What is the difference between us human beings and a machine?
Machines also work and we humans also work. But we are made up of emotions. And because our emotions are attached to our work, we are different from being just mechanical. Our emotions are more than what the animals possess. A human is the only animal who can laugh. When a child is born he can do only two things viz. laugh and cry. Then gradually other emotions develop. But because of this emotion of likes and dislikes continuously present within us, we get into trouble.
Emotion is energy. When you do any activity happily you get a momentum, speed. You do not get tired even if you do it the whole day. But if you don't like what you are doing, then you will get tired in even half an hour. So, this is a game of energy. Positive emotions increase energy and negative emotions drain away your energy.
In Yoga Shastras, it is said that likes and dislikes are Kleshas and it is necessary to eliminate them. When you like something very much, you get stuck to or extremely attached to it. A child likes his toy very much. So he just keeps playing with it. He will not eat or drink or do anything else. In adults it is seen even more. Adults develop an attachment to money. Attachment leads to the sense of "I", "my", "mine" The "I sense" keeps increasing.
If we go to see, we do not have a choice about what we should like or what we should dislike. But even then we make a choice for ourselves in certain selected areas. At the time of birth, we did not have a choice whether we like this father and this mother, or to live in this country or that, or to speak this language or that. We are just born. Our parents, uncles, aunts, and everything else is set beforehand. There is no choice. Later on, whether you like or dislike, it is your choice. There can be a lot of tension between two brothers. They may hate each other, yet they are there. You can either drain your energy by hating or be positive and increase your energy.
Yoga says that we cannot get rid of our emotions because we are structured with them. They are a part of our thinking. We cannot be emotionless, but we can learn to make the right use of them. Emotions are like money. We have a wealth of emotions with us. We must know where to use them. If negative emotions come, then that treasure of emotions will become less. If positive emotions come, then that treasure will become full. But we must know how to use them. Just having the treasure is of no value. Emotions have to be used in every activity. Whatever activity is being carried out it must be done with the right kind of emotions. Asanas and Pranayamas, as we teach at The Yoga Institute, must be done with the four emotions, ie. Dharma, Jnana, Vairagya and Aishwarya. With these emotions, concentration, positivity etc. increases. Then gradually all that goes away and only one pointedness of mind remains, which is the next stage.
To reach God also, we require emotions. Without emotions you cannot even find God. We say that we have faith in God. What is that faith? It is nothing but an emotion. We have to enjoy purest emotions along with faith. That is the stage we have to reach. This emotion is possible when we are able to manage other emotions of likes-dislikes, attachments, etc. It is said that first a human being should know how to live with other human beings with love. Then he will know what love is, and then he will be able to love God, God cannot come just like that.
We have to try our best not to allow our emotions to get disturbed. Disturbed emotions frustrate and confuse a person. It is very easy to hate. You may consider your uncle as a bad or evil person. But you have got him because of your Karma. So accept him, and accept him happily. The theory of Karma comes in here, that all the people, events and situations that occur in my life are according to my previous Karma.
Accept your wife, husband, children and all other family members for what they are. Learn to see the good in other people and not their vices. Otherwise, your treasure of emotions will get depleted. There should be a clear demarcation in you that this emotion can turn your heaven into hell and this is the emotion that benefit you in the worst of situations.
Q: Does love lead to faith or faith lead to love?
Dr. Jayadeva: Faith is the primary thing.
Smt. Hansaji: When there is faith only then will you begin to think. Faith creates momentum. So the main thing is faith.