34th Sutra Chapter 2

The obstacles to yoga

- such as acts of violence and untruth or any of the acts contrary to the yama and niyam:

- may be directly committed by oneself,

performed on one’s behalf by another, or condoned of by oneself;

either through greed, anger, or infatuation;

whether mild, moderate, or intense,

result in innumerable ignorances and miseries.

Reflecting thus is also pratipaksha bhavana, the method of thinking of the contrary.

The second facet of pratipaksha bhavana is utilized when the episode of negativity has passed.

 

This is the appropriate time for self-analysis.

When negative and contrary thoughts to Yama and Niyam are eliminated, powers accrue to the yogī.

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वितर्का हिंसादयः कृतकारितानुमोदिता लोभक्रोधमोहपूर्वका मृदुमध्याधिमात्रा दुःखाज्ञानानन्तफला इति प्रतिपक्षभावनम्

vitarkaa hinsadayah kritakaritanumodita lobhakrodhamohapoorvaka mridumadhyadhimatra duhkhajnananantafala iti pratipakshabhavanam//2.34//

·       vitarkaa - troublesome thoughts

·       hinsadayah - violence and the others

·       krita - committed (by oneself)

·       karita - caused to be done (by others)

·       anumoditah - approved of (when done by other)

·       lobha - greed

·       krodha - anger

·       moha - delusion

·       poorvakah - preceded by

·       mridu - mild

·       madhya - moderate

·       adhimatrah - intense

·       duhkha - misery

·       ajnana - ignorance

·       ananta - unending

·       fala - results, consequences

·       iti - thus

·       pratipaksha - to the contrary

·       bhavanam - cultivate.

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