Developing Emotions

What is the difference between us human beings and a machine? Machines also work and we humans also work.

- Smt. Hansaji J. Yogendra

But we are made up of emotions. And, because our emotions are attached to our work, we are different from being just mechanical. Our emotions are more than what the animals possess. A human is the only animal who can laugh. When a child is born he can do only two things viz. laugh and cry. Then gradually other emotions develop. But because of this emotion of likes and dislikes continuously present within us, we get into trouble.

Emotion is energy. When you do any activity happily you get a momentum, a speed. You do not get tired even if you do it the whole day. But if you don’t like what you are doing, then you will get tired in even half an hour. So, this is a game of energy. Positive emotions increase energy and negative emotions drain away your energy.

In Yoga Shastras, it is said that likes and dislikes are Kleshas and it is necessary to eliminate them. When you like something very much, you get stuck to or extremely attached to it. A child likes his toy very much. So he just keeps playing with it. He will not eat or drink or do anything else. In adults it is seen even more. Adults develop an attachment to money. Attachment leads to the sense of “I”, “my”, “mine”. The “I sense” keeps increasing.