Attachments - why they can make us unhappy and what we can do about it

During the Autumn term we investigated the topic of attachments, these are elements of our lives where we hold onto behaviours/attitudes/actions that no longer serve us, that control and restrict us.

The most difficult aspect of this is to first identify what these attachments are to us as an individual, to recognise them and then to question if they are still valid. It could be something as simple as believing a long held conviction that learning a new language is not within your skillset. The first step is to recognise this and then to challenge it, is that belief holding you back? Is it still true? This process can be applied to all parts of our lives; everyday actions, relationships, employment, likes and dislikes.

The concepts of attachment and non-attachment are mentioned several times in The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. The sutras maintain that attachment is neither good nor bad. However the sutras also say that attachment can lead to suffering, to being unhappy.

The main aim of Yoga is stated in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra 1.2 Yoga città vritti nirodah, translated as ‘the aim of Yoga is the stilling of the mind’. The rest of the sutras are a manual in how to do exactly that.

The essence of Patanjalis Yoga Sutras can be summarised in a few simple lines. The Yogis observed that our inherent nature is one of peace and contentment, however when we start to misidentify with the transient parts of ourselves, such as our possessions, our bodies, or our thoughts, we lose touch with that peace and experience frustration and pain.

Yogis believe that there is a calm, peaceful, and pure awareness residing deep within all beings. With Yoga practice we can start to work towards our inner self and achieve that contentment.

In the resources section of this website you will find resources connected to the topic of attchments, both theory and practice.

Let me know if you have any questions by using the contact form.

Om Shanti 🙏