Ishvara Pranidhana
Our final Niyama for practice in June is Ishvara Pranidhana. Ishvara’s meaning in Sanskrit is “lord” and refers to the divine being (specifically Shiva for many.) Pranidhana’s meaning is surrender or devotion. As we turn to this last Niyama it invites us to melt away the stranglehold of our ego and connect with something that is grander than we are.
For many this practice can be daunting. We hold on so tightly to control from our connection to our ego that it is scary to think of letting go. We assume that to let go or surrender means to lose control. What if in the choice of surrender you are actually discovering the yoking of control and flow? You become whole rather than fractured.
What I am implying is when we are stuck in the pattern of control, we have lost the power of being part of something whole, meaningful and divine. Equally when we are stuck in a flow pattern, we have given up completely and feel the victim of circumstances we find ourselves in. Like a quarter or our breath, the 2 sides of the coin or the inhalation and exhalation make the wholeness of each item. They coexist to create the whole. When we consciously connect to being part of something grand, powerful, and divine we become whole, empowered and live a joyful life.
The practice Ishvara Pranidhana is an invitation to understand the power of connection, to delve into something beyond our ego’s understanding, and believe in something divine. We unify, recognizing we are part of this beautiful and powerful vital force. In whatever form the divine shows itself to you or your beliefs guide you to, finding the power to surrender and become part of it is the practice. For some the divine comes from their religious beliefs, for others it is in the connection to nature or creative forces BUT most importantly it is your connection to it that brings you to Ishvara Pranidhana.
Wander in the month of June, be lost a bit and look for your “markers” that identify your path. We support one another on the journey being connected through the practice and mutual understanding. Namaste