Peace is Cooperation, Focus and Meditation (May 2024 Newsletter)

Photo Credit: Tai Pimputkar

Peace is not easy to come by. Sustained peace for one, for all, or for society as such does not exist. That is not to say that peace is not possible. If we work at it, it can and it does happen, however sporadically. We must distinguish between peace that the individual can create and feel for themselves, and the peace that we all work together to create. In a few days, it will be Cinco de Mayo. As you know, it is a remembrance of a war won by 2,000 Mexicans against 6,000 troops using no training at all but working together with cooperation, goodwill, friendliness, supporting each other with compassion.

Working together requires cooperation. How would we define it in yogic terms? As usual, we can turn to Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras. In his first chapter describing the way to self-realization he expands on cooperation.

Check out Chapter 1, Samadhi Pada, verse 1:33 to 1:39 regarding cooperation. To be able to live and work together we have to be able to control our minds. Therefore, the first method deals with consistent and ongoing meditation on four types of attitudes towards people. They are friendliness or ease in a relationship, compassion or support, happiness or goodwill, and neutrality or acceptance of those one may not like (1.33). Does this sound like cooperation? It is.

Patanjali’s wisdom is a practical path to finding one’s identity, within the illuminated mind! He gives clear instructions as to how to become that transcendent Self. As always, Patanjali’s methods are as simple and applicable today as they were around 400 CE.

Lastly, he suggests learning to focus on whatever you find pleasing and useful as a point of focus. Perhaps a flower or a scene. There are additional verses on meditation, how to develop it and practice it consistently.

Stick with it. Easy to say, but worth it however difficult it may be to maintain a regular practice.

Sincerely and in peace,

sipra