May 2024 Week 5

This week to end out the month I promised to write more on the Sutra for this month, 1.7. In life, sometimes we get things right, and sometimes we get things wrong. Oftentimes, what we get wrong we only see in hindsight. Sutra 1.7 emphasizes the importance of right knowledge, and says that there are three sources of right knowledge (or truth.): perception, inference and testimony. This is the first of the 5 modifications of the mind according to Patanjali and remember these can either be painful or painless. If we are not in right knowledge, we will suffer - simple right?
The first source of right knowledge is perception: Pratyaksha Pramana. This is when you witness something first hand and you know it to be true without a doubt.
The second source of right knowledge is inference: Anumana. This is based on sound reasoning, or your own logic. For example, when you see smoke, you know there is fire. (*Footnote here - this is where I think we can get into trouble.)
The last source of right knowledge is testimony: Agama. This is reliable sources either written, or told to you by people you trust, by an authority in the subject or holy scripture.
It is up to us to categorize all the knowledge that comes our way and if it does not fit these 3 forms then we must purge the thought or we will suffer. This makes perfect sense, but is very hard. It goes back to the simplicity of the fact that we can only control our own mind and our emotions.
WATCH YOUR THOUGHTS, THEY BECOME WORDS
WATCH YOUR WORDS, THEY BECOME ACTIONS
WATCH YOUR ACTIONS, THEY BECOME YOUR HABITS
WATCH YOUR HABITS, THEY BECOME YOUR CHARACTER
WATCH YOUR CHARACTER, BECAUSE THAT BECOMES YOUR DESTINY.

Lets be the gatekeeper of our minds this week and settle into our intention: Everything Is As It Should Be.