Yoga Sutras of Patanjali translated by Yogi Kalinath - Chapter 2, Verse 8

Pada 2, Sutra 8

Sanskrit Verse

Duhkhaanushayee dvesah

Translation

Aversion is clinging to painful experiences.

Interpretation

Having taken a physical form it is inevitable that we will experience some type of suffering whether physical, emotional or/and mental afflictions at some or various stages of our life.

In some sense it is all relative as pain is especially present when a situation / an experience is contrary to either our expectations or likings. Moreover what may cause aversion to one may be experienced as pleasure to another. In fact one cannot have true insight into self or any circumstances if one is clinging to and hence one’s judgement clouded by either pleasurable or painful experiences. In order to become liberated one must rise above attraction and aversion and their concomitant state of pleasure and pain. The key is detachment, developing a dispassionate attitude towards the world.