The Secrets of Yoga – Our Essence

Our Essence

“…That which cannot be expressed by speech, but by which speech is expressed – That alone know as Brahman (the eternal) and not that which people here worship. 

That which cannot be apprehended by the mind, but by which, they say, the mind is apprehended – That alone know as Brahman (the eternal) and not that which people here worship.

That which cannot be perceived by the eye, but by which the eye is perceived – That alone know as Brahman (the eternal) and not that which people here worship.

That which cannot he heard by the ear, but by which the hearing is perceived – That alone know as Brahman (the eternal) and not that which people here worship.

That which cannot be smelt by the breath, but by which the breath smells an object – That alone know as Brahman (the eternal) and not that which people here worship…” – Kena Upanishad 

The essence of the eternal is alive in all of us. In fact, it doesn’t have a name, but I will be using the term “essence” in this article to express myself.

Explaining ‘essence’ is a very difficult task. As the Upanishad quotations said above, it is impossible to explained with words, because words are just pointers, but they are not it. If you are reading this article further it’s because you have already recognized it in you, otherwise you won’t know what I’m talking about.

Your ‘essence’ is always with you.  It is not dependent on the weather, your environment, your living circumstances, your cultural background or your economic or social status.  The ‘Essence’ will always be there, because it’s part of you.

I believe the best way to understand the essence is by having a personal experience of it. Following I will briefly describe my personal thought which might possibly give you some insight as to reaching this experience for yourself.

The first step is to recognize it in you; once you have recognized it, you will have created a relationship with your essence.

Next, choose a place to begin. The ideal and easiest place to start is nature. You can be outdoors, or just looking at nature; a plant, a garden, the sky, the trees, etc., although it can be done everywhere, even in a close room, since the essence lives in you.

Then, resign to the next moment. Perhaps you will find this a difficult process because everything we have been taught today is focused around goal setting. Once we start a task we focus on getting it done. We don’t give to the process the same importance we give to the job done, because we believe an unfinished job is worth nothing. Therefore we don’t feel the process, we don’t slow down even if we think we’ll enjoy it more, etc. Even when meditating, or sitting down to connect with the essence we have expectations about the outcome. We want to feel something especial and the sooner the better. Even to that you must resign. It is about to “be”, and not to “do” anything at all to change it, to don’t expect anything. And it is in this process of not doing anything where you enter a state of “acceptance” with “what is”. I am only referring to the acceptation of this precise moment, no of tomorrow, no of our personal story, only of NOW.

It is very provable that while you are sitting in meditation you don’t feel anything especial as you were expecting. Accept that too! Thoughts will arise. Accept them too! Pain will arise. Accept it too! You will experience that all the obstacles that arise will disappear when you don’t resist to them.

The next step is acting as the observer. I will describe this step as a des-identification with the things that happen. Perhaps the leaves from the tree fall, perhaps gets windy, perhaps you hear people shouting, perhaps you have thoughts, and emotions when you think these thoughts, etc., and in all these occasions, and the many other that arise simply “observe” as if they were happening to a third person. Feel how the emotions that derivate for those thoughts affect you, but do not engage in the wheel of thoughts, simply observe, and feel.

The constant flow of thoughts will lessen once you have acknowledged it, and they won’t be so important anymore, because you won’t identify with them.

When acting as the “observer” you must keep your attention inside, not outside.

First focus on breathing, the sound, how your body inflates on the in breath, and deflates on the out breath.  Focus on all other sensations associated with the internal activities of your body such as your heart beat, your muscle tension, and relaxation sensations. Open all the doors of the interior sensation, and maximize all the sensations you feel. Keep observing, connecting at all times with all the internal sensations. Remember don’t engage in the thoughts!

For beginners is very common to enter this state, but not be able to hold it for long periods of time. As a beginner you will therefore enter and exit the state constantly. Do not get discouraged. Practice will improve your capacity to be in this state for longer periods of time.  When you are experiencing that feeling, that sensation inside your being you will be feeling infinity love. Imagine the impact this love can have in your life, in all your relationships, and on your environment.

The key is about consciously choosing to be present in every step you take, everything you do. Create a connection with the essence of your being. Perhaps you have never acknowledged it, but we all have it. That is why we long for that eternal love, because is inside us, in every moment, in every step you take.

Remember to focus your attention on inside, transform every moment to the present moment.  Turn your attention to the now.

In the final step, the observer and the observed will disappear and become ONE.

Blessings.