Yoga is the goal not the practice
You may think that there is no goal to yoga, but Patanjali states that yoga is the cessation of the mind’s fluctuations. So yoga is the goal, not a practice. When we talk about yogic practice, in a way we’re not talking about it correctly. Patanjali’s final result is yoga. And how do we reach that final result? By bringing the mind’s fluctuations to stillness so that there is no thought in your mind. Then we have yoga, and yoga is union.
The ego, the aspect of the mind that refers to “I,” tells us that we are different and separate from everything else. And along with that separateness comes suffering, whether it’s just a little bit or a huge amount of suffering. So, as long as there is perceived separation, we believe that union is the answer to our problem in life.
But Patanjali wants us to reject union. I know that must sound crazy, so I’ll say it again: reject union or yoga.
The reason? Because everything is already whole and united, it cannot be any other way. That is the natural state of things. Whether it’s a galaxy trillions of miles away, you, me, or the grass outside, it is already part of the whole, already unified with that which it should be unified with. We are already whole, complete, and unified with all things.
This story is from the June 2023 edition of Heartfulness eMagazine.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the June 2023 edition of Heartfulness eMagazine.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
A Flower from THE HEAVENS
November 14 is Children's Day. This year, SARA BUBBER brings to you a world of forests, magical flowers, festivals, and some animals you may have never seen.
Meeting Phenomenal Women
The author, CHITRA BANERJEE DIVAKARUNI, is interviewed here by TARA KHANDELWAL and MICHELLE D'COSTA about her books on mythology, like The Palace of Illusions, which is a retelling of the Mahabharata from Draupadi's point of view, and The Forest of Enchantments, which is a retelling of the Ramayana, from the eyes of Sita. And there's The Last Queen, which is about Rani Jindan's life.
HERBAL TOOTH POWDERS: Rediscovering Ayurveda's Natural Secrets
SRAVAN BANDA presents a natural herbal tooth powder, offering a holistic approach to oral hygiene, harnessing the power of medicinal herbs.
The Dance of Light and Shadow Lessons from the Dolomites
ALAIN DESVIGNE explores the Dolomites, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2009.
FINDING OUR WAY
A Polynesian Explorer's Journey of Discovery
The First Imprint: Understanding PTSD
CHRISTIANNA DEICHMANN is the Director of Education at the Association for Pre and Perinatal Psychology and Health (APPPAH), where she educates both professionals and parents on fostering the most nurturing environments for welcoming new life into the world.
The Tipping Point
In this final conversation of the series, J. FREDERICK ARMENT continues to talk with CHRISTINE JONES about promoting peace in the world.
UNLOCK YOUR POTENTIAL
Take The Brighter Minds Path To Cognitive Development
The Intrinsic Goodness of the Heart
DAAJI shares some thoughts on heartfelt acceptance and all it has to offer. He says, \"It is the heart's intrinsic goodness that allows us to accept everything as part of us.
How Does Fear Affect Our Roles as Mothers? - Neelam Shivhare explores some of the great ancient texts of India on motherhood, compares the behavior of Kaikayi and Yashoda
Neelam Shivhare explores some of the great ancient texts of India on motherhood, compares the behavior of Kaikayi and Yashoda, and realizes the importance of removing fear from our hearts in order to nurture our children.For young women like myself, who are future mothers, I trust we are on the path of becoming selfaware and brutally honest with ourselves. We are creative beings, never forgetting the gifts with which we have been bestowed— the love and tenderness, natural instincts, and intuition to feel the right path. It all lies in the mysterious meanderings of the heart. Are we really listening to our hearts, or confusing the bombarding information on social media with reality?
