Study the Real. Expand in the Eternal
By Manorama
 
Yogic practices, expressed through Sanskrit, Asana or Yogic discussion, are paths to the eternal. Through the study of the actual mantras, poses and / or through Yoga philosophy, a person gains tools in how to see the one eternal reality in all experiences.  Primacy is placed on Being or Self in all experience.  This attention on the real brings understanding and clarity to the purpose of all mundane as well as challenging experiences of our lives. Suppose someone suffers some indignity. If they hold to the teachings of Yoga - which remind that we are not this body and mind, but something much greater - then how differently one will experience the injustice.  Working life in this way through the teachings of Yoga, one begins to realize that the experience is not meant to harm one, but is one's path to reveal deeper layers about individual self and cosmic Self for one to study and grow from.  In essence, each experience becomes a divine lesson in disguise.
 
This does not mean that one should just jump to this point immediately without first processing the humanity of a situation, but once the humanity has been accepted, felt and processed, then one should see beyond the superficial level to the realm of reality.
 
Lord Patanjali says in the Yoga Sutra, Ch 2. verse 21 Tad-Artha Eva Drshyasyatma: What is seen exists for the Seer alone. The whole universe manifests for the purpose of revealing Reality. -- All Yogic texts remind us to rise and awaken to the full blossom of who we are, the Self. Engage creation with courage, humility, love and reverence and find the doorway to Self through all experience.
 
The Bhagavad Gita echoes this point in Chapter 9, The Royal Secret to the Royal Path, verse 27.

Krsna says to Arjuna:
Whatever you do, Whatever you eat,
Whatever you offer and Whatever you suffer, oh Arjuna,
Make that an offering to Me.
 
Who is the Me in the Bhagavad Gita? Me is Krsna and Krsna represents the higher Self that we all Are. Gita tells us: In all of the experiences of our lives, make everything an offering to the Self and in so doing stay close to Self above all else.
 
It may take some time to develop this habit, but in time with attention and practice one experiences great freedom through understanding and application.
 
© 2009 Luminous Shabda, Sanskrit Studies