The Original Desire…

“Self Development” is a salient feature of any yoga system. However, the traditions don’t stop at refining our personality, improving self-esteem or strengthening our position in the world. 

Rather, they recognize these surface characteristics and aim to discover what lies beyond the topical narrative of one’s thoughts, sense impressions, or circumstances. 

In the words of the Kena Upanishad:

“At whose behest does the mind think? Who bids the body live? Who makes the tongue speak? Who is that effulgent Being that directs the eye to form and color and the ear to sound?

The Self (Atman) is the ear of the ear, mind of the mind, speech of speech. He is also breath of the breath, and eye of the eye.”

Understandable, this may seem like a monumental or impossible leap; from lone personality to supreme identity. Yet, it is said, we are instinctually drawn to Self-realization. All of our efforts in the world are fragmented-expressions of this primal desire to experience the joy of “The Self”–who is utterly complete within itself.

Becoming conscious of our patterned assumptions and returning to a witness perspective–again and again–is a signature feature of asana and meditative practices. Watch the breath, watch sensation, watch thought like a passing cloud.

It is a movement from finite understanding to an increasingly expansive view, all the way to the doorstep of one’s original nature. 

The Self.