Yoga for Difficult times: turning to the brahmaviharas
Many people come to yoga to deal with suffering in one form or another. Maybe it’s pain in the body, maybe chronic illness, or perhaps the mental challenges that accompany modern living. Whatever the reason, yoga offers us a path to awaken out of suffering, and many practices and tools along the way to help address the various types of challenges that occur along the path to awakening. This post examines some of those challenges and the model of the Brahmaviharas (the divine qualities of the heart), as one potential remedy or support for the challenges of living.
The hindrances
Ancient yogis knew well that along the path of awakening, there will inevitably be some twists, turns, detours, and roadblocks. These are classically referred to as the Hindrances or the Obstacles. Think of them like branches fallen across the path, or areas where maybe the road has gotten muddy and difficult to travel. They include things like illness, doubt, and mental inertia/dullness to name a few, and they lead to experiences of sorrow, pain, frustration, or dejection. Inevitably, they are things all humans experience, and they block our progress toward states of deeper meditation or mental clarity.
a remedy from the yoga sutras
There are several remedies offered for the moments when these kinds of experiences arise. The one we’re focused on here is the practice of turning to the Brahmaviharas, or the divine qualities of the heart. These require their own practice and awareness to cultivate, but can provide us an inner refuge to reconnect to the path and find our way back towards clarity.
The 4 brahmaviharas: The divine qualities of the heart
The 4 Brahmaviharas are:
Equanimity: An inner quality of non-judgemental composure through difficulty
Compassion: To feel someone’s pain/suffering with them, and desire to alleviate that suffering.
Loving Kindness: The expansive ability of the heart to offer love and kindness towards others (and ourselves) unconditionally.
Appreciative Joy: Happiness for others’ success or joy.
When we cultivate these qualities in equal measure, they offer a refuge for us to return to the heart and to reestablish our sense of connection with ourselves and others.
This is yoga that is practiced both on and off the yoga mat. If you are new to this type of practice, pick one of the above and imagine installing it like a software program in your own heart. During moments when frustration or despair arise, practice turning inward towards this quality and extend it to yourself as well as others around you.
Note that if this sounds difficult or unattainable, that practicing with others can also help to deepen your understanding of these qualities. We are always stronger when we are in community!