Every one of us must ask ourselves, sometimes more than once: what is yoga?
By definition, yoga means unity - but what do you want unity with? More specifically - are you seeking this unity consciously or unconsciously?
To clarify, it’s not important whether you are conscious or unconscious of your spiritual journey.
Rather, it’s important to recognize your spiritual quest as just that - a journey.
The unconscious seeker may take longer to reach a revelation, but the conscious seeker risks the ego getting in the way of their growth. That’s why it’s important to learn the historical context of yoga and apply the methodology of yoga to your practice.
I’m discussing the history of Patanjali’s teachings and the dichotomy in his yoga sutras to teach us how to find this unity.
Prakriti and Purusha are the dichotomy at the center of Patanjali's teachings. Prakriti - the phenomenal world - is our material world, the ephemeral where the only constant is change. On the flip side is Purusha - the noumenal world.
Purusha is the singularity that exists independently of our sense and perception; it is that oneness we seek within ourselves and with our universe. According to Patanjali, the Purusha within us has agreed at some moment to forget what it is.
We have forgotten who we are, and the oneness within us now identifies itself as our bodies or our thoughts. Yoga practice teaches us that it is actually neither.
Yoga is a quest for the unity we seek within ourselves and with the world, and to Patanjali, unity could be dangerous if one does not involve the higher mind in the process. That’s why I’m teaching you the history of the yogi’s journey.
Without this framework, anything can become yoga, and it’s very important to maintain the practice of yoga as sacred. It’s important to set out a time for your personal practice so you can continue to build on this foundation as you make this spiritual journey.
I’m happy to share this time with you on your yoga journey. If you want to share some of the most important lessons you’ve learned on your quest, send an email to info@kinoyoga.com. Tell me - what does yoga mean to you? You could be invited to guest spot on The Yoga Inspiration Podcast with Kino MacGregor!
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