The Yoga of Offering

We all have struggles, struggles in our physical bodies, in our ever-changing state of mind, in our relationships, struggles in our lives. The key to understanding life and understanding ourselves is how do we relate to and react to these challenges in our lives. How do we not get caught up in these times and allow our view of the world around us to be all encompassed by these things and these situations? Offer it up! The ultimate goal of yoga is connection with the divine and a way to feel this in our lives and our practice is the practice of Ishvarpranidhana- surrendering (pranidhana) to a higher source (Ishvara). Ishvarpranidhana is “seeing the bigger picture”. It initiates a shift in perspective from “I” to the sacred and this shift of perspective helps us remember to align with, and receive the grace of being alive. Ishvara is whatever your higher source may be, God, Buddha, Jesus, Mother Earth, but more importantly than the name attached is the connection to sacredness of the universe that supports and enables a connection to our higher self, free from the ego and our worldly concerns. Indian yoga master BKS Iyengar states it best in “Light on the Yoga Sutras….”Through surrender the aspirant’s ego is effaced and….grace.. Pours down upon him like a torrential rain.” Isvhara pranidhana provides a pathway through challenges and obstacles of ego toward our true divine nature of grace, peace, love, freedom and joy.

One of the most beautiful offerings I have ever witnessed was the creation of a sand mandala. For a week these Buddhist monks chiseled away with small tools and grains of sand to create the most intricate and beautiful mandala eyes could see and the final day this mandala that had been lovingly created was offered up and brushed away. To me this offering not only displayed the impermanence of life but the beauty of creation. Knowing that the intention and the process of the work was far greater than the mandala itself. We can offer our day to day lives and each action and step that we take to the divine. Each breath coming back to source, each step sacred, each moment true. Making our lives an offering to Isvhara. So next time we feel pressed by life, caught up in our struggles and the demands of life, take a moment step back, breath in breath out and offer it up and connect to the support of the universe that is there to support us at All times of our lives… Namaste’