Patanjali Yoga Sutra 2.16 (Parisamvad)

Patanjali Yoga Sutra Transcribed from Parisamvad at The Yoga Institute.

Chapter 2, Sutra 16

Heyam-Dukham-Anagatam

Heyam: to be avoided
Dukham: pain, suffering
Anagatam: which has not yet come

The Pain Which Is Yet To Come Is To Be Avoided

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Patanjali Yoga offers us much more than a set of physical asanas. Its potency lies in its empowering perspectives on the many questions that constantly plague the human mind. The Yoga Institute’s Parisamvad series delves into these rather unknow intricacies of the Patanjali Yoga system. In this parisamvaad, Dr. Jayadev Yogendra and Smt. Hansaji Yogendra guide us in understanding the profound depths of Maharishi Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra 2.16.

Dr. Jayadeva Yogendra:

“See the pain that is yet to come, that is the problem. Pain that has happened, is not a problem. That is the core of the Patanjali Yoga Sutra 2.16.”

Smt. Hansaji J. Yogendra:

“The previous sutra told us that every wise person knows very well that this world is not going to give us anything but pain. Even if with good actions, we get good effect and with bad actions, we get bad effects, that is very clear. We face the consequences of our Karmas. But it’s a long list as to why Karmas happen and why we are born – because of the Karmas, the span of life, type of action and type of nature we have, all that depends on it. So, in every birth, they say that you finish only a few Karmas. The rest of the Karmas are still remaining. So, we have to continue suffering.

But in Patanjali Yoga Sutra 2.16, the point is that, we o suffer for what we have done already. There is no alternative to that. And we have suffered too; in life we go through experiences and suffer it out. But the pain which is yet to come, can be avoided. But in Yoga Sutra 2.16, Maharishi Patanjali, advises us to not create new pain. The present is in my hand. If you take a problem as a problem, then there is pain. But if you take it as a natural phenomenon, with wisdom and understanding, if we don’t increase the pain and don’t take things as painful and create an absolutely balanced state; with proper understanding we react to the situation. That’s how we should live so that we don’t add to our problems and pain. So, we have to suffer it out, but no problem, we can handle it.

So, because of these new Karmas, the problems which we yet have to face, could be avoided. And all those Karmas which we have to go through yet, go through them in a balanced state. So, the point is, learn to live in the present. Don’t think about the past, don’t be anxious about what is going to happen.” Patanjali Yoga underscores the over-arching importance of living mindfully in the present moment. It repeatedly suggests that, “Whatever is going to happen will happen. But the present is in my hands. Let me live it properly with wisdom and balanced state and this is how I will avoid the suffering that may come to me.” That is one of the most important precepts of Patanjali Yoga.

Patanjali Yoga Sutra 2.16 holds radical potential to empower our lives if we are willing to allow the wisdom of these words to seep into our life.