116. Self-propulsion or Pranidhana?

The Yoga Sutras offer timeless wisdom, and one such snippet from Patanjali that we are working with today is Sutra 1:23, Ishwara Pranidhana. This sutra presents the concept of surrendering to a higher consciousness, inviting us to let go of our ego and allow something more significant to guide our path. By surrendering to this higher power—whether we call it Ishwara, God, or simply universal consciousness—we align ourselves with a more profound sense of purpose, which is central to yoga.

Patanjali teaches us that much of our suffering stems from the citta vrittis—the fluctuations of the mind, or the mental chatter that disturbs our peace. According to Patanjali, yoga's goal is to quiet these fluctuations, and one of the critical tools to achieve this is Samadhi, a state of deep meditative absorption. Through Samadhi, we cultivate viveka khyati, or discriminative wisdom, which allows us to see reality more clearly and avoid the traps set by the mind's illusions. 

In our daily lives, we often rely on self-propulsion, believing we can do it all on our own. We strive, plan, and push, driven by the ego's desire for control. But Patanjali reminds us that this approach only reinforces the very patterns that keep us stuck in suffering.

By practicing Ishwara Pranidhana—surrendering our will to something higher—we learn to let go of the ego's grip. This surrender is not a sign of weakness, but rather a decisive step toward true freedom. Patanjali is guiding us to "get over ourselves" by recognizing that our efforts alone are not enough; surrender is an essential tool for spiritual growth.