What does 'Evil' mean?

In the context of yoga, the concept of “evil” refers to the negative attributes or actions that prevent an individual from reaching a state of spiritual liberation or enlightenment. These may include things like ignorance, attachment, and egoism. The goal of yoga is to overcome these obstacles and reach a state of inner peace and unity with the divine.

The concept of “evil”

In Hinduism and other Indian philosophical traditions, the concept of “evil” is often referred to as “avidya,” or ignorance. Avidya is the state of not understanding one’s true self and the nature of reality, and it is considered the root cause of all suffering. This state of ignorance is often associated with a false sense of self, or ego, and with attachments to the material world and our desires.

In yoga, the goal is to transcend this state of ignorance through practices such as meditation and self-reflection in order to achieve a state of spiritual liberation called moksha. Moksha is the ultimate goal of yoga; it is the state of being free from the cycle of rebirth and merging into the ultimate reality.

In Buddhism, the concept of evil is similar; it refers to the negative mental states like craving, aversion, and ignorance that cause the cycle of rebirth and suffering. The ultimate goal of Buddhism is also to overcome these negative states and reach a state of enlightenment, or Nirvana.

In brief, according to yoga and other Indian philosophical traditions, the idea of evil pertains to negative attributes and behaviors that hinder an individual from attaining spiritual liberation or enlightenment. The objective is to surpass these hindrances in order to achieve inner peace and a sense of unity with the divine.

There is no such thing as “evil”

Some yogic teachers argue that there is no such thing as “evil” in the traditional sense, as there is no external force or entity responsible for causing suffering or negative experiences. Instead, they argue that suffering and negative experiences are caused by our own mental states and actions.

In this understanding, the term “evil” is used to describe the negative attributes or actions that we take on as individuals rather than those that are attributed to an external force. These negative attributes and actions can include things like ignorance, attachment, and egoism, which prevent us from reaching a state of spiritual liberation or enlightenment.

By practicing yoga, we aim to transcend negative attributes and actions, which are believed to be the root causes of our suffering. Through practices like meditation, self-reflection, and the cultivation of virtues such as compassion and non-attachment, we can work towards achieving a state of inner peace and a sense of unity with the divine.