The document discusses cultivating the four pillars of Maitrī, Karuṇā, Muditā and Upekṣā to help transform unhelpful inner feelings that may arise as obstacles during yoga practice. Maitrī involves cultivating friendliness towards one's own attempts. Karuṇā involves cultivating compassion for one's body and mind. Muditā involves cultivating joy in focusing on what one can do well now. Upekṣā involves cultivating distance from self-deprecation during attempts to improve one's inner life.
The document discusses cultivating the four pillars of Maitrī, Karuṇā, Muditā and Upekṣā to help transform unhelpful inner feelings that may arise as obstacles during yoga practice. Maitrī involves cultivating friendliness towards one's own attempts. Karuṇā involves cultivating compassion for one's body and mind. Muditā involves cultivating joy in focusing on what one can do well now. Upekṣā involves cultivating distance from self-deprecation during attempts to improve one's inner life.
The document discusses cultivating the four pillars of Maitrī, Karuṇā, Muditā and Upekṣā to help transform unhelpful inner feelings that may arise as obstacles during yoga practice. Maitrī involves cultivating friendliness towards one's own attempts. Karuṇā involves cultivating compassion for one's body and mind. Muditā involves cultivating joy in focusing on what one can do well now. Upekṣā involves cultivating distance from self-deprecation during attempts to improve one's inner life.
Yoga Practice is about a re-turning towards our inner life.
However, even without outer obstacles,
we can encounter inner feelings that arise and manifest as if obstacles to that re-turning. Here it might be helpful to reflect on how to cultivate the four pillars of Maitrī, Karuṇā, Muditā and Upekṣā and the role they can have in helping to transform the unhelpful aspects of these inner feelings. “Bhāvana is a beneficial attitude that is consciously cultivated despite tendencies to the contrary” - T Krishnamacharya commentary on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 33 With the spirit of Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 33 in mind, the cultivation of the four pillars is an inner practice that can support a stepping, rather than stymieing, onto our practice mat or seat through: Maitrī - Cultivating a feeling of friendliness towards our own attempts, let alone other's demands, to distract ourselves. Karuṇā - Cultivating a feeling of compassion towards our bodies and minds, whatever state we find them in. Muditā - Cultivating a feeling of looking, from a joyful space in ourselves, at what we can do well and now, rather than what we can’t do well or now. Upekṣā - Cultivating a feeling of holding a distance from the self-deprecation that can so often accompany our attempts to elevate the quality of our inner life and old responses to inner tensions and memories. - Personal reflection on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 33