An Unattached View YS II - 15

Yoga Sutra II- 15 -PARINAMA TAPA SAMSKARA DUHKHAIR GUNA VRTTI VIRODHAC CA DUHKHAM EVA SARVAM VIVEKINAH - To one of discrimination, everything is painful indeed, due to its consequences: the anxiety and fear over losing what is gained; the resulting impressions left in the mind to create renewed cravings; and the constant conflict among the three gunas, which control the mind.

Swami Satchidananda points out that Patanjali gives a very great truth in the spiritual field in this important sutra. If we contemplated this sutra for a little while daily, our lives would be transformed. "All experiences are painful for the person of spiritual discrimination. In this world, all experiences that come from outside through the world, through nature or material things, are ultimately painful. None can give everlasting happiness."

He says temporary pleasure always end in pain because of fearing the loss of it. Examples given are:

• having a high position - fear of losing the position


• accumulating a lot of money - fear of losing the money


• our beauty and youth - fear of becoming ugly and old

Swami Satchidananda says it alright to have these things as long as you don't let it bring you anxiety and fear. The past pleasures are painful because renewed cravings arising from impressions that were left in the mind. There is really nothing bad in the world, but the three gunas are constantly tossing the mind. [In the Wikipedia, the Sanskrit word guna has the basic meaning of "string" or "a single thread or strand of a cord or twine". The three gunas (based upon the three "tendencies"), are sattva guna, and rajas guna, tamas guna]

One can see these tendencies evident when "What you enjoy one minute you hate the next." Swami Satchidananda further comments that "Real pleasure comes from detaching ourselves completely from the entire world, in standing aloof--making use of the world as a master of it." We are reminded that we cannot escape from everything (which generates pain) because that doesn't work as wherever we go, the world (our world) follows. "Wherever we are, we have to learn to handle things properly."

An analogy is given of one leaving family life to go live in an ashram. If one cannot adapt to his known family, how can one adapt to an unknown group? "The world is a training place where we learn to use the world without getting attached." "Pleasure and pain are but the outcome of your approach." This determines your experience of heaven or hell. It's like learning to swim. At first there is fear, but once learned it becomes enjoyable.