In a previous article, I talked about the six obstacles in the path of yoga which also impact our day-to-day life negatively. This was based on the Hatha Yoga Pradipika (HYP) chapter 1, verse 15. The very next verse (chapter 1, verse 16) talks about six virtues that can lead one to success not just in yoga but also in life. Just as the six obstacles discussed in the previous article are normally referred to as “ṣaṭ-bādhaka” (षट्-बाधक) in some texts, the six virtues discussed in this article are known as “ṣaṭ-sādhaka” (षट्-साधक) or the “six enablers”. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at these six virtues.
Before discussing the six virtues, let us try to understand what “success” means both in the context of yoga as well as in the broader context of day-to-day life.
Success in yoga
From a practical perspective, yoga can be thought of as a combination three practices – asana, pranayama and meditation. Let’s look at each of these:
Asana
The definition of asana as given in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali (YSP) is “asana must be stable and comfortable”1. Achieving a stable and comfortable position is also the goal of the practice of asana. Let’s take the example of “Pashchimottanasana”, the seated forward bending pose. In this pose the effort is to stretch the arms out in front to touch the toes and bend forward to rest the chest on the thigh. In the early stages of the practice, due to discomfort in the spine or the hamstrings, we may need to keep shifting the position as we try to go deeper into the pose. Also, the moment we make the effort to go deeper in the pose, it may no more remain comfortable. Only after a prolonged and determined practice can we get to the state of being “stable and comfortable” which, when achieved, can be considered “success” in that posture.
Pranayama
In the YSP, pranayama is defined as controlling the flow of inhalation, exhalation and breath retention2. Patanjali provides broad guideline in developing the pranayama practices. HYP provides several pranayama practices, most of them involving breath retention. The main objective of pranayama is to gain mastery of “prana”, the vital life energy that keeps us alive. It is achieved through creating a balance between the two opposing breaths – one flowing through the left nostril, called “Ida” and the other flowing through the right, called “Pingala”. As in the case of asana, the goal of pranayama can be achieved only through prolonged and sustained practice. Of course, the practice brings about a multitude of benefits including improved cardiorespiratory functions, reduced stress, physical well-being, lightness of heart, clarity of mind, better sleep and a sense of purpose and direction. According to YSP, pranayama brings us closer to the early stage of meditation called “dhāraṇā”.
Meditation
Meditation is the key practice which can lead to the highest state of samadhi wherein the mind is completely devoid of any thought. Of course, just as for pranayama, as we develop the practice of mediation, we begin to derive multiple benefits including increased focus and concentration, improved energy levels, boost in mood, self-confidence, compassion, and improved relationships, among many others.
Ultimate success in yoga
As per YSP, the definition and the goal of yoga is to “still the fluctuations in the mind”3. The implication is that once we are in the state of “yoga”, the mind can stay still irrespective of what happens in life – loss of a dear one, loss of property or loss in stock market, serious illness, strained relationships etc. Once we get to that state, we become “self-realized” which means we can get rid of the false identity with the ego and recognize the separate identities of the soul (Purusha) and the material aspect of our being (Prakriti). This realization leads to liberation from all suffering and brings deep inner peace along with unconditional joy and freedom.
True success in life
In our day-to-day life, the label of being “successful” is usually assigned in some of the following situations:
- A businessman with a booming business
- An athlete with a room full of trophies and medals
- A politician with a huge following
- A person who has a huge bank balance, drives an expensive car, lives in an expensive home, has name and fame etc.
But, are these really the markers of true success? Can any of the above achievements provide a deep sense of inner, unconditional joy? In most situations, we’ll come up with the answer “NO”. True success is simply a state of mind which helps us live a life free of any kind of mental suffering and a positive attitude leading to a sense of contentment, purpose and fulfillment.
Let us now look at the six virtues that will lead us to “success” in yoga as well as our day-to-day lives. Here is the verse:
HYP verse 1.16
उत्साहात्साहसाद्धैर्यात्तत्त्वज्ञानाच्च निश्चयात्।
जनसङ्गपरित्यागात्षड्भिर्योगः प्रसिद्ध्यति॥१६॥
utsāhātsāhasāddhairyāttattvajñānācca niścayāt|
Janasaṅgaparityāgātṣaḍbhiryogaḥ prasiddhyati||16||
“Success in yoga is achieved through six means: enthusiasm, courage, patience, knowledge of the truth (tattva-jñāna), firm determination, and giving up the company of worldly-minded people.”
Utsāha (उत्साह) – Enthusiasm
Enthusiasm reflects deep motivation and a sense of inner joy in whatever we are doing. When we are enthusiastic, we are passionate about what we are doing and can stay focused and dedicate long hours in our efforts to achieve our goal.
In yoga
A majority of people come to yoga to address some health issues that they are facing – physical or mental. Unfortunately, some discontinue the practice since they can’t find quick benefits from the practice. We need to realize that yoga can’t be assumed to work like a medicinal pill that can give instant relief. We have to adopt yoga as a lifestyle and continue the practice enthusiastically. With enthusiasm, we can stay motivated and practice each session with fresh energy. Over time, you’ll start realizing the full potential of your yoga practice.
In life
Enthusiasm is a key ingredient when we try to learn a new skill – music, sport etc. Even when we are doing mundane chores, we need to stay enthusiastic so we can stay fully engaged and derive a sense of joy and purpose.
Sāhasa (साहस) – Courage
Many a time, we become comfortable with what we have been doing repeatedly over a period of time. As a result, we develop a desire to maintain “status quo” and are afraid to step out of the “comfort zone”. We stop exploring new avenues and get deeper into a stagnant situation. This is obviously a highly undesirable situation as it can lead to a rapid downfall. This is where we need the courage to step out of the comfort zone so we can face challenges and take calculated risks for continuous growth.
In yoga
Once we get used to practicing a certain routine, we tend to become comfortable and stay with the same sequence for our daily practice. This obviously takes away the opportunity to learn and explore new techniques for asana, pranayama and meditation. We need the courage to experiment with new techniques so we can enjoy a broader set of benefits from our practice. Fear can be the biggest impediment to growth. We need the courage to overcome fear and try out new techniques with a sense of adventure.
In life
As mentioned before, we tend to get stuck in a life situation which seems comfortable. For example, it could be a steady job that we get comfortable in. We are afraid to explore new opportunities either in a new job or within the same company that we work for. This deprives us of the opportunity to learn new skills or explore new avenues for growth. We need the courage to be able to take some calculated risks.
Dhairya (धैर्य) – Patience / Perseverance
In all our undertakings and endeavors in life we are bound to face obstacles and road-blocks. Dhairya is the ability to pursue the task at hand with perseverance and with a calm mind when confronted with obstacles. Lack of patience leads to frustration and dejection.
In yoga
As we know, the goal of yoga is to attain a mind which remains calm and still, irrespective of the difficulties and challenges that we face in life. This obviously is a very difficult goal to achieve. We need to persevere with patience and continue with our practice. As we say, “enjoy the journey” even though the final goal may be far away. Even when we are working on some new asana or a pranayama practice, we need patience to allow the mind and body to adapt and grow without trying to force the outcome.
In life
In our modern lifestyle, we often expect immediate results from our actions. We tend to focus on instant gratification rather than setting long-term goals which offer lasting benefits. Whether we are trying to learn a new skill or dealing with a difficult situation at work or with family, patience helps us stay calm so we can avoid rash decisions and maintain careful and sustained effort.
Tattva-jñāna (तत्त्वज्ञान) – (True Knowledge/Knowledge of Truth)
Tattvajñana is understanding the ultimate truth or reality of life. It is achieved by developing a deep intuitive wisdom, well beyond simple intellectual knowledge.
In yoga
In the context of the yoga philosophy as given by Patanjali in the Yoga Sutras, the ultimate truth is to recognize the separation between the soul (known as Purusha) and the material aspect of our being (known as Prakriti). When we achieve that state, it is known as Kaivalya or final liberation. Another common term for this state is self-realization. Patanjali has given us the practice of the eight limbs of yoga to achieve this goal. Please visit here to get a brief intro to the eight limbs of yoga. From a practical perspective, the three most important of these eight limbs are asana, pranayama and meditation. Of course, meditation is the key practice that helps us cleanse all the impurities of the mind and finally attain tattvajñana.
In life
Tattvajñana in daily life would imply developing a deep understanding of every situation that we confront in life. Quite often, without knowledge of all the facts, we start judging people and blaming others for our problems. To prevent such negative thinking, we need clarity of thought and purity of mind. As we can see, practice of yoga will be of immense help in cleansing the impurities of the mind so we can make informed decisions without hurting others or ourselves.
Niścaya (निश्चय) – Determination / Resolve
Niścaya is a firm resolve to stay on a path to achieve the goals that we have set for ourselves despite all the challenges and distractions.
In yoga
In the Yoga Sutras, Patanjali offers abhyasa (practice) and vairagya (di spassion) as the two pillars for our yoga practice which will lead us to the final goal of yoga. With regard to abhyasa, the three attributes listed are4: practice must be done for a long time, without interruptions and done with a sense of devotion. This is where a firm determination (Niścaya) to stay on the path of yoga will help us achieve our goals.
In life
Everyone is familiar with New Year resolutions – we all make them only to see them evaporate after short periods of time. That is because we lack that firm determination and a resolve that can help us stay “on course”. Whatever our goals might be, whether related to work, or family life or some personal goals like weight reduction etc., we require an unwavering commitment to stay focused on our vision. These days, we have far too many distractions, dominated by social media, that can easily derail us from our path. We need niścaya, a firm resolve to stay focused so we can attain ultimate success.
Jana-saṅga-parityāga (जनसङ्गपरित्याग) – Renunciation of Unhelpful Company
There are two terms commonly used to refer to two different kinds of associations we keep. When we associate with like-minded people who are interested in discussing uplifting topics leaning towards spirituality, it is known as satsanga. The word literally means “being with truth or reality”. On the other hand, when we associate with people who are interested in gossip, slander, or discussing how to enhance sensual gratification, it is known as jana-sanga. The word “jana” usually refers to common folk. The word parityāga means to give up something completely. Here, of course, the reference is to giving up company of common folk who have no interest in developing true inner wisdom or any kind of spiritual growth.
In yoga
As a yoga practitioner or as a spiritual seeker, our goal is to learn how to keep the mind calm and still. We need to minimize any association with people or situations that might pull us away from our yogic pursuits or introduce any kind of negativity in our mind. We want to cultivate a very supportive atmosphere which will help in inner development. Some of the activities that you may get engaged in include: attending talks by spiritual gurus, taking part in group meditations, establishing study groups to discuss specific topics related to spirituality etc.
In life
In day-to-day life also we need to be fully mindful of the company we keep, the kind of social media we consume and thrive on, and what we spend our time on. We need to avoid any negative and materialistic association that saps our energy or demotivates us from our well-intentioned endeavors.
Final thoughts
The six impediments (HYP 1.15) discussed previously and the six virtues/enablers discussed in this article (HYP 1.16) offer an excellent roadmap for success not just in our yogic pursuits but in all spheres of our life’s journey. It is important that we understand the full significance of each of these attributes and apply them to our life on and off the yoga mat.
[Note 1] Sutra 2.46: स्थिरसुखमासनम्॥४६॥ sthira-sukham-āsanam ॥46॥
Asana is a steady, comfortable posture.
[Note 2] Sutra 2.49: तस्मिन् सति श्वासप्रश्वासयोर्गतिविच्छेदः प्राणायामः॥४९॥ tasmin sati śvāsa-praśvāsyor-gati-vicchedaḥ prāṇāyāmaḥ ॥49॥
That [firm and comfortable posture] being acquired, controlled interruptions in the movements of inhalation and exhalation is pranayama.
[Note 3] Sutra 1.2: योगश्चित्तवृत्तिनिरोधः॥२॥ yogaś-citta-vr̥tti-nirodhaḥ ॥2॥
The cessation of the modifications of the mind is Yoga.
[Note 4] Sutra 1.14: स तु दीर्घकालनैरन्तर्यसत्कारासेवितो दृढभूमिः॥१४॥ sa tu dīrghakāla nairantarya satkāra-āsevito dr̥ḍhabhūmiḥ ॥14॥
“Practice becomes firmly grounded when well attended to for a long time, without break and in all earnestness.”
An excellent article. I will definitelu save it.
Thanks, Patricia.