Patanjali's Yogasutra | Dr. Kausthub Desikachar | II.16 | 03 Feb 2018

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This section introduces the topic and sets the context for the discussion.

Introduction

• The video begins with music playing in the background. (No relevant content)

• The speaker greets the audience and starts discussing a topic related to "do come."

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In this section, the speaker mentions some names and concepts related to "do come."

Concepts Related to Do Come

• The speaker mentions Prabhavati, Jagat, Anika, Don agraja prasena claireaussi he viescha Mafia ha ha Anika vatra so foggy sorry Bonnie Hana Presutti boo jag aparigraha Prieta yay yay Initium Devo he Shaha savate sita v mulatto no ho yo god oh Yoga Opta ha yogi nachita Shippuden Abacha malum sharira CH a-- Vaidya Cana yo Parker o'them bravura moneena.

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The speaker discusses a significant sutra related to "do come" from the second chapter.

Importance of Sutra Hayyim Do Come

• The sutra Hayyim do come is introduced as a very important sutra from the second chapter.

• It emphasizes that suffering is an inevitable part of life and that everyone will experience it at some point.

• The sutra suggests preparing for future suffering by being aware of its inevitability.

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The speaker explores the meaning and implications of the sutra Hayyim Do Come.

Meaning and Implications of Hayyim Do Come

• Hayyim do come can be interpreted as a reminder to prepare for future suffering that has not yet arrived.

• It advises against creating additional suffering by misbehaving in the present and adding to one's existing baggage of do come.

• The concept of ancestral karma vasana is mentioned, highlighting how our actions and experiences are influenced by our ancestors.

• The speaker emphasizes the importance of not creating more suffering in life and dealing with what already exists.

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The speaker discusses the consequences of accumulating more suffering and offers insights on how to prevent it.

Consequences of Accumulating Suffering

• Accumulating more suffering adds to one's burden and makes it challenging to deal with multiple sources of dukkha.

• Inherited ancestral karma, combined with new misbehavior, can lead to an increase in suffering.

• Preparation for future suffering is essential to avoid exacerbating existing conditions or developing new ones.

The Impact of Short-Term Thinking

This section discusses the negative consequences of short-term thinking and how it leads to exhaustion and chronic pain. It emphasizes the importance of thinking long-term and avoiding actions that create more problems in the future.

Short-Term Thinking Leads to Exhaustion

• Chronic pain and exhaustion are a result of dealing with numerous problems.

• Short-term thinking leads to creating more problems for the future, such as accumulating plastic waste without considering its long-term impact.

Don't Complain About the Past, Prepare for the Future

• Complaining about past experiences keeps us stuck in victimhood and prevents us from preparing for future challenges.

• Instead of dwelling on the past, focus on anticipating and dealing with future problems.

• Every action we take becomes part of our past, so it is crucial to consider where our actions are coming from - hurt or heart - to avoid creating more problems.

Reacting with Anger Aggravates Problems

• Reacting as a victim with anger, hatred, or aggression only creates more problems.

• Such reactions may provide short-term relief but do not bring lasting joy or peace.

Patanjali's Model for Dealing with Suffering

This section introduces Patanjali's four-step model for dealing with suffering (do come). It highlights the importance of recognizing one's suffering and seeking liberation from it.

Patanjali's Four Steps Model

• Patanjali presents a four-step model (hey M do come on our Gotham) for dealing with suffering.

• The first step is to recognize and acknowledge one's suffering, which is a clarity that many people lack.

• Not knowing or acknowledging one's suffering can lead to its consumption without understanding the cause.

• Recognizing suffering is an eye-opener and the first step towards seeking help and liberation.

Importance of Facing Our Suffering

• Looking at our own suffering, especially emotional and mental suffering, can be challenging but necessary for growth.

• Do come serves as a teacher, guiding us to take steps towards healing and seeking help.

Unawareness of Suffering

This section highlights the consequences of being unaware of one's suffering. It emphasizes the importance of recognizing signs and seeking help.

Unawareness Leads to Unaddressed Suffering

• Many people suffer without realizing it, leading to unaddressed issues that consume them.

• Lack of awareness about physical, mental, or emotional conditions prevents individuals from seeking appropriate help.

• In certain circumstances, such as poverty-stricken areas where medical access is limited, people may not even know they have health conditions like diabetes or depression.

Do Come as an Eye-Opener

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The speaker discusses the impact of trauma and rejection on individuals, particularly inherited suffering from the past. They share a personal experience of photographing old people and how it connects to their understanding of suffering.

Impact of Trauma and Rejection

• Inherited suffering from the past can disturb individuals who have experienced trauma, rejection, or bullying.

• Many people who have survived difficult times, like war, may choose not to talk about their experiences.

• Avoiding or not dealing with past suffering can perpetuate its effects.

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The speaker shares their interest in photography and specifically taking portraits of old people. They discuss a project where they met many elderly individuals and highlight one particular encounter with a 102-year-old woman.

Photographing Old People

• The speaker prefers taking photographs of old people because they find beauty in their faces.

• They had a project where they met many elderly individuals and took pictures of them.

• One memorable encounter was with a 102-year-old woman who was the grandmother of one of their students.

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The speaker reflects on meeting the grandmother mentioned earlier, who had survived World War but never spoke about it. They emphasize the difficulty survivors face in discussing traumatic experiences.

Difficulty in Discussing Traumatic Experiences

• Survivors of traumatic events often find it challenging to talk about their experiences.

• This difficulty arises due to the intense suffering endured during those times.

• Many other individuals also avoid discussing such periods in history.

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The speaker emphasizes the importance of addressing and dealing with past suffering rather than avoiding it. They share a quote from Patanjali about looking at suffering positively.

Dealing with Suffering

• Avoiding or forgetting about past suffering does not make it go away.

• Patanjali suggests looking at suffering positively and using it as an opportunity for growth.

• The speaker mentions their ancestor, Shri Wadn't the Daesik, who faced challenges but remained dedicated to the spiritual path.

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The speaker shares a personal story about their father, who faced criticism and attacks despite his success on the spiritual path. They discuss his response to these challenges and the significance of honoring teachers in their tradition.

Responding to Criticism

• The speaker's father, Shri Wadn't the Daesik, faced criticism and attacks despite his success on the spiritual path.

• People would throw slippers or shoes at him as a form of insult.

• In their tradition, sandals represent the feet of God, so they honor their teacher by placing sandals on their head.

• Shri Wadn't the Daesik responded to these incidents with fascination and composed a poem thanking those who threw slippers for reminding him of his dedication to serving God.

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The speaker reflects on how they are reminded of their ancestor's response when facing attacks themselves. They discuss how taking suffering as a teacher can change one's perspective and inspire commitment to teachings.

Taking Suffering as a Teacher

• When facing attacks or suffering, the speaker reminds themselves of their ancestor's response.

• They view these experiences as reminders that reinforce their commitment to teachings.

• By changing one's perspective and seeing suffering as an opportunity for growth, it becomes a teacher rather than a burden.

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The speaker explains the concept of "someone that come" and how relationships can change one's perception of something as either so come or do come.

Relationships and Perception

• The concept of "someone that come" refers to how relationships can influence whether something is perceived as so come or do come.

• A person or object may be seen as so come if there is a positive relationship, but it can become do come if the relationship changes.

• Similarly, something that was initially seen as do come can become so come through a change in the relationship.

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The speaker gives examples to illustrate how objects or people are not inherently so come or do come. They discuss the changing perception of a new phone and an individual's allergy to garlic.

Changing Perception

• Objects or people are not objectively so come or do come; it depends on one's subjective relationship with them.

• A new phone may initially bring joy and be seen as so come, but over time, it can become frustrating and be perceived as do come.

• An individual's allergy to garlic shows that what may cause suffering for one person does not necessarily affect others in the same way.

• The speaker mentions how practicing yoga can change one's metabolism and alter their relationship with certain things.

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The speaker encourages accepting suffering and using it as an opportunity for growth. They emphasize personal responsibility in dealing with suffering rather than blaming others.

Accepting Suffering

• When faced with suffering, it is important to accept it and explore what can be learned from the experience.

• Blaming others for our suffering may not reflect the reality of the situation.

• Personal responsibility plays a role in how we respond to and deal with suffering.

The Choice to Change

This section discusses how as adults, we have the choice to change our experiences of suffering in relationships. It emphasizes that suffering is not solely dependent on external factors but also on how we respond to them.

The Power of Choice

• We have the choice to continue or change a relationship that causes us suffering.

• Suffering can be caused by allowing others to control us.

• Blaming others for our suffering limits our ability to take responsibility and make changes.

Taking Responsibility for Our Suffering

This section highlights the importance of taking responsibility for our own suffering and making choices that empower us.

Owning Our Choices

• People often blame others for their problems, such as their mother, boss, or family members.

• However, it is our choice whether to stay in those situations or make changes.

• Even if we choose to stay, we can communicate and assert ourselves to improve the situation.

Anticipating and Learning from Suffering

This section explores the concept of learning from past suffering and using it as an opportunity for growth and empowerment.

Learning from Past Experiences

• Suffering is often rooted in past traumas or unexpressed emotions.

• By learning from past experiences, we can empower ourselves and avoid repeating patterns of suffering.

• Astrologically speaking, certain periods may bring prolonged suffering (e.g., Saturn's dominance), but they also offer valuable lessons if embraced.

Embracing Empowerment through Learning

This section emphasizes the importance of embracing empowerment through learning from suffering rather than blaming external factors.

Embracing Empowerment

• Blaming external factors, such as Saturn or past hurts, hinders personal growth.

• Instead of complaining or blaming, we should focus on learning from suffering and empowering ourselves.

• Others' opinions or criticisms do not define us unless we allow them to.

Liberating Yourself from Suffering

This section encourages liberating oneself from suffering by treating it as a teacher and not allowing others' opinions to control one's potential.

Treating Suffering as a Teacher

• Viewing suffering as an opportunity for growth liberates us from its grip.

• Others' negative opinions about us do not define our true selves.

• By liberating ourselves from external influences, we empower ourselves to live authentically.

Celebrating the Opportunity for Growth

This section suggests celebrating moments of suffering as they signify opportunities for personal development and self-realization.

Embracing Growth Opportunities

• When faced with suffering, celebrate the realization that there is something to be addressed or learned.

The Importance of Recognizing Suffering

In this section, the speaker discusses the importance of recognizing and acknowledging one's suffering as a crucial step towards enlightenment and personal growth.

Recognizing Suffering Leads to Enlightenment

• The first clarity is recognizing that one is suffering.

• Noticing and acknowledging one's suffering brings about a state of enlightenment.

• Those who do not recognize their suffering remain in darkness.

Moving Beyond Suffering

• Patanjali emphasizes the need to move beyond recognizing suffering.

• He provides six steps to progress further on the path of self-discovery and healing.

• These steps include finding the cause of suffering, identifying goals, and taking necessary actions.

Learning from Limitations

• Many individuals are unaware of their limitations until they become aware or face challenges.

• Stephen Hawking serves as an example of someone who defied expectations despite physical limitations.

• We all have different types of limitations, whether physical, psychological, or emotional.

Empowering Ourselves through Suffering

• Even those who have achieved great clarity and enlightenment still experience suffering (doṣa).

• Rather than complaining or avoiding suffering, we should empower ourselves by learning from it.

• By facing our wounds and taking necessary steps towards healing, we can overcome our limitations.

Healing Through Acknowledgment

This section explores a student's journey towards healing by acknowledging past trauma and embracing her true potential through forgiveness and self-healing.

Uncovering Suppressed Trauma

• A student in her late 50s or early 60s approached the speaker for guidance.

• She had experienced depression and chronic fatigue throughout her life.

• Through yoga practice, she became more sensitive and began recalling suppressed memories.

Confronting Past Trauma

• The student discovered that she had been sexually abused by her dance teacher as a child.

• This trauma had been repressed, leading to unexplained depression and fatigue.

• Traditional treatments such as medication and psychotherapy failed to address the root cause.

Healing and Empowerment

• By facing her past trauma, the student learned to forgive herself for not addressing it earlier.

• She embarked on a healing journey, gradually regaining energy and reconnecting with her passion for dance.

• Patanjali's teachings emphasize that healing is possible when we take steps towards self-awareness and self-care.

Embracing Suffering as a Path to Healing

This section highlights the importance of acknowledging suffering as a crucial step towards healing. It emphasizes that blaming others or avoiding suffering only perpetuates our pain.

Overcoming Anger and Blame

• Holding onto anger or blaming others prolongs suffering rather than facilitating healing.

• The example of the previously mentioned student demonstrates how forgiveness and self-reflection can lead to empowerment.

The First Step in Healing

• Patanjali emphasizes that the first step in healing is acknowledging our suffering.

• We must respect our pain but not dwell on it indefinitely; instead, we should seek understanding and resolution.

Addressing Deep-rooted Wounds

• Many individuals suffer from deep-rooted emotional and psychological scars.

• Patanjali reminds us that everyone has experienced some form of trauma in their lives.

• Suffering is not dependent on external circumstances but rather our internal response to them.

Healing Through Self-reflection

• Healing from trauma requires self-reflection and addressing the origins of our suffering.

• Just as wounds heal when properly cared for, emotional and psychological scars can also be healed through self-awareness and taking necessary steps.

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In this section, the speaker discusses the concept of happiness and how material possessions are not the source of true happiness. The importance of relationships in determining our level of satisfaction and freedom is highlighted.

The Relationship Between Material Possessions and Happiness

• The speaker mentions that despite having wealth, luxury, a good spouse, and children, the person mentioned in the story is still unhappy.

• It is emphasized that material things cannot bring true happiness or fulfillment. Money can buy products but not genuine happiness.

• The speaker introduces the idea that relationships play a crucial role in our overall well-being. They explain that relationships are the source of both suffering and liberation.

Yoga as Relationship

• The speaker's father used to say that yoga is all about relationships.

• It is stated that what we relate to determines whether we suffer or experience freedom.

• The focus shifts from the product itself to how we relate to it. Our relationship with something determines our level of suffering or liberation.