Friday, January 6, 2012

PATANJALI = YOGA SUTRAS = Verse.2.42 = HOW DOES THE GREATEST JOY RESULT FROM CONTENTMENT?



PATANJALI
YOGA SUTRAS

Verse.2.42

Santoshaath  anuttamah sukha labhah

Ø  santoshaath = From contentment
Ø  anuttamah = highest
Ø  sukha = happiness, satisfaction
Ø  labhah = is attained


We now come to a quality called Samtosha – which, means contentment. But, in common Parlance, samtosha is understood as happiness or joy.

Both meanings are in fact correct – and point to the same state of the mind. Without contentment, there is no happiness or joy.

What is contentment? You are happy as you are, with what you have, with where you are, with the people in whose midst you are and with whatever you are identified with.

You have no wish to be somewhere else, with somebody else, with something other than what you now possess or in some other situation in time, space and material.

Where you are, what you are and when you are – gives you contentment. N more asking for anything better or bigger or smaller. No more wish that something with you now should go away.

In Sanskrit – it is also called prasaada bhavana. You are extremely pleased and grateful to the Nature, to the almighty Eeswara – for giving you all that has been given unto you.

In the west, it is equated sometimes with an attitude of gratitude – but, this is something more. Not only that you are grateful for what is given unto you – you really have no wish to ask for anything else. Your heart is overflowing with happiness and joy – even to seek anything more.

That is why – Patanjali says – contentment brings the best of Joy. It is not something that only yogis need to practice.

In spite of contentment, it is also not against Yoga sadhana. In fact, we are talking about the qualities that yoga sadhana itself imbibes in us.

The highest joy is one amongst them.


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