Suffering in Yoga

In the beginning of his second group of sutras, Patanjali tells us about the five impediments to yoga, karma, and the nature of suffering. While all of these topics were interesting, I found that Patanjali’s description and diagnoses on the cause of suffering really piqued my interest. Patanjali says that ignorance and the Ego are the root causes of suffering. Ignorance causes suffering because it causes us to confound the nature of our beautiful and perfect souls with the nature of our temporary, unclean, and painful bodies. When we are ignorant, we believe that what is happening in the world and in our lives is truly important. In ignorance, we forget the beautiful, unchanging nature of our soul and become absorbed in the world. Ego, then, is the aspect of ignorance which mistakes the mind for the true self. Patanjali places great importance on realizing the true self, and the Ego prevents yogis and yoginis from doing just that.

And just where does Patanjali say we experience suffering? Everywhere.

Patanjali says that everything in life is suffering, and this suffering takes place in four ways. The first is suffering caused by our actions, the second is suffering by pain itself, the third is suffering by the samskaras, and lastly, suffering is brought about by the turmoil of the vrttis. Basically, if we aren’t suffering in one way, the other three options probably remain open. Suffering is perhaps the most essential aspect of life on earth, and even when you think you are happy, Patanjali would argue you are still suffering in some way or another.

While receiving all this knowledge about my suffering, I became very thankful that I was also given yoga to help relieve it.