let’s consider the statement* in the banner photo, there are many ways of looking at this…

(* This is only one example statement. you can replace this with any such statements for the purpose of this reflection)

One is to take it as an ideal, and that I *should* be free from cravings and attachments… there are two issues here… one is what is called *bhranti darshanam* in which the mind will construct a story add though it has attained freedom… the underlying action here is one of escape… under engagement (hIna yOgam)…
the other is, I will strive to be free, and I will forcefully negate any feelings of wants… which will only multiply the craving internally, which erupts without my knowledge… the classic case is that of cravings one has after forceful diet for weight loss… the underlying action is an expression of one’s ahankAram – I am the doer… this is ati yOgam – over engagement…

The other is to consider that this is unattainable for me… and i keep reinforcing this narrative… this is also an escape f room my effort… This is the space of the victim…

The other is to reject the proposition and ask intellectual questions on the validity of such a proposition… this is a defense response… while the action is defense, this could come from the “I will engage if and only if I am given the guarantee of its proof” – this is typical of the objective scientific mind… I will experiment such prepositions on the outer objects, but not for myself…

The other is to ask a question – “tell me how do I get free of these?”… here I am taking the statement as a provisional truth, as this is being stated by a “Apta vachanA” – one whom I believe to have experienced that reality… but want to know how can I experience this, but asking for answers from the outside… while this could put you on the search, this can also derail in to one of the above over time, if not supported… but definitely a good starting point… this can be an inflection point from “bhOgam” to “yOgam”…
the flip side to this is, one can become gullible and start to believe and do anything and everything being said by people who project themselves as experts in the process… who knows the standard solution to the issue… esp those who can demonstrate to me some quick fixes – pain killers in other words…

The practice of yOga is to start from the above, but engage in a process of deep reflective enquiry – on a search to discover my truth… the essential practice here is to start acknowledging my current state of being, and observe my cravings as they are… and engage in dialogues with fellow seekers about my own experiences and challenges… in this process, there are no certainties… no guarantees… no full stops… this is about living, fully engaged in the processes of life as they are… when I am at it, I may at some time experience the cravings fall away… this, yOga sUtrA calls “vashIkArasanjnA vairAgyam” – this is the natural falling of the fruit… this is the same described in the shlOkA “uruvArukamiva bandanAn”

shraddhA is a key ingredient in this journey.

हरिः ॐ।

{our sincere heartfelt gratitudes to our yagnyashALA community practitioners for evoking and provoking us to express these beliefs / sentiments}