Essay Question:
Read Lines II.34 and II.35 from chapter two of the Yoga Sutra’s of Patanjali.
Summerize, in your own words, the meaning of these sutra’s. Explain how they
can be used in your life, with people you find difficult, in your practice and in
teaching your students.
34. We ourselves may act upon unwholesome thoughts, such as wanting to harm someone, or we may
cause or condone them in others; unwholesome thoughts may arise from greed, anger, or delusion; they
may be mild, moderate, or extreme; but they never cease to ripen into ignorance and suffering. This is why
one must cultivate wholesome thoughts.
Unwholesome thoughts are generated from within oneself, when one develops such thoughts he projects
them onto other people and into his/her actions. This will harms others, and even more so the one
generating these thoughts causing him to suffer and perpetuate his ignorance of the Truth. For example if
someone obtains a higher salary he might be better off materially speaking. However if the intention behind
this promotion was obtain through greed then he will probably suffer from guilt or future dissatisfaction or
clinging. Therefore intention is the key behind everything, every thought, every word and every action. One
must cultivate authenticity and integrity with oneself and can therefore cultivate it with others.
It is quite simple to preach such behavior in easy times, however the real challenge arises when you are
confronted with difficult people who poke and stimulate your anger, greed and you must cultivate
wholesome thought for yourself and the other person, without reacting immediately. One should be even
more vigilant of his unwholesome thoughts that are the smallest or most ridicule because they are often
unseen by others or yourself, you are in self-denial, delusion yet they are the root of the most visible
unwholesome thought. In one’s practice one should not be judgmental on his capacities, he/she should
examine and accept his daily potential without feeling envy for performance that has been previously
experienced or witnessed. Such thought will annihilate any progress made in the yogic path. The teacher
should encourage his students to be aware of their own unwholesome thoughts in their practice.
35. Being firmly grounded in non-violence creates an atmosphere in which others can let go of their
hostility.
When someone has completely let go of his unwholesome thought and his violence, he emanates stability,
wisdom and positivism from which people can disarm their own insecurities and fears. Indeed, the other is
confronted to face non-reciprocity of the violence that he holds, so he surrenders his hostility. Vivekenanda
said that non-violence was cultivated by letting go of one’s jealousy. As soon as one’s heart is alleviated
from jealousy then he becomes pure. One might think that when facing a person that is grounded in nonviolence it can make them envious and jealous of this state that the person is peacefully in. However, when
one is “firmly grounded” in this state of non-violence, eventually the person he faces lets go of this
jealously. Indeed, non-violence is a power that is deeply engrained and one realize that his jealousy is not
worthwhile, unless its to become grounded himself. When dealing with people you find difficult, being
firmly non-violent and compassionate will instantly calm the atmosphere as the person sees that his own
animosity is not received. There is a possibility for true understanding and communication, as the person no
longer feels the need to be aggressive or defensive. In one’s yoga practice, being non violent to oneself
when not accomplishing what we are used to do, or expected to is key for developing a compassionate
practice towards oneself. From this compassionate practice that a teacher emanates, the students will also
aspire and learn to become more grounded in non-violence. Accepting oneself as we are each day is vital to
be able to teach others, the most important part of the teaching comes from incarnating the values that you
preach. Using metta prayers in ones practice and teaching on a daily basis is a way to cultivate and be
reminded of non-violence regularly.