It’s easy to think that the yoga sutras aren’t relevant to us now in our life and let go of any interest in such ancient texts, and we can ignore the wisdom held within them, which is there to help us improve our lives, we can ignore them or we can have a look and see if we recognise anything that may be helpful to us.
In my exploration I’ve been constantly shocked at how relevant they are, I’ve discovered that they are the best therapy, recognising myself, and the way my mind acts up in moments of stress has been life changing, and in them I’ve found practical ways of coping that would have helped my mental health better than any other, if only I had found them sooner.
It’s strange to think you can have a favourite yoga sutra.
A best friend that’s always helpful.
Prati paska bhavanam-When harassed by doubt cultivate the opposite.
But for me it’s Chapter 2 verse 33.
Sounds like nothing, but taking that first step towards practising it is at first, like all practises, quite hard. That first toe in the water that requires you to alter your normal reactive behaviour, is tricky! Old habits die hard.
So my way to begin, is to pretend.
Let me pretend the thing I don’t want to do, is the thing I really do want to do.
Let me pretend the person I have difficulty with, is a person whose company I love.
Let me pretend the thing that scares me, I am fearless within.
Chapter 2 verse 33
When harassed by doubts cultivate the opposite,
Placed there in the yoga sutras to support the nyama, it seems small but it’s mighty.
My recommendation to you would be play pretend with it, it will surprise, delight and change your interaction with the world.
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