On this five-week online course we will explore the four qualities of the heart: metta (friendliness), karuna (compassion), mudita (appreciative joy) and uppeka (balance / equanimity) through a balanced practice of Sati Yoga, allowing us to become more open and grounded, and learning to meet whatever life brings with clarity, compassion and creativity.
The four elements of Satiyoga: ethics, asana, breathwork and meditation provide both the foundation and structure for this journey together. Sessions will involve creative explorations of postural practice, integrative breath work and guided meditations, allowing for the theme of the retreat to be explored from all angles.
The course consist of five 90 minutes online sessions through Zoom, from 7.30 to 9.00 pm (GMT) starting on Wednesday 17th January 2024. Each session will be a balanced mix of asana, pranayama and meditation practice, as well as some presentation. You will be encouraged to practice between our weekly meetings, and there will be group discussion about these practices during the meetings.
Click here to access the zoom classroom
We will start with a quote from the yoga sutras of Patanjali, 1-33
Undisturbed calmness and clarity of mind is attained by cultivating friendliness toward the joyful, compassion toward suffering, delight in the pure and equanimity toward the impure.
Here Patanjali lists the four qualities of the heart known in Buddhism as the Brahma-viharas, (often referred to as the four sublime abodes or the immeasurables): metta, karuna, mudita and upekkha.
Before we will look at each of them in turn, a bit of background in Buddhist psychology may be usefull
Central to Buddhist psychology is the concept of Vedanas
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Mindfulness of vedana, the second foundation of mindfulness and familiarity with the concept of vendanas helps us to better understand how the three poisons of the mind (greed hatred and delusion) arise, and help us to se how these automatic reactions to pleasure and pain actually enslave us. Once we discern this, the place of the four Brahma-viharas as an integral part of the path to freedom becomes evident.
Metta (friendliness), opening the door of the heart
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Mudita (joy), the antidote to greed
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Karuna (compassion), the antidote to hatred
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Upekkha (equanimity), living creatively
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Near ennemies
Each of the brahma-viharas has what is called a near enemy, a state of mind that is close to the brahma-vihara and is sometimes mistaken for it but comes from a close mind rather than from the open heart that caracteries all the brahma-viharas and therefre is not the correct mental state.
|
Brama Vihara |
Qualities |
Near enemy |
| Metta | Friendliness, Kindness | Attachment |
| Mudita | Delight, Joy | Giddiness |
| Karuna | Compassion | Pity |
| Upekha | Equanimy, Wisdom | Indifference |