126. Keep the mind steady: get the result!

In our recent focus on Ishwara Pranidhana, we've been exploring how Patanjali defines Ishwara as a special kind of Purusha, one that exists beyond the reach of the kleshas (mental afflictions) and karma (the cycle of cause and effect). Both are central to understanding why surrendering to Ishwara can offer us a path out of suffering. The kleshas, which include ignorance, egoism, attachment, aversion, and fear, bind us to the patterns of suffering. Karma, in turn, keeps us entangled in these patterns.

Ishwara, however, is untouched by both. It represents pure consciousness and offers a higher source to which we can surrender through Ishwara Pranidhana.

However, the devotional quality required for Ishwara Pranidhana may not resonate with every temperament. For some, surrendering to a higher consciousness or power may be challenging, especially if one's nature leans more towards intellectual or analytical paths. Yet, Patanjali presents this as one of the many avenues to attain yoga, acknowledging that devotion deeply resonates with some, but not with everyone. This diversity of paths ensures that everyone, regardless of their temperament, can find their way to yoga.

In the context of Ishwara Pranidhana, Ishwara is symbolically represented by the sacred sound OM. Chanting OM serves as an entry point to Mantra Japa, or Japa meditation, a practice where the repetition of a mantra focuses the mind and connects it to the divine. Swami Satchidananda describes mantra as "that which keeps the mind steady and produces the proper effect." This echoes a profound definition of yoga in the Bhagavad Gita: "Samutvam Yoga Uchate" — "yoga is keeping the mind steady." Both definitions converge on the idea that the essence of yoga lies in the ability to calm the fluctuations of the mind and maintain mental balance.

Yoga, as a comprehensive philosophical system, can serve as the foundation for a life imbued with strength, clarity, and purpose. In an era where organized religion appears to be losing its influence in many parts of society, yoga emerges as an alternative structure that speaks to both the mind and spirit. Through practices like Ishwara Pranidhana, Mantra Japa, and the profound insights from texts like the Bhagavad Gita, yoga can bridge the gap left by religion, offering not just a physical practice but a complete, holistic way of living. This holistic approach to life can inspire and motivate us to live with purpose and clarity.