How can we apply Pratipaksha Bhava?
From Swami Niranjanananda : Satsang 2003
Pratipaksha bhava has been defined in the Yoga Sutras as thinking of the opposite quality in relation to the attitudes one develops and expresses in day-to-day situations.
Attitudes such as envy, jealousy and competitiveness all lead to the development of a particular type of human expression, which involves a change in the total personality. Jealousy, for example, begins as an idea, but you begin to feel an emotion, which is termed ‘jealousy’.
In the experience and expression of that jealousy your logic and intellect, manas and buddhi, are involved. You continue to brood over the same thing. The indriyas, the senses, are involved, finely tuned to respond to that situation. Your performance is influenced; how you act, behave, think and express yourself changes.
As the envy which developed as an idea becomes the predominant nature of the mind, it will give rise to altered states of perception. That jealousy can turn into animosity. It can change the entire personality so that one is geared up and ready to ensure the downfall of another person. In this way changes happen in the psychology of a person, in the emotions, logical understanding and behaviour.
Pratipaksha bhava, developing the opposite quality, is ensuring that you are not influenced and affected by that strong feeling, sentiment or emotion.
If there is aggression, in your mind you develop friendship. You don’t have to interact with the person you consider your enemy, but in your mind, in your sentiments and understanding, that person can cease to be an enemy and just be an ordinary person.
The result of pratipaksha bhava is becoming free from the influences of a negative trait by developing a positive trait.
How can pratipaksha bhava be applied? By trying. If you fail, it is an achievement for the simple reason that you tried! If you succeed, it is your crowning glory – you achieved!
Applying pratipaksha bhava has to be done with the right understanding, with dispassion, detachment and discrimination. Viveka and vairagya, discrimination and dispassion, develop the sattwic nature, which expresses itself, not in the form of self-rebuke and guilt, but in the form of encouragement.
March 3, 2003
