Yoga Sutra 33

Sutra 33

Principles which run contrary to yama and niyama are to be countered with the knowledge of discrimination.

This sutra is saying that if someone is feeling anger, then he/she should cultivate joy instead. If someone is violent then they should cultivate non-violence. Going against one’s natural tendencies in order to do what is right. Without this awareness of our sinful nature, and our will to practice what it right in God’s eyes in every situation, we will have no foundation.

I believe not only must we follow these principles but more importantly have discrimination when we read anything that is not from the Bible. Look at life through the discernment eyes of God’s word. What would love do?

  • 7Beloved, let us love one another because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. 10In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. 12No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us. (1 John 4:7-14)

I think the teachings of Jesus in the Bible agree with the basic concepts of this sutra and the yamas and niyamas.