173. Concentrate on a Great Soul, Mahatma.

In our continued exploration of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, we turn to Sutra 1:37, which offers another practical approach to stilling the mind.

1:37 in Sanskrit reads:
वीतरागविषयं वा चित्तम्।
Vītarāga-viṣayaṁ vā cittam.
This translates to: “Or, by concentrating the mind on a great soul who is totally free from attachment to the senses.”

Swami Satchidananda interprets this as directing the mind toward the qualities and essence of a being who has transcended worldly desires and attachments. Such a focus can help stabilize and purify our own minds.

For a Christian, this could mean concentrating on Jesus Christ, not on the institutionalized practices or controversies of the Church, but on the purity of his teachings and his embodiment of selflessness and love. Jesus serves as a timeless example of a life lived beyond attachment to sensory pleasures, grounded in a higher mission of service and compassion.

Alternatively, one could reflect on a figure like Mahatma Gandhi, who lived in dedication to his dharma (duty) and mission, demonstrating remarkable discipline and freedom from material attachments. Gandhi’s focus on nonviolence, simplicity, and truth offers a profound model for gaining mastery over the “mind-stuff” that often clouds our inner peace.

The sutra encourages us to ask ourselves: Who is that great soul for me? Who inspires me to rise above my own attachments and disturbances? By meditating on the virtues and teachings of such individuals, we can bring clarity and steadiness to our minds, aligning with the broader goal of yoga—to still the citta vṛttis (mind fluctuations) and find lasting peace.

Ultimately, this practice is not about idolizing a figure but about drawing inspiration from their qualities to cultivate those same virtues within ourselves.