Life is a constant journey of change and evolution, bringing myriad situations, feelings, and emotions. Some days you may feel elated, while on other days, life may seem particularly challenging, filling you with anger, frustration, or even exhaustion. In these trying moments, turning to the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali can help you understand how your thoughts negatively impact your happiness and guide you towards ending this suffering.
At SoulSensei, we believe deeply in the transformative power of ancient wisdom. Exploring the teachings of the Patanjali Yoga Sutras has been integral to our journey. In this blog, we are excited to share profound insights from Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, a renowned spiritual leader. This blog provides a seamless translation of his commentary on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, their purpose, the four types of individuals as identified by Patanjali, and how to interact with each.
You can further enrich your understanding of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali by exploring our videos and audios available anytime on SoulSensei. For a simplified explanation, listen to Ami Patel, an Art of Living Practitioner and a Soul Sensei, as she beautifully conveys these insights by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar in this video.
Understanding the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali and Their Purpose
Let us discover the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali through a short story. Ages ago, Lord Vishnu incarnated as Lord Dhanvanthari to provide people the knowledge of Ayurveda to cure illnesses. However, people still fell ill. Distressed by the prevalence of ailments and the seasonal scarcity of medicinal herbs, the Rishi Munis took to Lord Vishnu. Their concerns extended beyond physical illness and included mental and emotional turmoil caused by negative emotions such as jealousy, lust, anger, and greed. They sought the divine guidance of Lord Vishnu to understand the pathway to live healthily, both mentally and physically, without having to rely on medicines.
When these Rishi Munis approached Lord Vishnu, he was seen reclining on the Adishesha – the 1000-headed serpent symbolic of awareness. Upon hearing their concerns, Lord Vishnu shared a serene smile while looking at Adishesha. In response, the serpent incarnated in the world as Maharishi Patanjali to impart the knowledge of yoga which came to be known as Yoga Sutras. The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali were compiled around 350 CE. The 195 sutras are divided into four books, or padas, covering four broad topics:
- Samadhi Pada (contemplation)
- Sadhana Pada (practice)
- Vibhuti Pada (accomplishments)
- Kaivalya (absoluteness)
The purpose of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali is to provide a concise guide for us yoga practitioners to track our spiritual progress. It includes a comprehensive list of goals that help us discover our true selves in the world. Having said that, recognising our interconnectedness with the world and all beings can liberate us from suffering and reconnect us with our true essence. Consider the Patanjali Yoga Sutras as a reference book that guides you through life with grace and steadfastness.
The Four Types of People According to Patanjali Yoga Sutra
Maitrikaruna muditopekshanam sukhadukhapunyapunyavishayanam bhavanataschitta prasadanam Verse
1.33 of the Patanjali Yoga Sutras
It means that by practising the habits of friendliness, compassion, happiness and virtues and by being indifferent to misery as well as sinful vices, your mind remains pleasant.
Patanjali categorises people into four types:
- Happy
- Unhappy
- People who engage in good acts (blessed)
- People who engage in not-so-good acts (sinful)
Let’s learn how to deal with them as per the Patanjali Yoga Sutras:
How to Interact with Happy People According to the Yoga Sutras
The first bhava Patanjali gave was maitri, also known as friendliness. As interpreted by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, one should befriend happy people. Neglecting to do so can lead to feelings of jealousy. He further suggests that if you consider these happy individuals as part of your circle, feelings of jealousy will not arise because you are unlikely to be jealous of someone close to you, and their happiness will not bother you. However, if someone is not close to or connected to you, jealousy may surface. Therefore, Patanjali Yoga Sutras advise to form friendships with happy souls.
Approaching Unhappy Individuals as Guided by Patanjali’s Sutras
When dealing with unhappy people, the Patanjali Yoga Sutras advise compassion over friendship. Being friendly with them can make you unhappy too. Instead, show compassion (karuna) and sympathy without pity, as pity can worsen their situation. Doing so allows you to support them effectively without being dragged down by their unhappiness. Additionally, it will enable you to provide genuine help and uplift their spirits without compromising on your own happiness.
Engaging with Those Who Perform Good Acts: Insights from the Yoga Sutras
When you come across people who are doing a good job or are blessed, feel happy for them. The Patanjali Yoga Sutras suggest embracing a sense of unity as if you are sharing their accomplishments. This mindset dissolves competition and eliminates jealousy, reducing the urge to find faults or criticism. Consider this: if the right hand does a good job, the left hand feels happy. Similarly, when you view others’ successes and consider them as your own, you experience genuine happiness (mudita) within yourself.
Navigating Relationships with Those Who Engage in Negative Acts as per Sutras
The Patanjali Yoga Sutras suggest that when a person indulges in falsehood, simply disregard it instead of dwelling on it. Sometimes, we engage in the opposite; instead of ignoring them, we keep thinking about them. If you see someone indulging in sinful acts, approach the situation with compassion and offer guidance. Focusing on someone’s imperfections only breeds worry and imperfection within yourself. Remember that when you criticise others, you often reveal more about yourself than them.
We hope this blog gives you a deeper understanding of the kind of people you might come across in life and how to deal with them while also ensuring your mental well-being. Stay tuned to SoulSensei to discover how these ancient wisdom teachings can help you navigate through relationships and cultivate a life of contentment and happiness.
Sources
- Holcombe, K. (2015). The Yoga Sutra: Your Guide To Living Every Moment. Yoga Journal.
- Yogamedicine (n.d.). A Beginner’s Guide to Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras – Yoga Medicine.
- Art Of Living (India). (n.d.). The Connection between Sage Patanjali and Lord Vishnu – Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.
- Yoga Journal. (2016). Yoga Philosophy 101: 5 Reasons You Should Know Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra.
- Art Of Living (India). (n.d.). Four Types of People.
- Art Of Living (India). (n.d.). Be Compassionate with Unhappy People.
- Art Of Living (India). (n.d.). Feel happy, become one with people doing a good job.
- Art Of Living (India). (n.d.). Educate and ignore people who do sinful acts.
- SoulSensei.in (2022)
