Page 42 - NAMAH-Jul-2019

Yoga and our destiny

James Anderson

Abstract
We have to work on ourselves to attain our destiny. .As long as ego is present, we have to
use personal effort. First we interiorise our consciousness. Then through yoga, we gradually
bring light to the shadows that mask out true nature. Parallel to this, through progressive
harmony, a unique individual is created. The ultimate destiny however comes with the
surrender of this individuality allowing the Truth to transform everything we are.

Sri Aurobindo calls yoga “the art of conscious of the transformation that is still to come.
self-finding” so it is deeply connected with the
making of our destiny. But before we create So how does the journey begin? How do we
anything true with our lives, we have to fulfil our svadharma? Every great endeavour
know ourselves first. Destiny is not so much begins with grinding personal effort. There is
a matter of what we do; it is what we are. always an initial phase of blood, sweat and
We have to know who we are. The doing is tears. Constantly we have to push through
a consequence of the being. So yoga too itself resistance. Everyone has to go through it.
is not really something that we do but rather Everything shunning the Light of Truth
it is something that we become. The aim is must go. However, as long as ego is present,
to change the state of our existence. Finding effort will always be there. Every part of our
our svadharma is a purpose of yoga but that is nature wants its piece of the cake. The will
not enough for Integral Yoga. We have to live is fragmented. As the different sides of our
and express this Truth in every aspect of our nature squabble, we pray for guidance and
life.Yoga is not only a means of manifesting sometimes have to fumble helplessly in the
our destiny. It is our destiny and an end in dark. We have to latch onto the noblest part
itself. There can be no greater destiny than to of our nature to get anywhere near the Truth.
join with the Divine. There can be no greater There is a ‘divine possibility’ in all of us that
destiny than collaborating in the Divine Work generally moves us in the right direction.
of opening to the Truth-Consciousness in There is always a Higher Force which acts.
every aspect of our existence. There can be By surrendering increasingly to this Force,
no greater destiny than becoming a pioneer our effort gradually abates.

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