Finding light in darkness

Finding light in darkness sounds like an oxymoron. Yet, all of life is finding light in darkness. This takes faith. Believing that good can come from bad is a hard practice. The practice of pratiprka bhavana, the practice of discontinuing negative ways of thinking through the discipline of “cultivating the opposite”.

Pratiprka bhavana is a practice that is from the Sturas of Pantanjali. In sutra 2.33 vitarka-bādhane pratiprakṣa-bhāvanam, "When disturbed by negative thoughts, opposite (positive) ones should be thought of. This is pratipaksha bhavana. This sutra could be translated as “finding light in darkness”. It is not an easy thing to do, but the outcome is worth the effort.

Next time you have a dark moment, take a breath and try the practice of pratiprka bhavana “cultivating the opposite”.