Microsoft Word - Taimni - The Science of Yoga.doc

The principle on the basis of which the Yogi has to regulate his attitudes and re-
actions is quite clear from the Sutra but there is one point on which doubt may arise in
the mind of the student. Patanjali prescribes indifference towards vice. To some it may
appear that this is not in accordance with the highest ideals of spiritual life and an atti-
tude of active help and compassion towards the wicked would be better than that of
mere indifference. This objection seems quite reasonable and incidents may be quoted
from the lives of great spiritual teachers and saints in support of this argument. But we
have to remember that this Sutra is not meant to prescribe a code of conduct for people
in general or for those who have become Enlightened and are thus in a position to
serve as spiritual teachers. It is a code of conduct recommended for the practical stu-
dent of Yoga who is an aspirant for Enlightenment. He is engaged in the pursuit of an
objective of an extraordinarily difficult nature and he cannot afford to divert his ener-
gies for the purpose of reforming others. According to the Eastern tradition and con-
ception of spirituality, active work for the spiritual regeneration of others comes after
a person has gained at least a certain degree of enlightenment himself. If we go out to
reform others while we ourselves are bound by all kinds of illusions and limitations,
we are not likely to gain much success in our endeavour and may seriously jeopardize
our own progress. The aspirant for Yoga cannot frown upon the wicked because that
would tend to arouse hatred and have undesirable repercussions on his own mind. He
cannot show sympathy towards them because that would be encouraging vice. So the
only course left open to him is to adopt an attitude of indifference.
The result of following the rule given in this Sutra is to bring about clarification
of the mind and to remove one of the causes of mental disturbance for the beginner.
All those distortions and complexes which the average man develops in his conflicting
relations with others must be combed out and the psyche made healthy and harmoni-
ous. Otherwise, Viksepa will continue to trouble him and make the practice of Yoga
impossible.
Besides a clarified mind, another essential requisite for the pratice of Yoga is a
strong and restful nervous system. How this can be ensured is indicated in the next
Sutra.