4 Magic keys to unlocking the 4 personality doors

We live amongst so many different and diverse personalities making us humans so unique and authentic. However, with so many attitudes and identity traits you may have found yourself saying “I wish that person nothing but the best”, Or, “ I am going to help this person through their bad times”, Or, “Wow, I want to be just like you one day”!, Or lastly “ Rot in hell, you are the most horrible and evil person I have ever met”! Sound familiar?

Our wonderful Yogi Master Pantajali had already outlined the path of yoga for us when it comes to dealing with these personalities. I like to call them “The 4 Magic keys to unlocking the 4 personality doors”! This is the toolbox needed when we are dealing with differing mindsets. Lets face it, living amongst so many other fellow human beings is not an easy task and can bring us many challenges in administering them within our own expectations, judgements, viewpoints and obstacles. Not with this Sutra! We are given the secret on to how to divide appropriately when you come across these characters. I am going to share with you on how to implement this in the path of yoga using this Pantajali sutra.

1: Cultivate Friendship towards those who are Happy!

Be happy and joyful towards those who have life’s blessings come their way rather than green with envy. Happiness is the property of a peaceful mind. Share in their fortunes.

2: Cultivate Compassion towards those who are misfortunate!

Lend a helping hand, show mercy and kindness to these people. By wishing to remove someone’s miseries as if they are our own, the contamination of the desire to inflict harm on others is removed. Compassion is always accompanied by wisdom.

3: Cultivate Delight towards the virtuous ones!

Let’s not envy them but appreciate the virtuous qualities in them and cultivate it into our own life. Remind ourselves that success depends on hard work and the act of divine providence. It is no accident that particular individuals are healthy, happy, peaceful and prosperous.

4: Cultivate Indifference towards the wicked persons!

Our attitude should be of non judgement towards those we believe we have been hard done by and are sinners. The scope of sinful acts is so broad that a few people escape being stamped as a sinner by someone. If you advise these beings they will feel your insult rather than learn anything by the situation. Best to leave them to experience the lesson on their own. By giving advice to them you will only lose your own peace of mind.

The purpose of cultivating the four positive attitudes highlighted in this sutra is to instill higher virtues in our mind, reclaim our mind to its natural, pristine, joyful state. A joyous mind has all the ingredients to become one pointed and flow towards inner peace, tranquility and equanimity.

Remembering that it is self examination, not examination of others that lays the foundation for spiritual quest.

Asana of the week

Ustrasana (Camel pose)

This is a beautiful heart opener and an enormous back bend. Ustrasana opens up the whole front body and will boost your energy and mood.
Starting off on our knees aligned to our hips, bring the hands to the hips and begin to rotate the inner thighs towards each other. Become stable in the pelvis and legs. As you lift the chest up towards the sky allow the palms to rest on the heels or soles of the feet. Keep the thighs vertical and the rib cage lifting up. After a few breaths and you feel it is safe to do so you can allow the head to fall and the chin pointed to the sky also. To break from the pose, breath in engaging the core to place the hands back on the hips one by one and come to sit in Vajrasana (Thunderbolt pose) or Balasana (Childs pose). Repeat 3 times.

Mantra for the week

Lokah Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu
May all sentient beings in all realms be free, happy and at ease!