Effortless Effort

 

 

On dealing with asanas, Patanjali says that when the effort of performing comes to an end, then that effortful mind loses all resistance and changes into an effortless state, and finds solace in experiencing its real state and status. This means that when the effortless state is reached in practice, the movements take place from the source and cover the entire body as if body were the self.

 

When all resistance dissolves and effortful efforts are transformed into effortless efforts, the sadhaka becomes alert at once and experiences changes and transformations.   The dual mind is transformed into a single, simple and innocent mind without ignorance or arrogance.

BKS Iyengar, Core of the Yoga Sutras

 

It is hard to act in the world without the ego, that part of us that longs for acknowledgement, belonging, power.  The ego can give us the energy and courage to take on challenges.  On the flip side, though, the ego is terribly afraid of not measuring up and has a hard time acknowledging vulnerability. 

 

In the first half of life, we need to build up the ego, so we have a strong sense of who we are as individuals.  But during the second half, the ego starts to get in the way of growth layering a hard shell of protection around our hearts to avoid feeling grief, longing, fear, and tenderness. But this drains our vitality because it is only through the tender heart that we tap into the energy source for transformation which is far more expansive than the power that the ego provides.  This is the transformation from arrogance and self-absorption to helpfulness, humility, and wisdom.

 

 We have the free will to decide how we will use our limited precious energy in the world. Energy in service to the ego drains our resources for giving, caring, creating, and knowing who we are at our core beyond what we accomplish or how we fail.  Replenishment comes when we tap into the deeper flow of energy within us that is connected to the soul, to the divine, to something that is much greater than our small selves.

 

As much as our ego would like to be in control, the very breath that gives us life is out of our control. Our existence comes from a divine and mysterious givenness.  If you look back on how you came into being and how your life has unfolded so far, you can’t help but be surprised.  How many things were unplanned, unexpected, unbelievable until they happened? Effort becomes effortless with the qualities of humility, tenderness, care, courage and faith, qualities of the tender heart.  Through the lifeforce of the tender heart, we are no longer doing so much as blossoming as we become a conduit for the light and love flowing into us to be a healing peaceful presence in the world.