Search A Light In The Darkness
A Distant Perspective
Looking out the window while riding in an airplane lends a unique perspective. From high among the clouds, homes and highways appear tiny and toy-like. Suddenly, our crowded and important cities seem like just a small part of a busy universe. According to the Law of Yoga, one of the seven spiritual truths of Hinduism, we can also see our private lives from a new point of view by practicing detachment. By purposefully letting go of the end result of our actions and learning to watch our own thoughts and behavior impartially, we gain new insight into the diverse choices available to us. The goal of detachment is to be able to interact with the world while also watching ourselves, to be both actor and witness at the same time. Those who renounce the desire for an award, according to the Bhagavad-Gita, attain perfect peace. Being overly focused on the outcome of an action actually ties one down, while being detached enough to view the relativity of the situation sets one free and lends tranquility. Being detached does not mean that one can't enjoy anything or anyone. It just refers to the fact that clinging very strongly to a person, a thought pattern or an emotional habit makes it difficult to cope with life. We begin to think that if we don't get a specific job or have a certain relationship, we will be miserable. Being detached means saying that if we achieve a certain goal, we will be fine and if for some reason we don't, we will still be fine. A Buddhist saying describes detachment as "Not flattered by praise, not hurt by blame." Once we are able to detach ourselves from difficulty, we gain a broad perspective and a multiplicity of possibilities become apparent. Many solutions that we would never have considered when we were emotionally drowning in the problem now appear. When you are faced with a particularly trying personal problem, try taking some time to consciously detach yourself. Meditation, listening to calming music and taking a long walk are all possible detachment rituals. Traveling to another location either actually or through a favorite book or film are also good ways of finding a new perspective. When you let go of your limited view and gain greater objectivity, you put the law of Yoga into practice. You open the door to greater intuition and increased serenity.
Looking out the window while riding in an airplane lends a unique perspective. From high among the clouds, homes and highways appear tiny and toy-like. Suddenly, our crowded and important cities seem like just a small part of a busy universe. According to the Law of Yoga, one of the seven spiritual truths of Hinduism, we can also see our private lives from a new point of view by practicing detachment. By purposefully letting go of the end result of our actions and learning to watch our own thoughts and behavior impartially, we gain new insight into the diverse choices available to us. The goal of detachment is to be able to interact with the world while also watching ourselves, to be both actor and witness at the same time. Those who renounce the desire for an award, according to the Bhagavad-Gita, attain perfect peace. Being overly focused on the outcome of an action actually ties one down, while being detached enough to view the relativity of the situation sets one free and lends tranquility. Being detached does not mean that one can't enjoy anything or anyone. It just refers to the fact that clinging very strongly to a person, a thought pattern or an emotional habit makes it difficult to cope with life. We begin to think that if we don't get a specific job or have a certain relationship, we will be miserable. Being detached means saying that if we achieve a certain goal, we will be fine and if for some reason we don't, we will still be fine. A Buddhist saying describes detachment as "Not flattered by praise, not hurt by blame." Once we are able to detach ourselves from difficulty, we gain a broad perspective and a multiplicity of possibilities become apparent. Many solutions that we would never have considered when we were emotionally drowning in the problem now appear. When you are faced with a particularly trying personal problem, try taking some time to consciously detach yourself. Meditation, listening to calming music and taking a long walk are all possible detachment rituals. Traveling to another location either actually or through a favorite book or film are also good ways of finding a new perspective. When you let go of your limited view and gain greater objectivity, you put the law of Yoga into practice. You open the door to greater intuition and increased serenity.