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“Yoga is evenness of mind”: detachment from the dualities of pain and pleasure, success and failure. Therefore “yoga is skill in action,” because this kind of detachment is required if one is to act in freedom, rather than merely react to events compelled by conditioning.
They live in freedom who have gone beyond the dualities of life. Competing with no one, they are alike in success and failure and content with whatever comes to them.
As the heat of a fire reduces wood to ashes, the fire of knowledge burns to ashes all karma.
But those whose desires are fragmented, who are selfishly attached to the results of their work, are bound in everything they do.
Not dependent on any external support, they realize the joy of spiritual awareness.
For yogi literally means “one who is accomplished in yoga,” and yoga means “integration of the spirit.”
Reshape yourself through the power of your will; never let yourself be degraded by self-will. The will is the only friend of the Self, and the will is the only enemy of the Self.
To those who have conquered themselves, the will is a friend. But it is the enemy of those who have not found the Self within them.
those who eat too much or eat too little, who sleep too much or sleep too little, will not succeed in meditation. 17 But those who are temperate in eating and sleeping, work and recreation, will come to the end of sorrow through meditation.
When meditation is mastered, the mind is unwavering like the flame of a lamp in a windless place.
Abiding joy comes to those who still the mind.
Sattvic people enjoy food that is mild, tasty, substantial, agreeable, and nourishing, food that promotes health, strength, cheerfulness, and longevity. 9 Rajasic people like food that is salty or bitter, hot, sour, or spicy – food that promotes pain, discomfort, and disease. 10 Tamasic people like overcooked, stale, leftover, and impure food, food that has lost its taste and nutritional value.
Giving simply because it is right to give, without thought of return, at a proper time, in proper circumstances, and to a worthy person, is sattvic giving.
In this life we can never be sure that things will turn out as planned.
To avoid action from fear of difficulty or physical discomfort is rajasic. There is no reward in such renunciation. 9 But to fulfill your responsibilities knowing that they are obligatory, while at the same time desiring nothing for yourself – this is sattvic renunciation.
of every action, as taught by the wisdom of Sankhya. 14 The body, the means, the ego, the performance of the act, and the divine will: 15 these are the five factors in all actions, right or wrong, in thought, word, or deed.
Sattvic workers are free from egotism and selfish attachments, full of enthusiasm and fortitude in success and failure alike. 27 Rajasic workers have strong personal desires and crave rewards for their actions. Covetous, impure, and destructive, they are easily swept away by fortune, good or bad. 28 Tamasic workers are undisciplined, vulgar, stubborn, deceitful, dishonest, and lazy. They are easily depressed and prone to procrastination.
The sattvic will, developed through meditation, keeps prana, mind, and senses in vital harmony. 34 The rajasic will, conditioned by selfish desire, pursues wealth, pleasure, and respectability. 35 The tamasic will shows itself in obstinate ignorance, sloth, fear, grief, depression, and conceit.
No one should abandon duties because he sees defects in them. Every action, every activity, is surrounded by defects as a fire is surrounded by smoke.
