The Idea of “God”

A beautiful thing is that your God and my God can be completely different things, but likely represent the same universal energy. A message that keeps being offered to me in different ways is that we’re all the same. Yes, our physical forms are different. Our bodies, minds, thoughts, ages, jobs, and passions vary greatly from person to person. In Yoga (Samkhya) philosophy, we call this Prakriti (form, matter, the seen).

Within these differences, we all have the same universal consciousness flowing through our separate and individual bodies. We call this Purusha (the seer).

Yoga is the practice of creating union between these two elements of the Self, which in time, creates union between the Self and all beings. One (of many) ways to deepen this connection is through practice of Ishvara Pranidhana. Ishvara means higher power. Pranidhana means devotion. You always have the freedom to interpret Ishvara however you need to.

This greater power does not live outside of oneself. It weaves through all things and all beings. When we bow to something higher, we are also bowing to ourselves and one another. Compassion can be created but not destroyed. When we create and spread compassion, the seed of peace is planted into the soil. May we continue to blossom from roots to bud as time slowly unfolds.