The Relevance of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra in a Global Crisis

Sanjiv Chaturvedi

There are countless books and scriptures available from around the world intended to give us self-help guidance. Among them, Sage Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra is one of the greatest works of wisdom, giving precise and effective guidance towards human evolution. Although the document in its entirety comprises the whole, the very first sutra lays the solid foundation for everyone to face life with a peaceful and relax state of body, mind and emotion, especially in times of crisis. The first verse of the Yoga Sutra declares;

अथ योगानुशासनम् ॥१॥

Atha yoga-anusasanam (1.1)

Now the discipline of yoga begins

We need discipline to cope with any crisis. The current COVID-19 pandemic is a prime example of a global crisis affecting humanity irrespective of nationality, social status, wealth, religion or ethnicity. We need discipline to adjust to social distancing, adhere to lockdown rules, practice healthy habits and make choices that benefit the good of the society rather than the self. People are experiencing stress, anxiety and fear across the g

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because they have become dependent on medicine for immediate relief and there are none for the moment against the particular virus. Out of frustration, some people blame nations and neighbors rather than seize this moment to learn and change their ways for the future. Discipline is often misunderstood as a stark practice to obey rules and therefore trigger inner resistance. However, true discipline is self-awareness of one’s body, mind and emotions and resolves inner conflict. Fostering discipline will not only help us through this crisis but will enable us with whatever we do in life.

Discipline does not come without commitment to methodical practice, but fortunately Sage Patanjali outlined the theories and applications in the Yoga Sutra for all to benefit. It consists of 196 sutras (aphorisms) which are a step by step guidance and practices to help us maintain and unify our body, mind and emotions so that we may live our lives to our best potential. It teaches us how to channel our energy in a positive and productive way.

The very first sutra, “Atha yoga-anusasanam” (1.1) highlights the importance of discipline and how this foundation positively influences everything we do. It can be literally translated as, “Now the discipline of Yoga begins” but the deeper meaning points to Yoga as a way to self-govern over subtle nature of human personality and behavior. Patanjali rings his alarm bell to us with the opening word in the verse, “now” (atha). He is urgently calling our attention to the present moment, reminding us there is no other time than now to begin changing our ways. “Now” happens to be a moment for global crisis for us. What better time to begin?  

What is the relevance of discipline in our lives?

Whatever we do, we need discipline. For example, if we become ill, we go to the doctor to get assistance in the form of prescription drugs and advice but seeking such outer support is not enough. We must access our inner support which is discipline to guide ourselves back to health. If we do not have control over our unhealthy lifestyle habits, all the medication in the world cannot help us. Medicine often only relieves the symptom of the disease but yoga can get to the source of the imbalances within our bodies which allowed for problems to manifest. The human body is continuously finding equilibrium and adjusting to our environment to support life without any conscious effort. The body is following the law of nature automatically so our actions must also follow and live in harmony with nature. For example, our immune system is constantly hard at work to protect us from harmful viruses and bacteria without destroying the necessary bacteria. However, we sabotage the body’s natural function with poor habits such as smoking, excessive drinking and eating and lack of physical activity which lead to chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart issues and high blood pressure. It is known such underlying conditions puts people at higher risk when contracting COVID-19, disabling the body to naturally recover from the course of the viral infection. The current crisis is a wakeup call to change our ways. Discipline guides us to follow the law of nature and develop an inner support system to balance our bodies, minds and emotions.

Stress is a universal condition felt by most people, especially under times of crisis. We attribute stress to outside causes and therefore seek solutions from the outside world to relieve our stress. We panic because there is no easy cure of the virus, business is slow, we must isolate ourselves from others, schools are suspended, there are travel restrictions and life as we know it has changed. Stress is a byproduct of fear which causes inner conflict within us, lowering our immune system and deteriorates physical and mental health. Such imbalances within us makes us fearful of change, rather than face and accept them. We can remain fixated on the negatives and be restricted by fear, or we can choose to focus on higher endeavors to elevate our entire being. More than ever before, we need to help ourselves through discipline to cope with life’s challenges. 

 

How can we develop discipline?  

Self-discipline cannot be forced but can be gained by practicing yoga with awareness on a regular basis. Discipline is the ability to do the task at hand with full awareness, thus all yoga practices aim to heighten awareness and requires discipline. The Eight Limbs of Yoga from the Yoga Sutra gives a step by step instruction on how to achieve awareness and therefore discipline is a prerequisite. Practices are multi facet against the popular misconception of Yoga as a form of physical exercise. Yoga is a holistic way of life incorporating balanced practices to gain awareness and health for the body, mind and soul. It is important to briefly go over the Eight Limbs of Yoga to understand the synergy between discipline and awareness and how that leads us to live better.  

The first two limbs of yoga, Yama and Niyama, defines the correct social and personal conducts, teaching us to be respectful members of society as we correctly take care of ourselves. Harmonious existence between the individual, society and the environment are the basis of the conducts, teaching us that what is good for us must also benefit others and vice versa. We need discipline to adhere to Yama and Niyama. As we adhere to the conducts in our daily lives, we further strengthen discipline as we deepen awareness of our actions.  Much of our society’s problems arise from not being able to live by these creeds even though we may have good intentions. The problem stems from us taking from the world what we want rather than what we need.

We want more money, bigger homes, better cars, best for our children, imported foods, travel and on and on. We are blinded by our ignorance and greed, though we intellectually understand how damaging our excessive lifestyle is to our planet and society. We choose to turn a blind eye towards our contributions towards environmental destruction. All we really need is simple and wholesome foods, good hygiene and physical movement to keep our bodies healthy. What we need is adequate rest, doing things that we are passionate about, a good balance between social interaction and time to retreat inwardly to be happy.

The repercussions of a greed-based lifestyle had accelerated climate change, increased pollution, caused economic disparities, political tensions and wars. Crisis gives us an opportunity to re-evaluate our lifestyles and to reflect on what we really need, not want. That brings us to the question of can we be happy with only the things we need? We have become accustomed to finding happiness from the outside world rather than our inner world. Good food, drinks, drugs, shopping, entertainment, social media, sports and friends have turned into sources of our attachment. When we are separated from our attachments, we feel unhappy and anxious. Many of us do not know how to be happy alone and feel restless without people around us. Now is an excellent chance to turn our focus inward to get to know who we really are and understand the bondages of dependency we have created for ourselves. Discipline is a need to change our ways and awareness frees us from the bondage of attachment.

The third limb of Yoga is Asana, the physical postures, which is intended to maintain a healthy body and good energy (prana) flow. It should be followed by the fourth limb, Pranayama, which are breathing exercises to circulate oxygen to every cell and to detox the body. Though Asana practices are physical, the awareness is brought inward to the related body parts. The object of these practices is to instill discipline to practice regularly with awareness and to prepare the body to stay still during the following meditative limbs of yoga.

The fifth and sixth limbs of yoga are Pratyahara (withdrawal of the senses, eg. Yoga Nidra) and Dharana (one pointed focus, eg. Trataka). These practices relax the mind and deepens your awareness inward to prepare for meditation. The seventh limb is Dhyana (meditation). Having practiced the previous limbs with discipline and awareness, you are ready to retreat within to observe oneself in stillness. Although there are many different meditation practices, the SWAN meditation (Hamsa Dhyana) is most beneficial in times of adversity and uncertainty. This meditation practice investigates four most influential aspects of ourselves.

The acronym stands for: S for strengths, W for weaknesses, A for ambitions, and N for needs. It is an effective tool for observing ourselves as we truly are and not how we want ourselves to be perceived. By accessing oneself with discernment, detachment and in a relaxed state of mind, we can make better decisions on how to live our lives and realize what we wanted was not what we needed. Yoga is experiential so no explanation could describe the transformation you will feel by practicing with discipline. Nevertheless, can you fathom being able to face the crisis without fear and anxiety? Can you imagine finding your own definition of happiness, not tainted by society’s materialistic views? Can you embrace change positively, so you do not torment yourself or others with negativity?  Problems will not go away, but we can change ourselves to better face the challenges of life. Once we know who we are, then we can coexist with our society harmoniously and care for our environment.

The last and eighth limb of yoga is Samadhi (Transcendence). This is a state of awareness that all things are one and from the same source. One’s ego no longer interferes with the true self. Although most of us may never experience this state, yoga aims to lead us to this higher goal. All we have to do is simply practice with awareness and foster discipline. 

How can we cope with Crisis?

Channeling our energy to positive thoughts and actions is key to coping with our current reality or any crisis. Yogic lifestyle teaches us to be fully aware of what we are doing at present moment, both on and off the mat. Transformation then slowly happens and discipline becomes part of our existence. In other words, discipline allows us to use energy in a productive and positive way. When we lose awareness of our thoughts and actions, then we are also losing our discipline and succumb to negativity. Discipline and awareness come hand in hand. With awareness, we can be more accommodating towards people and change, release our egos and be open to reality and our mistakes. In whatever we do, as parents, in our careers, as partners, as students or teachers, we need to develop discipline through awareness because it is the only way to be our best selves and uplift others.

Social distancing, working from home and having your children do online learning are all new situations for us. Each of us must experience and experiment with what is best for ourselves and those around us. Some people may need more physical activity. Others may need more pranayama or meditation. It is also a good opportunity to learn something new that gives you fulfillment. By turning inward, you may unleash your creativity and discover a new aspect of yourself. Yet again, inner and outer discipline is required to face situations of confinement, such as the home, positively and harmoniously. One needs discipline to spend time productively and to treat those you are with respect and understanding. It is important that the family members support one another and not take out their frustrations on each other.

In difficult times, temptation to addiction becomes stronger. Whether it be alcohol, food, or drugs, addiction has a stronghold on the individual and hurts the family. It is a good opportunity now to face one’s addiction and seek professional help while practicing awareness to gain discipline. Through yoga, the individual can slowly begin to observe the subtle qualities which led him or her to addiction originally. As he or she gains discipline through awareness, the strength to overcome the addiction can be found.  

Lessons from the Crisis, Hope for the future

There are crucial lessons to be learned from the pandemic, or any crisis. Firstly, no matter how advanced conventional medicine and technology have developed, they do not have the solutions to all of humanity’s health issues. We ultimately have our self-discipline to save us from danger or reduce the risk of infections and illnesses. 

Secondly, we need discipline to reach within ourselves to find grounding, positivity and strength in face of adversity and change. Following discipline, or yogic lifestyle, is synonymous with conducting every action with awareness and is key to a better lifestyle. Awareness must follow every aspect of our lives: what we eat, how we react in various situations, whether to obey society’s rules and obey laws of nature, whether to contribute to the well being of society, etc. When we live our daily life with awareness, we naturally make choices benefitting not only ourselves, but the entire society. As a result, it becomes easier for us to be calm, balanced, peaceful and centered during times of crisis.

Thirdly, we have witnessed the rejuvenating strength of nature during recent months of low human activity. She gives us another chance to follow our needs and not greed. Humanity must live in symbiotic harmony with nature without destroying it by only take what we need from our environment. When we consume greedily from our planet, not only do we destroy our habitat and exhaust our resources but also create imbalance within ourselves, leading us to poor health and unhappiness.

“Now the discipline of Yoga begins.” The verse offers us a lifeline in crisis and gives us hope to find our better selves in the future. Without further ado, begin exploring and learning about yourself today.