Post By:Vishwanath IyerPublished on: December 18, 2016Reading time: 5 minutes
What is the relationship between our self-worth (asmitā), its awareness (prajñā) and Yoga?
Recap:
Importantly, our sense of identity can only exist if we manifest and if someone acknowledges that manifestation. Unfortunately, our manifestation is never perfect and neither is the feedback received by us on our manifestation from the others, so there is a gap between what we think we are and the feedback others give us on that perception.
Firstly, our sense of self-worth (asmitā) depends on the feedback we get from others.
Over time, this feedback becomes our perception we have of ourselves.
Consequently, it becomes the base of our conditioning (dharma).
Unfortunately, our actions are never a perfect expression of our self and neither is the feedback we receive from others. So, there is a gap between our expression and feedback. This is called māyā or illusion/ farce.
Additionally, we are also continuously transacting to maintain our sense of self-worth (asmitā).
So, there is continuous give and take which is mostly unequal, with one giving more than the other. As a result, nearly all transactions result in debt (ṛṇa).
Due to the feedback, our conditioning and sense of Self get updated. This changes our individuality or svatantra.
What is the relationship between our individuality (svatantra) and Yoga?
Svatantra is a compound word (sva = self + tantra = weave) and is the result of the yoking of our conditioning with our behaviour in any situation. Yoke?
Yes, yoke is the English term for the Sanskrit word, Yoga… both words are cognate, from the same root.
Importantly, the world has become smaller and success lies in our ability to handle rapid change. This change could range from diversity issues in the form cultural, racial or sexual biases to assimilation of technical and business information; or issues as mundane as handling jet lag and cross-cultural food.
The process of confronting, accepting, assimilating and responding to reality is not easy, especially when each experience is new and traditional/ “ready recipe” responses are inappropriate/ inadequate. In fact, this continuous need for “ground up” response tests our entire value and belief system and stresses us and others that we seek to change.
Yoga (yoking) can be used to refer to any relationship between 2 entities such as;
Firstly, the yoking of Śiva (our identity) with Śakti (our manifestation) results in the creation of our identity and individuality (svatantra).
The yoking of svadharma (our conditioning) with svabhāva (our behaviour) results in the formation of our sense of self-worth (asmitā).
Additionally, the yoking of husband and wife into a union ardhāṅgani (half body) is also a yoga.
Lastly, the yoking of the person with the environment or situation (vijñāna) results in improved situational awareness.
Yoga is ability use the awareness of Self or prajñā to transcend the bond (to be in the bond but not be affected by it), thereby isolating it.
This awareness comprises 2 aspects. The awareness of the Self in any situation or vijñāna and the awareness of the Self as an entity or jñāna.
Situational Awareness covers the following areas;
Ability to interact with our environment in such a way that we retain our sense of peace and keep the peace with our environment.
Next, the ability to digest and assimilate inputs from the environment, extract and assimilate the essence of our experience, reference and understand concepts and build a base for better engagement with the environment.
Also, the ability to process data needs to be enhanced.
Lastly, we need to develop the capability to handle multiple situations, each with its own demands of our time and energy without getting agitated.
Situational Awareness is an exercise in capability building, directing our energies to generating maximum effectiveness for the time that we are alive. This means understanding the objective of what we are setting out to do, putting together a plan that has measurable milestones, eliminating waste in the form of frittered energy, fear, etc., in our operations, communicating effectively, learning continuously and being aware of what we are doing.
This occurs when:
There is a continuous sense of equilibrium or homeostasis when interacting with the environment.
Additionally, there is increased awareness of the stimulus, ability to extract and assimilate the essence of the experience, reference and understand concepts and reconciliation with one’s own personality.
Responses to stimuli is a weave of our identity with our behavior. So, awareness of our decision-making process allows our personality come under our own control and this is yoga practice.
Anecdotes, experiences and situations to help understand the Self…
The transformation of Cassius Clay in Mohammed Ali
Mohammed Ali was born as Cassius Clay and began training in boxing to channelize his anger at discrimination. At age 22, he defeated Sonny Liston to become the world champion. Shortly thereafter, he converted to Islam to become Mohammed Ali. Two years later he refused to be conscripted, preferring to go to prison and be stripped of his championship titles. Resuming after four years, he regained the title and defended it twice. However, the hammering he received in the ring resulted in the debilitating illness of Parkinson leading to his retiring. Finally, his unflinching stand on discrimination made him an icon of his people.
How did Mohammed Ali’s identity develop and change?
What was the stimulus in each case which prompted change? From Cassius Clay to Mohammed Ali, from free-man to convict and champion to patient.
How did he cope with the change?
Trace the changes to his interaction with his environment, within himself, his coming to terms with himself and his situation.
