Goal of Yoga

Goal of Yoga

Yoga is a practice of process.

  That is the goal.

Keep it real. Keep it raw.

  Real is here and now. Being present.

  Raw is authentic. Feeling what is here, now.

It is releasing doing and thinking

It is releasing the past and its stories.

It is releasing the future and its imaginings.

It is noticing what is arising, what is

maintaining, and what is dissolving.

It is non-judgmental awareness,

  clinging to nothing even if pleasurable,

  pushing nothing away even if unpleasant.

It is attention and intention, focus and flow.

It is allowing, a saying yes

  to this breath

  to this movement

  to this feeling

  to this encounter.

It is practicing the Eight Limbs

  with integrity, discipline, and dedication.

It is realizing that paradox is a gateway in

and clarity comes with observation and patience.

It is consistent alignment with joy, kindness, and compassion,

with self and others, in thought, word, and deed.

It is valuing silence, ritual, friends, and quality over quantity.

It is in asking the right questions and remaining open to the unknown.

In this process equanimity is found.

Balanced aliveness is claimed as original innate wholeness.

In this journey the veils of ignorance disappear, freedom (moksha) occurs,

and one finds the forever already existing as states of truth, consciousness,

and bliss (sat-chit-ananda).

The goal of yoga is the journey.

    by Richard Hammer,  10-17-15