In my previous post, dated 20-11-2023, I quoted one Sutra from Yogasutra-s of Patanjali; I am quoting it again here:
vitarkabādhane pratipakṣa bhāvanam
(Sūtra number 33 in second Pāda namely Sādhanapāda)
This Sutra literally means that ‘the method to get rid of the Vitarka-s is to repeatedly think against these ideas’. Vitarka-s mean bad habits; five of the severe ones are listed out in Yogasutra:
1. ‘I will purposefully hurt another person.’ This kind of thought is called Himsa.
2. ‘I will lie.’ This is Asatya.
3. ‘I will steal.’ This is Steya.
4. ‘I will immerse myself in sensual pleasures.’ This is the longing for Bhoga.
5. ‘I possess all these, I won’t share these with anybody else.’ This is Parigraha.
These five kinds of feelings are mainly called Vitarka-s. These are not healthy for a human being. These negative thoughts will destroy the psychic as well as the physical health of the individual.
It is only when an individual realises that ‘I have these negative thoughts in me’ and ‘somehow, I want to get rid of them’ that he would try sincerely for that purpose. The self-destructive effects of these thoughts should be realised in a convincing manner by the individual. Then he would try to change his way of thinking as given below. This way of thinking is called the observation of Yama by Patanjali.
1. Instead of the feeling that ‘I will purposefully hurt another person’ he would cultivate the thought: ‘I will not hurt another person purposefully’. That quality of thinking is called Ahimsa.
2. Instead of the feeling that ‘I will lie’ he would cultivate the thought: ‘I will not lie’, ‘I will be truthful in all situations’. That quality of thinking is called Satyam.
3. Instead of the feeling that ‘I will steal’ he would cultivate the thought: ‘I will not steal’, ‘I will not compare myself with another person’. The moment you compare yourself with another person and wish to be like him, you have already destroyed your uniqueness; you have stolen in a subtle manner what you wanted from him. That quality of keeping away from all kinds of comparison is called Asteyam.
4. Instead of the feeling that ‘I will immerse myself in sensual pleasures’ he would cultivate the thought: ‘I will not immerse myself in sensual pleasures’ and ‘I turn my mind and interests towards knowing the ultimate Truth’. That quality of thinking is called Brahmacaryam.
5. Instead of the feeling that ‘I possess all these, I won’t share these with anybody else’ he would cultivate the thought: ‘I will not possess all these, I will share these with everybody around me’. That quality of thinking is called Aparigraham.
When explaining the meaning of the above Sutra (Yogasutra II - 33) Śrī Sadāśiva Brahmendra Sarasvati Svāmikal says in Yogasudhākara, that the Yogi who has started his Sādhana of Yama etc. says to himself, “I have already experienced the burning and painful situations as a result of the vicious longings in life; therefore, I am following the rules of Yama etc in life, teaching myself to avoid all unwanted thoughts like ‘I will hurt another one’ etc. Yama and Niyama are patterns of ethical behaviour. Now if I accept to hurt another one purposefully, it is like a clean man eating his own vomit.” Through this way of repeated thinking one should get rid of his bad habits here mentioned as Vitarka-s. [yamādiparo yogī, “samsārāṅgāreṣu aham tapyamāno yamādikam śaraṇamupagato himsādikam atyajam; punaḥ tadādadānaḥ kaunleyakena vāntāśinā samaḥ” ityanena prakāreṇa vitarkapratipakṣān bhāvayed ityarthaḥ. Quoted from yogasudhākara written by Śrī Sadāśiva Brahmendra Sarasvati.]
The most disgusting image is used here by Śrī Sadāśiva Brahmendra Sarasvati; eating one’s own vomit! It is unacceptable in terms of physical as well as psychological cleanliness and peace. The Sādhaka (a disciplined practitioner) should always remember his resolutions to practise them without any flaw. Self-awareness, Self-criticism, AUM method (Awareness Understanding and Management method) are useful to be successful in the observance of this Sādhana.