164. Upekṣā, a little something for the evil doers...
In our exploration of the Yoga Sutras for Patanjali’s wisdom, Sutra 1:33 offers us a clear path for handling relationships and life’s challenges with equanimity and peace. This verse lays out four essential “keys” that help us maintain a balanced mind and foster harmony both within ourselves and in our interactions with others. The sutra reads:
"मैत्री-करुणा-मुदितोपेक्षाणां सुख-दुःख-पुण्यापुण्य-विषयाणां भावनातः चित्तप्रसादनम्"maitrī-karuṇā-muditopekṣāṇāṁ sukha-duḥkha-puṇyāpuṇya-viṣayāṇāṁ bhāvanātaś citta-prasādanam"By cultivating attitudes of friendliness (maitrī) toward the happy, compassion (karuṇā) toward those who suffer, joy (muditā) toward the virtuous, and equanimity (upekṣā) toward those who commit wrongs, the mind becomes serene."
Through this guidance, Patanjali offers four practices that allow us to meet various situations in life with balance and poise:
मैत्री (Maitrī) – Friendliness toward the happy. We cultivate an open heart and counter competitiveness by celebrating others' joy without envy. By showing kindness to those experiencing happiness, we can appreciate their joy and bring more warmth and connection to our lives.
करुणा (Karuṇā) – Compassion toward those who are suffering. Compassion helps us connect deeply with others’ challenges without judgment. In practicing this, we not only support others but also grow our empathy and understanding, fostering inner peace.
मुदिता (Muditā) – Joy or delight for those who are virtuous. Rather than comparing ourselves to others, rejoicing in others' virtues allows us to admire and celebrate the good in them. This practice dissolves feelings of envy and promotes a supportive spirit.
Together, these three attitudes clear the mind of negative feelings like envy and resentment, helping us appreciate others’ experiences without judgment.
उपेक्षा (Upekṣā) – Equanimity toward those who harm. Cultivating a calm, non-reactive approach toward individuals who may act harmfully or cause conflict helps us avoid judgment and self-righteousness. This attitude of neutrality allows us to remain centered, preventing frustration from taking hold.
These four attitudes foster Sattva (purity, clarity, and balance), enabling us to attract more peace and harmony. Practicing these qualities consistently helps us embody a life filled with inner peace, compassion, and balance, as Patanjali suggests in Sutra 1:33.
