Staying Centered and Steady
When we move through the world, unpredictable things happen. Someone cuts you off in a construction zone, tailgates for no reason, blocks an intersection even though there’s space to wait. These moments are small, yet they ripple through us. As someone who cares deeply about humanity, I often catch myself wondering: Where are we heading? Why does impatience or disregard feel so common?
Yoga doesn’t promise to change the outside world, but it absolutely teaches us how to keep our inner world steady. One of the most practical teachings for this comes from the Yoga Sutras, in a simple but powerful instruction known as the Four Locks and Keys.
The Sutra That Lights the Way
Yoga Sutra 1.33
Sanskrit:
Maitrī karuṇā muditā upekṣāṇāṁ sukha duḥkha puṇyapuṇya viṣayāṇāṁ bhāvanātaś citta prasādanam.
Translation (Sri Swami Satchidananda):
By cultivating attitudes of friendliness toward the happy, compassion for the unhappy, delight in the virtuous and disregard toward the wicked, the mind-stuff retains its undisturbed calmness.
This sutra tells us that we can maintain inner peace by adjusting our attitude depending on the type of person or situation in front of us. It’s like carrying four different keys in your pocket — you use the right one for the right lock.
Let’s look at each key more closely.
1. Maitri — Friendliness Toward the Happy
Maitri invites us to cultivate warm friendliness toward those who are joyful or content. When someone smiles at you, smile back. When someone shares good news, celebrate with them. The energy you offer becomes the energy you carry.
Of course, friendliness isn’t always effortless. Imagine you overslept, skipped breakfast, and walked into the office frazzled… only for your coworker to gush about the “best breakfast sandwich ever” from a new cafe. Your inner reaction might be a flat, “That’s nice.” The tone says everything — you’re drained, not delighted.
Maitri doesn’t ask you to fake happiness. It asks you to stay aware of your inner state and still respond with basic goodwill. Even simple warmth—soft eyes, a gentle tone—can preserve harmony and keep negativity from bouncing back at you.
2. Karuna — Compassion for the Suffering
Karuna is compassion, the natural softening of the heart when someone is going through hardship. Many people feel compassion instinctively — we see a friend struggling after losing a job, and we offer help, a meal, or just a safe space to talk.
Compassion is related to sympathy to some degree, but it’s not about carrying someone else’s suffering. It’s a selfless offering of presence — a willingness to walk beside someone with the intention of alleviating suffering.Sometimes compassion is as simple as asking, “How are you feeling today?” You may not solve their problem, but your presence opens a door in their heart — and that alone can be healing.
3. Mudita — Joy for the Virtuous
Mudita is a beautiful practice: feeling genuine delight for the goodness, integrity, and success of others.
We often think of virtuous people as saints or superheroes. But virtue shows up everywhere — the yoga teacher who shows up consistently, the coworker who quietly does the right thing, the friend who owns their mistakes and makes amends.
Mudita means allowing yourself to be uplifted by these qualities rather than feeling threatened or envious. It’s joy without ego. It’s gratitude for witnessing goodness in action.
And honestly, noticing everyday virtue might be one of the most hopeful practices we have — it reminds us that goodness is still very much alive in the world.
4. Upeksha — Equanimity Toward the Negative
Upeksha (equanimity) helps us navigate the people whose actions are harmful, unethical, or hostile. Sri Swami Satchidananda translates this as “disregard the wicked,” which doesn’t mean ignoring injustice — it means don’t let it hijack your peace.
Upeksha actually reminds me of Tai Chi practice. In Tai Chi, you don’t meet force with force. You:
- Yield
- Neutralize the incoming energy
- Redirect it
- Maintain your center
This is exactly what equanimity feels like. When someone throws negativity, you don’t absorb it, argue with it, or amplify it. You let it move past you, keeping your inner balance intact. You stay steady, discerning, and grounded.
Upeksha is not passivity — it’s strength with softness, boundary with calm.
Bringing It All Together
Each lock and key is a reminder that inner peace isn’t passive. It’s a living practice. The world will continue to offer us a wide range of personalities, behaviors, and situations. But with these four attitudes — friendliness, compassion, joy, and equanimity — we learn how to meet the world without losing ourselves and our peace in the process.
Which Key Do You Need Today?
I invite you to take a moment and check in:
- Who are the “happy ones” in your life? Are you meeting them with genuine friendliness?
- Is there someone suffering who might need a small gesture of compassion?
- Who inspires you with their goodness? Can you feel joy for them?
- And where might equanimity help you protect your peace?
As you move through your day, try carrying these four keys in your pocket — metaphorically, of course. You might just find that the world doesn’t feel quite as chaotic when your heart knows how to respond.
Key Takeaways
- The Four Locks and Keys offer simple, practical ways to stay grounded in a chaotic world.
- Maitri: Meet others’ happiness with genuine friendliness.
- Karuna: Offer compassionate presence to those who are suffering.
- Mudita: Celebrate the goodness and success of virtuous people.
- Upeksha: Stay steady and non-reactive around negativity or harmful behavior.
- Choosing the right “key” helps protect your peace and strengthen your relationships.
Reference
- Satchidananda, Swami, editor. The Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali. Translated by Swami Satchidananda, Integral Yoga Publications, 2012