Practice & all is Coming

Yoga is defined in the Yoga Sutra as "the cessation of the fluctuations of the mind." A state of unwavering, simple, pure presence.

What does that really mean, though?

At the base of everything is the truth of everything. From there, we've layered our own thoughts, ideas, perceptions, and understandings of the truth on top of it. Yoga is the stripping off of those layers to thus exist in the base of non-duality yet again.

Imagine a light bulb that is eternally shining bright. Now imagine throwing a blanket on top of the light bulb. And then another. And another, and another, and another until eventually there is a huge pile of fabric on top of the light that you can't even see it anymore. You may have even forgotten it was there to begin with.

But it is. Still shining, still bright, still eternal.

By practicing yoga,

we strengthen the tools of discipline and discernment

that help to peel off those layers we've accumulated over time,

until, eventually, we see clearly again.

The aspiring yogi must develop a commitment to abhyasa (practice) and vairagya (detachment).

Abhyasa is the effort or practice put forth toward steadying the mind. Vairagya is the letting go of expectations. The yogi puts in the effort toward achieving the state of yoga, but is ultimately unconcerned with the outcome. Rather, the yogi practices yoga as a duty, a service, an offering, and expects nothing in return.

By having a consistent daily practice without any expectations for the fruits of our labor, we begin to feel the benefits of yoga.

It is through faith, love, and devotion

that the yogini finds her way to her mat everyday.

And over time-- a long, long time of dedicated, consistent practice-- that light bulb within begins to shine through the layers of fabric and she can start to see the truth at the base of everything again.

Love for the practice comes from understanding it's potency. Understanding the potency of the yoga practice comes from experiencing it first hand. In order to do that, one must simply dedicate oneself to it over a long, uninterrupted amount of time. Keep pulling those blankets off of the light bulb, and eventually the light will begin to shine through.