Corona Virus and The Teachings of Yoga Sutra
There are many ways to look at the coronavirus pandemic: it’s changing our lifestyles, our financial situations, and our social lives. New practices and terminology like social distancing, teleworking, and self-quarantining have become increasingly commonplace.
In this time of uncertainty and suffering, we can turn to some yogic philosophy for a bit of guidance.
Around 400 CE an Indian man named Patanjali collected and synthesized 196 yoga aphorisms (concise observations which contain general truths) in Sanskrit. Yoga’s ancient traditions, theories, philosophies, and practices were all compiled into Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras.
Yoga Sutra 2.15 on suffering is applicable to the current pandemic:
Parinama tapa samskara duhkhaih guna vrtti virodhaccha duhkham evam sarvam vivekinah
Change, longing, habits, and the activity of the gunas can all cause us suffering. In fact, even the wise suffer, for suffering is everywhere.
What are the causes of duhkhaih (suffering)?
According to Yoga Sutra 2.15, there are four causes of suffering: parinama (change), tapa (longing), samskara (habits), and guna vrtti (the activity of gunas). All four forms of suffering, unfortunately, seem to be in action around the world today.
Change: Coronavirus has negatively changed the lives of many people, whether you are sick, have to work from home, or are keeping a safe distance from your closest friends.
Longing: Longing plays a role in our desire for this pandemic to end and our lives to be restored to normalcy.
Habits: During this pandemic, isolation is increasingly causing new and unhealthy habits for many people. Although necessary at this time, isolation can easily lead to an unhealthy diet and a decrease in exercise and motivation.
Activity of gunas: The final cause of suffering, the activity of gunas, is referring to the ever fluctuating balance of energies in your body. Coronavirus has caused a lot of imbalance in our daily lives. Our normal schedules have been thrown out the window, creating a lot of uncertainty.
The latter part of Yoga Sutra 2.15 states the grim but true concept that suffering is everywhere and everyone experiences it.
Suffering is unavoidable; however, there are tools, as laid out by the Yoga Sutras, that can be used to ease the pain of suffering. No matter the cause, the key to easing suffering is developing a clearer perception–equanimity. The more connected you are with your inner self, the easier it is to respond with composure and level-headedness in the face of negatively changing circumstances, inaccessible longing, and harmful habits.
What does it mean to develop a clearer perception–to cultivate upeksha (equanimity)?
Equanimity is a state of even-mindedness with a focus on balance that allows you to respond calmly rather than emotionally. It is described as a still mind.
How do you obtain a still mind?
Here are some tools that might help:
Practice mindfulness meditation, allowing yourself to recognize the moment-to-moment changes in perception
Continue your asana practice, in order to continue applying effort
Try some calming breaths and/or mantra meditation, with a focus on the concept that happiness or unhappiness depends on your actions
In Conclusion…
According to the Yoga Sutras, continuous applied effort, plus a willingness to experience without being emotionally charged, will lead to freedom from suffering. It is also noted that suffering can often be the first step toward positive change. When something is negatively impacting your life, you’re more likely to seek a solution.
When change happens, we cannot know in the moment whether it will ultimately be good or bad. By understanding that the future is unknowable and by practicing equanimity, we will be better prepared to face suffering. Sometimes the only thing we can control is our reactions, so let them be ones of calm, kindness, and compassion.