Wicked

Book I verse 33 – By cultivating attitude 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 is specifically interesting for me because of the difference between the translation in English I see in the Yoga Sutras from Sri Swami Satchidananda and commentary, version I have from the yoga teacher training and the multiple versions and translations I found in Italian. I normally like to check and appreciate the difference in the approach in the translation and the translation in itself. Languages are a deep expression of their culture and so are the translations and commentaries of the translation.

In this case, the curiosity for me was greater because the concept expressed regarding the Wicked and disregard or indifference they should receive from us (us as supposedly not wicked) is very against the ideal catholic approach that the majority of us have been taught since children. This specific concept is problematic for me, perhaps exactly because it has been drilled in my mind.

This concept sounds more of less like this to me: there are in fact no wicked people, because it is impolite, and because we are all equally sons (and perhaps daughters) of God, therefore we prefer user the word vicious. Vicious as full of vices, therefore sinner as everybody else, that is more acceptable.

Regarding on how to deal with wicked people, either it is skipped altogether or it is mentioned as showing indifference. But in one case it’s mentioned the New Testament to give forgiveness (because they don't know what they are doing).

Personally, I find extremely relieving the concept proposed in the English version of this Sutra, recognize the existence of wicked people and keep distance without guilt.

It's my humble opinion from what I read so far, I'm still studying and searching for other opinions and interpretations.