Unfoldment of the Great Within the Yoga ways
Author: Claus & Ingrid Dreyer
Spiritual unfoldment may sound like some voodoo or unnatural ceremony but in fact it is not an external force but the exposure of the inner workings of the mind, the great within. There is a saying that the mind is a powerful thing, and it is no less than the truth. Much of the source of unhappiness and depression is caused by the failure of many of us to touch base with the inner self. Money and possessions can never produce true happiness if the void within the self is ignored. The path to unwrapping the layers of social mask to reveal the true self is through unfoldment of the great within with yoga.
Yoga is an ancient form of spiritual discipline that has its origins in India. The term “yoga” is derived for the Sanskrit root word “yuj” which means to control or to unite. It uses meditation and asceticism to strip away the trappings of civilization to experience a deep insight into the being and consciousness. Many of us are familiar with yoga as a form of exercise, but this is more of its hobby than the real job. Yoga seeks to plumb the depths and heights of a person’s mind to achieve clarity of thought and purpose. The goal of those who aspire to learn yoga meditation techniques is to achieve a meaningful life.
Because many, if not all of us find ourselves so busy and harassed by the necessity of earning a living or going to school and fulfilling our obligations that when we do get a chance to sit down and breathe, it is to wonder what the point of it all is. Sure, you provide for your family’s future. And what is that? Eventually they will grow up and lead the same hectic life you have. That is a depressing thought.
What many of us do not realize that we need not ensconce ourselves on a remote island and commune with the fish to find meaning in life. It is there within us, waiting for the unfoldment. One of the barriers to accomplishing spiritual unfoldment is stress. Yoga is one way to lessen the stress even while at the office or with fifteen minutes free in your own home with the following exercises (do not worry, it does not involve sitting cross-legged on a mat. You will ideally have to be in a class for that with a yoga teacher).
Notice yourself. In a Hatha yoga class, one of the instructions is to notice how your feet connect to the floor. It brings focus to your feet which are there but which you normally would not notice. This can be applied to everyday occurrences in life such as a kiss from your child or a whiff of your mother’s perfume. Try to notice how you feel, what your thoughts are, how you are breathing at that moment. There is no need to try to be profound. Just notice it. If you do it often enough, the little things that bring you pleasure and happiness will be numerous enough to uplift you.
Increase awareness of the world around you. This time go outward. Notice how your co-worker’s hair looks or feel how smooth your desk feels against your palm. Project yourself into your surroundings and expand your perspective. Notice the little things but do not sweat over them. Look at the big picture and put each event or occurrence in its proper place. These two exercises employ very little actual activity but it challenges the mind to think outside its usual parameters. It lets the great within more breathing space and little by little unfoldment will occur. Yoga will provide you the tools to make this happen.
