One of my favorite sūtras from Patañjali’s Yoga Sūtra relates to yogic qualities associated with the path of yoga. You can think of these as virtues that naturally emerge as we move further along the path, and/or as qualities to consciously cultivate as part of your practice.

YS 1.20 śraddhā-vīrya-smṛti-samādhi-prajña-pūrvaka itareṣāṃ
śraddhā: faith
vīrya: vigor, energy, strength
smṛti: memory, mindfulness
samādhi: meditative absorption
prajña: wisdom, insight
pūrvaka: preceded or accompanied by
itareṣāṃ: for others
For others [the state of yoga] is accompanied by faith, strength, memory, samadhi and wisdom.

For starters let’s consider the first two qualities. First listed is śraddhā/faith. What does faith mean? You may want to take a moment to contemplate that question.

Sometimes faith gets a bad rap because it can be seen as a blind religiosity. I think of it as faith in the process and your path, in the teachings and your teachers. This includes faith in yourself, that you will progress on the path, expanding awareness and understanding. And as well, faith can mean sensing that everything will work out. I know that sounds rather Pollyanna-ish, but it’s a sense that even when things are really hard, you will learn something from it, refine your understanding, and get through it.

I remember once I was at a big workshop with my teaching colleagues. My main teacher at the time asked in front of everyone: “Cindy Lusk, what is the first sūtra of the Yoga Sūtra?”, which I answered correctly. The teacher proceeded to point out how I hadn’t freaked out when he put me on the spot, and just called forth the answer in a calm way.

Then the next day, he said, “Cindy Lusk, what is Yoga Sūtra 1.20?” And…I freaked! It is so ironic because the very first word of this sutra is śraddhā/faith, but when I freaked out, I lost faith that the answer would come if I paused to remember. Yet, even though it was embarrassing in the moment, I will never forget this sūtra again.

The second quality listed in this sūtra is vīrya, energy or strength. One way to think about this is as the energy we bring to the practices, be they meditation, āsana, or svādhyāya/study. But as well it involves sticking with it through the challenging times, through the boring times, through the times when we just don’t want to do it. Vīrya is the energy to start, and just keep it going, whether the experience is easeful or challenging.

Vīrya reminds me that there is work to be done. This may entail a summoning of inner resources to start shifting non-aligned patterns in order to manifest refinement in its many forms: healing, growth, change, and transformation. At times we can get stuck in situations be they physical, mental, or matters of the heart, and it takes strength and courage to choose to shift.

These two qualities of faith and strength interact and feed each other. As we have śraddhā/faith in the wisdom of the teachings as guidance for our actions, vīrya/courage arises that provides energy for those actions, and as we see the efficacy of the aligned action, we have more faith. And this is why I continue to study the teachings of yoga again and again, deepening my understanding, my faith, and my courage to manifest them in my life on a daily basis.

REFLECT AND EXPLORE

How have you experienced the qualities of śraddhā and vīrya manifesting in your life?

Are you inclined to one more than the other? How is that working?

What helps them manifest?