Oneness through Seperation

Seneca once said, "I suffer more in the mind than in the body," which rings true upon further contemplation. How often have we experienced mental unease in comparison to physical pain? Because of the subjective nature of our minds, we dwell on potential future misfortunes that might never materialize. We suffer within our minds over events that haven't actually occurred. Mark Twain encapsulated this beautifully with the phrase, “The worst thing I ever thought never happened to me.”

In such moments, I realize the separation between myself and my experiences. I am not this body or this mind; rather, I witness and experience them both. Every thought and feeling arises due to the experiences imprinted on my body and mind.

Yoga helps us to transcend beyond this point to a brief moment of letting go and separating the (our)self from the experience. Paradoxically we experience a brief moment of oneness and connections through separation. In these moments, we sense the unchanging self, the part of us that remains constantly untouched by any circumstance. It is the unalterable part within, consistent and immutable in each of us—a part detached from our body and mind. ‘Yoga becomes the path to the self through the self.’ It acts as a vessel mindfully guiding us to that unchanging aspect within ourselves by intelligently utilizing the body and mind. We realize our wholeness through separation.

Namaste
“The peace within my soul recognizes the peace within yours."