Stepping Back And
Understanding The Other Side
Yoga Psychology teaches that whenever we are faced with harassing thoughts (of violence, untruthfulness, stealing, promiscuity, and accumulation), we can wisely step back, take the high road, understand our underlying thoughts, emotions, habits and beliefs, and discover what is essentially wrong with us. We can clearly discern what is happening when we have a complete picture of the events that unfold. It is like being a mediator and listening to both sides of the issue before attempting to resolve the conflict. This attempt to step back and investigate the other side of the story is called Prati Paksha Bhaawana.
Yoga Sutra 2:33 tells us that when we are harassed by negative thoughts (thoughts focused on violence, untruthfulness, stealing, promiscuity, and accumulation), we must cultivate counteracting thoughts. This cultivation of counteracting thoughts is also called Prati Paksha Bhaawanaa. No matter how much we try, we cannot stop the flow of unethical, hurtful, or disturbing thoughts. They are generated by the multitude of negative Sanskaars deposited in our Chitta from past immoral behaviors. The popular saying is that even in the best-tended gardens, unwanted weeds do pop up from time to time. Through Yoga Sutra 2:33 recommends the technique of reverse psychology as encapsulated in the words Prati Paksha Bhaawanaa, Rishi Patanjali is saying that we must not berate ourselves when these unethical thoughts arise in our experience, but we must deal with them insightfully. This insightful approach to disturbing thoughts is called Prati Paksha Bhaawana. A Yoga practitioner is on record for saying:
Ghoreshu sansaara angaareshu pachya-maanena
Mayaa sharanam upaagatah sarva-bhootaa-bhaya
Pradaanena yoga dharmah.
Burning in the blazing fire of this world, I have taken the shelter of Yoga by giving the gift of fearlessness and assurance to all living creatures.
One more point: Prati Paksha Bhaawanaa empowers us to perform a kind of mindfulness meditation.
Mindfulness is the ability in us to be fully present, to be aware of where we are and of what we’re doing, and not to be overly reactive or overwhelmed by what’s going on around us. This ability is ever present in us; it is natural to us, to our humanity.
Whenever we bring awareness to what we’re directly experiencing, we’re being mindful. And when we train our brain to be mindful, we’re remodeling the structure of our entire persona. Through mindfulness, we keep uprooting unwanted Sanskaar-weeds. The garden bed of our Chitta will soon be filled with fragrant multi-colored Sanskaar flowers. These flowers will reseed of their own accord until there is no more room for unwanted seeds to surface. We must, however, be always vigilant – we must never stop looking for weed seeds that are soon to germinate and sprout.
DR SATISH PRAKASH