I went to yoga tonight for the first time in 3 weeks.
The teacher read one of the Yoga Sutras, which I had remembered from teacher training but hadn't revisited since:
"By cultivating attitudes of
friendliness toward the happy,
compassion for the unhappy,
delight in the virtuous,
and disregard toward the wicked,
the mind-stuff retains its undisturbed calmness."
-Sutra 1:33
In my copy of the sutras the commentary underneath this particular sutra says whether you practice yoga or not, have huge life goals, or don't, this sutra is for everyone. And those who follow it will see its effect on their peace of mind.
And if everyone had a peaceful mind what a place the world would be.
The one that stands out most to me is "disregard" toward the wicked (or "unvirtuous" in other translations).
It's so easy to be angry, upset, and defiant toward the wicked things and people in life. Or to try to change them, "fix" them, or advise them, but the sutra says to retain a peaceful mind - "disregard" the wicked.
This makes things complicated when the "wicked" are people you have an obligation to- whether they are family, classmates, coworkers, or just people you're stuck with.
I struggle with this alot, I think we all do.
And I think upon reading this those specific people that just get under your skin, that represent everything you don't want to be, and threaten everything you are, that make you question the good of humanity come to mind.
I know they do for me!
I think this will become one of my goals for the new year.
I've got alot of work to do!
