Self-Inquiry

Svadhyaya.

The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali provide guidelines for the path of right living. You could call it the playbook, Bible, or syllabus of living in a "yogic way", whatever that denotes for you. Among the yamas and niyamas, svadhyaya is our self-study. It translates as sva = self and dhyaya = to call to mind, contemplate, study.

Self-study is not meant to tear apart all that you are in order to find flaws or ways to achieve perfection. In our Western culture, we hear self-inquiry and inevitably imagine psychotherapy, digging through past traumas, looking at ourselves under a microscope of scrutiny and judgment as we seek answers for how to become whole. A collection of damaged pieces looking down and pulling apart from eachother until we can no longer recognize ourselves.

Imagine your self-inquiry starting from a place of wholeness, from that Self that is Divine and fully conscious. Svadhyaya asks us to look towards and from that Self so we may become closer to what we innately are. It encourages us to look at the separations we have created and shines light on those rifts, those places we have allowed to become dark or hidden. In doing this, we don't judge ourselves for these separations - we simply notice them and give them space to exist. We ask ourselves questions and truly listen for the answers, without jumping to judgment. "I am good. I am bad". I AM. I AM. I AM. I AM until I truly see myself, my Self and all that I AM.

Call yourself to mind by becoming mindful and aware of your awareness. Conscious of your consciousness. Watching your own Light illuminate your Self.