Correct understanding

Patanjali has another aphorism which has been alluded to in this connexion. Everything is painful to the discriminating person', or in another translation. To the enlightened all is misery. To the enlightened (vivekin) of course. Nothing in the world will compare with nirvana, and all of us find the limitations of the body irksome, if we think of them. Buddha also laid it down as the first of his 'four noble truths' that all here is sorrow. Every one of our pleasures is tinctured with it. But that did not constitute a condemnation of the world, for in his second noble truth he said, 'Because of your desires ' It was a slap in the face for the common human being. It was the answer to the question why everything was sorrow: 'It is your own fault.' We may add: 'Not the world's fault.' More, there was the implication that as the trouble lay with the individual he could remove it, as shown by the third noble truth, 'Sorrow's ceasing, by the ceasing of your desires'. And finally, the way to this cessation, the fourth noble truth, which was not any sort of suicide, not any shrinking from the world and life, but 'The noble Eight-fold Path of.

( I ) Correct understanding, views, outlook, appraisal, judgment.

(2) Correct aims motives, plans, decision.

(3) Correct use of speech.

(4) Correct behaviour, conduct, actions.

(5) Correct mode of livelihood.

(6) Correct effort - some good works

(7)Correct intellectual activity - some study.

(8) Correct contemplation.

Taking care of the body may be regarded as part of this path, for the body is needed for the treading of it. It is only an instrument, we know, and not the perfect man, but it is a means to that ends It is a box of tools to be kept clean, not a bag of filth. Its marvellous excretory and eliminative system illustrates how hard it works to get rid of what we put into it, and the residue of waste resulting from its work for us.

The second result of cleanliness had reference to pure thoughts and words;

From mind-cleanliness come high-mindedness, concentration, mastery of the senses, and fitness for the vision of the Self (atma darshana).

7. The result of Contentment is 'Obtaining of the highest form of pleasure. This might easily be taken to mean that contentment itself constitutes the greatest pleasure, but that is not what is intended. As all these ten commandments' of yoga are virtues for daily living, so also are the results of those concerned with daily living - the efforts and merits are of this world; so also are the rewards. The next likely error to avoid is to think that this contentment implies negative acceptance of things as they are. Yet it does imply the acceptance of things and people as they are and for what they are, namely, materials for living, that is, for the application of our powers of mind and heart - our will, love, and thought.