Aim of Life

 

There is no linear evolution; there is only a circumambulation of the self.

Carl Jung, Memories, Dreams, and Reflections

 

If the practitioner weights the front, back, and side trunk with equidistance to the core of the being, along with parallel adjustments of the spinal muscles, shoulder-blades, muscles of the arms, grips of the wrists and legs, I say they are close to ananta sampatti (embracing the Soul) evenly from all sides of the body, directing towards the Soul as if all parts of the body are completely mingled to the core.

BKS Iyengar, Ashtadala Yogamala, Vol. 7

 

It can seem as if the point of life is to “get somewhere” as in a place, destination, position, or situation where we can finally realize contentment, ease, abundance, and love.  That through hard work, sticking to goals, discipline, and a bit of luck we can reach this place we have set out to go and be successful.  Every advertising executive knows our secret attempts at success and will try to sell us the mechanism, technology, diet, face cream to obtain it, faster and easier than everyone else.  Much of our lives can pass us by in our intent to follow the straight and linear line to success.

 

Because these outer achievements in and of themselves do not bring more than a fleeting contentment reaching them will always feel like we have once again missed the mark.  Making that promotion, traveling to this exotic location, losing or gaining the weight doesn’t offer up more than a transient fulfillment that is soon digested.  Our widening hunger keeps us on that hamster wheel of doing, collecting, obtaining, succeeding so that our lives might lead or amount to something. Until we decide to step off (into that abyss) and take a different tack.

 

On the spiritual path, the aim of life shifts from collecting things to deepening the relationship with the Soul, the innermost self.  As Jung wrote this is not a straight-line journey that can be mapped out in advance but one of renewing exploration, serendipity, surrender, and surprise.   Iyengar is unique in his ability to give us a bodily experience of the innermost self through asana.  Through his technique we learn how integrate the body with consciousness to penetrate the Soul.  We strive to touch our toes not to touch the toes which would keep us on the collection path of life but to touch the soul which puts us on the spiritual path.  We may still pursue a promotion, travel, art, mountain climbing but begin to see how the deeper pleasure comes when the doing is yoked to an inner numinous calling, when we use life to manifest the soul’s longing.

 

This means that we don’t have to worry if it seems as if our lives have not amounted much, if we have failed and failed again, if more days than we had hoped unravel into unproductivity and despair.  On the spiritual plane what is important is to be with ourselves with attention, awareness, and compassion as life is unfolding in the moment.  We unfold to ourselves in each moment and see what our next step should be. This is how we can come to live fully, with purpose, and more kindness to everyone. The hunger for things and accomplishments gives way to the fervent longings of the soul to be known intimately and fully realized by us. It is only oneself who can give oneself this kind of attention and love and through this learn how to hold others with untainted love and care.