Written By: Kidecia King
“When we calm our minds and remove all of our different identifications with sub identities…(and of course we would do this through the practice of meditation), we can not only then connect with the truth of our unity with all of existence, but, because we will have also simultaneously freed ourselves from our delusions, mental disturbances, clinging to forms, people, things, and so forth, find that our connection to this unity, or true self, leads us to function better and relate to other seemingly separate entities and things in more harmonious and joyful ways as well.”
*Please remember (and, for those who are listening to this reflection outside of the context of the full live series, or outside of the context of Yogic familiarity) that Swami Satchidananda translates sutra 4 (Vrtti Sarupyamitaratra – Vrtti: modification/distortion | Sarupyam: assumes form, identification | Itaratra: at other times) as: “At other times [referring back to Sutras 2 and 3, which explains that Yoga (in practice, and by one signifying manifestation) is the “modification of the mind-stuff” so that one can settle into his/her True Nature)…since the Self appears to] assume the form of the mental modifications.“ For those who are not familiar with our series, the Yoga Sutras are an ancient Sanskrit text written in the form of short aphorisms. Swami Satchidananda translates and interprets, in one way, these aphorisms in his book called The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali that I, then, go through and reinterpret for you to reflect on as well…something that we do much more deeply and specifically (even going into single Sanskrit word breakdowns, roots, context, history, symbolism, etc.) in our Book Studies classes…We are, from those who came before Patanjali, to Patanjali himself, to Satchidananda, to me, and to you, in unbroken conversation, discussing and exploring the bigger Truths together, about who we are as one…which you practice Yoga to explore, question, investigate, verify, and know for yourself.
Investigating multi-dimensional holistic wellness as an inter-disciplinary artist and Yoga-Meditation writer, thinker, and practitioner. Doing experientially-based self-agency work grounded in research, reflection, and practice.