The four qualities of the heart
maitrī-karuṇā-muditopekṣāṇāṃ sukha-duḥkha-puṇyāpuṇya-viṣayāṇāṃ
bhāvanātaś citta-prasādanam
By cultivating an attitude of friendship towards those who are happy, compassion towards those in distress, joy toward those who are virtuous, and equanimity toward those who are non virtuous, lucidity arises in the mind.
Patanjali asks us to cultivate four qualities of the heart, which will ultimately create steadiness, lucidity and a sattvic state of mind. We learn earlier in the yoga sutras that only from a sattvic state of mind one can create one-pointedness and achieve the goal of yoga (enlightenment!).
The first thing Patanjali asks is to cultivate an attitude of friendship towards those who are happy. When life is going smoothly this is easy! But what happens when you're having a rocky week or even offering friendship towards those who you might not like very much. He asks us to befriend the happy, to spend time with those who are joyous and be in the presence of positive people.
Patanjali then asks us to express compassion towards those who are in distress / suffering. Some take cruel delight in seeing an enemy suffer or believe someone might be deserving of hardship due to past mistakes. Patanjali reminds us that this type of thinking only creates misery for the individual. Rather one should find compassion for all! For those whom you care about deeply, strangers, even those who you many consider an enemy. Empathy and compassion is different, empathy means I feel with you whereas compassion includes the desire to help. Thus he is asking us to not only feel for others deeply but to also help others out of their suffering and misery.
The next quality of the heart, Patanjali asks us to invite JOY in for those who are virtuous. This means finding joy rather than jealousy for those who are living their highest self! Not being distressed when someone has what you want - a promotion, the lifestyle, the relationship. Can we genuinely be happy for others, even if you don't like them… find joy rather than jealousy!
Finally he asks us to find equanimity towards the non-virtuous / towards those who are wicked. Rather than chewing and ruminating on a situation that has left you feeling unsettled, are you able to be equanimous towards it. Meaning neither for or against a situation. Why? Because replaying in your head over and over the person who cut you off in traffic, the person who was rude to you or didn't give you what you wanted creates an unsettled and distracted mind. Therefore become equanimous we remain calm and composed.
If we wish to reach the goal of yoga, we can not do so in a mind that harbours hatred, jealousy, distraction or lack of compassion. By these practices the mind can become lucid and fixed on the goal of yoga. Can we find the sweetest reactions from within and nurture these qualities that ultimately support your evolution!
With love
Brooke
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