Sutras Response

2.10 These patterns when subtle may be removed by developing their contraries.

Once upon a time, I went on a job interview. It was a pretty bad one as far as my ability to convince the interviewer I was right for the position, but it was great because I learned a lot from that experience. Something poignant the interviewer explained to me was how she dealt with her flaws and strengths. She acknowledged the fact that everyone has things they do well, and others not so well. As she continued, she said one of the most significant contributors to her success was what she called baselining. Upon finding out the things she did not do well, she worked hard to go from failing at them, to doing alright. Her point was that being average at many things outweighs being great at doing #1, and awful at 2-10. In that regard, developing the thought streams and spiritual disciplines counters the afflictions, as does minimizing one's egotistic thoughts (for example). On that note, we want to get the afflictions even lower than baseline status; to zero if possible.

Furthermore, we have active ways of minimizing our afflictions, through yoga (exercise) and meditation. Not only do these things act as distractions from those things which afflict us, but they help us to reconnect with our inner selves, who want what is best. When we withdraw from the world - in - we see things more clearly. Fleeing inward, especially toward God, literally redirects us from the negative things of this world such as greed, and ignorance to holier, life giving things, like Truth and love for others.