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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