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PATANJALI YOGA SUTRAS
"worldly,” can be considered in relation to the underlying spiritual reality. It is not so much what we talk about as how we talk about it, that matters. Nor is it necessary to use such words as “God," "spirit," "prayer,” etc. at all. These words serve to alienate unsympathetic hearers and make them feel that we are setting ourselves apart from them on a pedestal of holiness. We shall do better to remember that every human being is searching, however confusedly, for meaning in life and will welcome discussion of that meaning, provided that we can find a vocabulary which speaks to his or her condition. If we approach conversation from this angle and conduct it with charity, frankness, sincerity and a serious interest in the opinions of others, we shall be surprised to find how much tacit spiritual interchange can result from apparently casual talk about everyday events, science, art, politics or sport.
As for the other observances--we have already considered the signficance of “mortification" and "study” in commenting on the first aphorism of chapter II. Contentment means contented acceptance of one's lot in life, untroubled by envy and restlessness. Since religious teachers are often accused of preaching passive acceptance of an unjust status quo, it is necessary, however, to remark that Patanjali is not telling us to be contented with the lot of others. Such "contentment” would be mere callous indifference. We have no right to reprove a starving beggar for being discontented. Rather, as members of a community, we have a positive duty to help less fortunate neighbours toward better and fairer living conditions. But our efforts in this direction will be much more effective if they are not inspired by motives of personal gain and advantage.
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वितर्कबाधने प्रतिपक्षभावनम् ॥३३॥ To be free from thoughts that distract one from yoga, thoughts of an opposite kind must be cultivated.
