, others & the human condition have a real, palpable effect on how one feels. I have been experimenting with thought lately. I have had the opportunity to be with people I find challenging from time to time. I have been pausing before reacting to something I perceive as challenging and deciding how to react: snarkily or peacefully. Snarky feels gross afterwards. I feel literally hung-over from thinking unkind, snobby, elitist thoughts. Yuck. Peaceful feels good. I feel happy to be understanding, compassionate and objective. And the external circumstances remained the same.
That is all for now. Any thoughts?
Much love, Kelly
This is a great post on sutra 1.33. I have been having some issues with difficult people in my life, and was at a loss as to how to “live” my Yoga. I felt awful when not aligned with it. My mentor suggested I really get into this sutra. I LOVE the way you unpacked it, particularly making Equanimity so understandable. You just nailed it for me. Thank you so much.
Sara, hello! Thanks for writing. I am so glad you found this post helpful. So frequently I find myself drawn back to 1.33. For me, it is one of the bridges in the sutras that connects my inner world to the outer world– and to the inner worlds of others. Much love! Kelly
Hi Kelly,
Thanks for your response! Yes I too have been drawn to this sutra for a while, but recently have had to unpack it to stop repeating old patterns. It is beginning to help. Slowly. There are no shortcuts! Just wondering which interpretation of the Sutras you study? I have been reading Desikachar, a translation by Dennis Hill (a great little book I picked up on Amazon) and Reverend Jaganath Carrera. Sara x
<3 I work with a couple of translations and really like Ravi Ravindra's version. I enjoy Edwin Bryant's for the inclusion of traditional commentaries. I also enjoy Mukunda Stiles' version for just a straight up text, and Niscala Joy Devi's for its feminine, poetic voice.
Thank you Kelly. xx