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By: Harold Sequeira promhari@yahoo.com BALANCING EMOTIONSContemporary psychology is coming around to the view of Yoga that uncontrolled emotions play havoc in our inner and outer life and therefore should be balanced. The psychology of Kleshas in the Yoga Sutra[i] http://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&view=js&name=js&ver=GRUts-X5mqs.en.&am=!JjYx-7BZhZy5A3Gi0fgGIjf9GXL0D5u4hQ0MOI1ZKWefeA#_edn1 deals extensively with the theme of emotionalism. According to psychology there are many factors which are responsible for our uncontrolled emotions: 1. genetic[ii] http://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&view=js&name=js&ver=GRUts-X5mqs.en.&am=!JjYx-7BZhZy5A3Gi0fgGIjf9GXL0D5u4hQ0MOI1ZKWefeA#_edn2 2. relationships[iii] http://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&view=js&name=js&ver=GRUts-X5mqs.en.&am=!JjYx-7BZhZy5A3Gi0fgGIjf9GXL0D5u4hQ0MOI1ZKWefeA#_edn3 3. environmental[iv] http://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&view=js&name=js&ver=GRUts-X5mqs.en.&am=!JjYx-7BZhZy5A3Gi0fgGIjf9GXL0D5u4hQ0MOI1ZKWefeA#_edn4 4. work related[v] http://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&view=js&name=js&ver=GRUts-X5mqs.en.&am=!JjYx-7BZhZy5A3Gi0fgGIjf9GXL0D5u4hQ0MOI1ZKWefeA#_edn5 5. poverty 6. separation and divorce 7. sickness or death of a dear one Family traits and tendencies are genetically passed on to the offspring. Fear and anger, likes and dislikes, irascibility and impatience with their peculiar nuances are as much a family heirloom, as property and possessions. Emotions explode in relationships more than in any other life situation. Living in close proximity to family members, domineering parents, sibling rivalry, male female relationships and so forth are the cauldron from which ceaseless and uncontrolled emotions bubble up. Civic disturbances, war and pestilence, extremes of weather, excessive noise and sound, industrial pollution, lack of proper living space and so forth also create havoc with our emotions. At work emotions are bottled up, as the tolerance level of emotional outbursts can give the sack to an employee. A domineering boss, rivalry, abuse and exploitation are also springs from which uncontrolled emotions can surge. The gap between the haves and have-nots is increasing at an alarming pace, and those who suffer the pangs of poverty, explode into rebellion and revolution, when the tolerance level breaks down. We see disastrous effects of these phenomena all over the world. As separations and divorces become commonplace, the very fabric of life is rent asunder and the ensuing emotions can play havoc with mental health. And when someone close dies prematurely, in many cases it is most likely that emotions, stress, depression and melancholy can grip those who are left behind. YOGA FOR BALANCING EMOTIONS It is not as if through the practice of Yoga, one becomes balanced overnight. It is a long and arduous process, but well worth it. Yoga states that it is our feelings that create emotions. Feelings arise from the Gunas ? the constituent structures of our mind. Sattva or purity creates lucidity, clarity and balance. Rajas ? creates impurities in the consciousness and leads to passion, perversion and uncontrolled emotions. Tamas ? darkness, creates morbidity, melancholy and depression. Therefore, the whole thrust in Yoga is to make the personality sattvic, by control of habits, diet, life-style, feeling, thought and attitudes. Yoga recommends reflection rather than reaction. The Gita too lays the groundwork for balancing emotions and its philosophy in this area can be stated in one word: Samatvam[vi] http://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&view=js&name=js&ver=GRUts-X5mqs.en.&am=!JjYx-7BZhZy5A3Gi0fgGIjf9GXL0D5u4hQ0MOI1ZKWefeA#_edn6 or equanimity. To be balanced in sickness and health, in gain or loss, in praise or criticism, in heat and cold and in all contraries of life, is the watchword of the Gita. Faith, surrender to the Higher Reality, acceptance, patience and peace are recommendations of the Gita for balancing emotions. GUIDELINES FROM PSYCHOLOGY Psychology has also come around the view of Yoga and the Gita, that self acceptance and self esteem are the foundations of emotional and mental well-being. One needs a positive evaluation of one?s past, to have balanced emotions. Self determination is also important but during the mid-life crisis, when faculties decrease and diminish, this becomes difficult, unless it is nurtured early on. One has to tread the middle ground, without getting caught in the extremes of emotions and function effectively even if buffeted by negative emotions. Learning new skills also directs the emotional energy. According to psychologists only 10 per cent of people may be emotionally balanced, and on the other end of pole another 10 per cent are irretrievably lost to mental illness caused by uncontrolled emotions. Those who tread the middle ground can go either way, towards sanity or insanity. Therefore, personal effort is needed to balance emotions. The Yoga Sutra of Patanjali and the Gita give excellent guidelines to balance our emotions. Promil and Harry. Sequeira [i] [ii] http://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&view=js&name=js&ver=GRUts-X5mqs.en.&am=!JjYx-7BZhZy5A3Gi0fgGIjf9GXL0D5u4hQ0MOI1ZKWefeA#_ednref2 According to Yoga, memories of the past imbedded in our psyche, contain the reservoir of unresolved emotions [iii] http://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&view=js&name=js&ver=GRUts-X5mqs.en.&am=!JjYx-7BZhZy5A3Gi0fgGIjf9GXL0D5u4hQ0MOI1ZKWefeA#_ednref3 Yoga recommends behavioral training in non-violence etc. See Yoga Sutra 2.29 etc [iv] http://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&view=js&name=js&ver=GRUts-X5mqs.en.&am=!JjYx-7BZhZy5A3Gi0fgGIjf9GXL0D5u4hQ0MOI1ZKWefeA#_ednref4 Just as a well baked pot does not dissolve in water, so too, the practices of Yoga make one impervious to passing emotional problems [v] http://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&view=js&name=js&ver=GRUts-X5mqs.en.&am=!JjYx-7BZhZy5A3Gi0fgGIjf9GXL0D5u4hQ0MOI1ZKWefeA#_ednref5 Sadhakas practicing friendliness etc. have developed excellent work related relationships ? See Yoga Sutra I.33 [vi] http://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&view=js&name=js&ver=GRUts-X5mqs.en.&am=!JjYx-7BZhZy5A3Gi0fgGIjf9GXL0D5u4hQ0MOI1ZKWefeA#_ednref6 Gita: II.48 ? Yoga is equanimity in all changing situations of life Harold Sequeira |
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