Yoga Sutra, Book One, Verse 1.33 “ In daily life we see people who are happier than we are, people who are less happy. Some may be doing praiseworthy things and others causing problems. Whatever may be our usual attitude toward such people and their actions, if we can be pleased with others who are happier than ourselves, compassionate toward those who are unhappy, joyful with those doing praiseworthy things, and remain undisturbed by the error of others, our mind will be very tranquil. “
Beginner’s Monthly Yoga Sutra Verse Sharing
I must confess that I am not an expert in Yoga Sutra, nor am I sophisticated enough to claim that I am writing a commentary on it. There was a period in my life when I deliberately shied away from exploring the depths of Yoga Sutra because I believed that I wasn't yet ready to fully embrace such a sacred text.
“The Yoga Sutra is for everyone.” I can't quite recall when or where this notion first entered my mind, but ever since then, I started to read the Yoga Sutra. Although I'm unable to read Sanskrit and haven't had the chance to learn chanting, I’ve found the translated version of Yoga Sutra to be incredibly enriching. Every verse has its deeper meaning, and there were a lot of “ah-ha” moments while I was reading it.
Reading the Yoga Sutra is not like reading a regular book for me. There are days when I can only read one verse, but that verse alone offers me a beautiful moment of contemplation. In 2024, I decided to choose a verse every month and give it my full attention. I write it down in my journal and spend time reflecting on it. What's fascinating is that even though it's the same verse every day, my emotions and experiences shape how I perceive it.
With limited time in class, I've chosen to share it on my blog instead. If you're interested in sharing your thoughts, I'd love to hear from you here!
Quoting Yoga Sutra Book One verse 1.33 and The Undisturbed Mind
The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali versed translation from,
The Heart of Yoga: Developing a Personal Practice by T. K. V. Desikachar
In this world, we share our lives with others every single day, and it can be quite unsettling. As someone highly sensitive, I have found that my compassion has played a significant role in my journey as a yoga teacher. It has enabled me to better understand and connect with people's emotions. On the flip side, my sensitive nature also means that the waves of disturbance in my mind can easily sway.
Escaping from problems is not a solution, so it's essential to acquire the skill of calming the mind. Just like the Yoga Sutra explains, we come across numerous individuals in our daily lives, each engaged in various activities and experiencing different emotions. Some may be happy or sad, praiseworthy or troublesome, elated or downcast. Instead of getting entangled in these external situations, it's important to cultivate the ability to focus on our path and not let others disturb our inner calm. This is where true tranquillity lies.
Undisturbed Mind Toolbox - Observe Your Emotions and Find Tranquillity with Journaling
It's quite challenging to avoid socializing these days, especially when we're always glued to our phones in "Insta-" mode. It's interesting how our lives are centred around instant gratification, be it through Instagram or Instant Messaging. Even when people are not physically present, they still occupy our minds through our phones, keeping us “socially” connected (mentally). Although it's hard to imagine living without our phones, we can make a conscious effort to find a balance and live more mindfully.
Toolbox 1 | 10 mins Challenge - Observe The Emotions You Are Experiencing
Have you ever noticed how quickly your emotions can change while scrolling through Instagram? One moment, you're on cloud nine as someone shares a stunning photo of you. But wait, in the very next second, a wave of envy washes over you as you see a friend living the life you've always dreamed of. And just when you thought you had it all figured out, fear strikes with those targeted ads about your health worries.
Here's a little experiment for you: set a timer for 10 minutes the next time you're on Instagram. It'll be interesting to observe the roller-coaster ride of emotions during that time.
Toolbox 2 | Journaling - Embrace Clarity And Invite Calmness Into Your Life
Journaling is my absolute favourite activity. It's my go-to because my mind is always buzzing with thoughts. Being a yoga teacher means I interact with people daily, and there are moments when my students are going through stress, anxiety, or pain. But we're all on this journey together, so I can't simply ignore them. Journaling helps me stay grounded and find the best way to assist them. Just like all of you, there are times when we can't choose our colleagues or the family we're born into. That's when our calm and peaceful mind becomes our strongest shield.
Journaling, is a magical process of freeing yourself from thoughts and energies that don't align with who you truly are.
Photo by Aarón González on Unsplash
So grab a pen and paper, start journaling and clear your mind. We all have those moments when spending time with certain individuals leaves us feeling completely drained. They may have sapped our energy, but there's a practical solution. Just start writing. Let your thoughts flow freely, without any constraints. You'll be amazed to discover that many of those thoughts don't belong to you.
There's something truly special about the power of energy that journaling possesses. It's like a magical process of freeing yourself from thoughts and energies that don't align with who you truly are, allowing your mind to regain its crystal-clear state.
In the future, I hope to share some journaling techniques with you, so stay connected.
It can be challenging to stay calm and composed all the time, but with increased self-awareness, we can learn to “undo the disturbances” caused by other’s emotions, thoughts and actions.
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I would love to hear your thoughts, so please leave a comment below or reach out to me at cloudcyoga@gmail.com.
Let's continue to explore, exchange ideas, and nurture a growth mindset. As the Yoga Sutra reminds us, may we all have an undisturbed mind. Until next time!
