Four Paths to Release Your Suffering
There are many paths to enlightenment. Be sure to take the one with a heart." ~Lao Tsu
One of the first homework assignments I offer my new Yoga teacher trainees is to write out a definition of yoga.
So I ask you to pause, grab something to write with, take a sip of coffee, tea, water, etc.., and consider–what does Yoga mean to you? What benefits have you received or felt with Yoga?
Go ahead...I'll wait..
Did you write about the physical body? Did you mention the breath? Or meditation and the mind? How about acting in service to others? Or devotion and surrender? Or the study of philosophy, writing, and ancient texts?
All of these things are also a part of the Yoga practice.
The practice of Yoga was designed thousands of years ago to guide us to live a life free from suffering. You see, I have this theory that our psychological human struggles have not changed much over thousands of years of evolution. Sure, modern medicine has increased our lifespan, and for some people ( but certainly not all people ), there is less struggle to meet basic needs (food, clothing, shelter). The truth is, I sometimes wonder how much better off we are now vs hundreds of years ago (this is something writer Yuval Noah Harari also brings up in his books).
Despite some needs being met, there is a rising mental health crisis within the US and across the globe. Improving access to basic needs does not guarantee less mental suffering.
This is where Yoga fits in. I believe the ancient practice of Yoga is one of our best tools to help us navigate these struggles.
Yoga philosophy tells us that the very root of our struggles lies in mistaking the unreal for the real, and in our inability to see things clearly (avidya–literally not seeing clearly).
Avidya shows up in three ways:
1. Getting caught up in our personal ego thinking (my personal desires, my opinions, and my thoughts are the most important and therefore the only ones that are valid and that should exist).
2. Constantly moving from one thought to another— many practices call this the monkey mind. This manifests as an inability to focus and concentrate for any significant amount of time, on basically anything. This is exacerbated in our modern technological world of email, social media scrolling, texts, etc...
3. Forgetting our innate connection to the other-than-human-world, nature, or what is often called Our True Self.
Yoga is a beautiful practice which recognizes that while we are all connected, we also have unique differences. So the path to releasing this suffering is going to look different for each individual person, though the final destination is likely to be the very same.
Many of my students are surprised to learn that Yoga as a practice of physical movement is only one possible practice path. The good news is, if you become physically injured, or you just don't like the physical postures, you can still practice Yoga.
Yoga actually prescribes four major paths to help reduce our suffering and to reestablish feelings of interconnectedness, which is the true essence of our innermost being.
The Four Paths of Yoga
Karma–yoga of action and selfless service. Karma Yogis enjoy helping others through humanitarian service, donating time to social causes, and engaging in political activism. The key with practicing Karma Yoga is to detach from any personal gain or recognition with such work. This is not work done to boost the ego, but to detach from the ego in support of the greater good. Because we are all connected, when the other has a release of suffering, we in turn have a release of suffering.
Bhakti–yoga of devotion. Bhakti Yogis focus their energies on the feeling (bhava-literally feeling) of love, surrender, and devotion to the Divine in all forms. Bhakti Yoga encourages one to sing, chant, and participate in any other offering of devotion. The emphasis here is on remembering there is something bigger at work in the world, and surrendering the will of the ego-self to the greater will of the Divine in order to release suffering.
Raja–yoga of meditation. Raja Yoga is the path you are likely most familiar with. Raja Yoga encompasses the physical postures, the breathwork, and meditation. Raja Yogis aim to control the restless mind through the control of the body. Physical asanas help us to be more comfortable in the body, and also to calm the mind in preparation for breathing exercises and meditation. Once we have control over the body, the breath, and the mind, then we are much more likely to feel release of suffering and our interconnectedness.
Jnana–yoga of will and the intellect. Jnana Yogis emphasize the use of logic and reason to release the trappings of the ego mind. Jnana yogis will read and study texts, and engage in philosophical debates as a way to expand the mind and remember one's true nature. Such study is said to help one see more clearly, to remove ignorance, and understand Truth.
Like all things in the Yoga practice, these four paths do not have to exist in isolation. Many times, Yoga practitioners overlap in these practices. I try to dip my toes in all four of these paths. It’s why I try to offer free classes from time to time, to make the practice accessible to anyone, despite income, and I enjoy donating to food banks as a practice of Karma Yoga. When you come to one of our Kirtan events, this is a practice of Bhakti Yoga. When you join in a weekly asana class , a training , or a special workshop , this is Raja Yoga. If you read one of the books that I share, or engage in lively discussion with me in a private session or in my upcoming workshop series , this is Jnana Yoga.
Signing up for my upcoming Embodied Yogic Wisdom Series will be a great way to explore the practice of yoga in a deeper and more focused setting. You can learn more below.
Usually, there is one path that resonates most deeply, so I encourage you to explore that in more detail. At different times in our life journey, one path might be more suitable than another. Each of these paths point the way to One-ness and a release of suffering.
So which of these paths will you engage with today? Hit reply and let me know.
May all beings everywhere be creative, happy, and free to travel their own unique path of freedom.
Angie ♥️
Quotes on the many paths...
"There are many paths leading to the top of Mount Fuji, but there is only one summit - love." –Morihei Ueshiba
"There is no orthodoxy in walking. It is a land of many paths and no-paths, where every one goes his own and is right."–G. M. Trevelyan
"Can you believe that, to say that ours is the only path when the fundamental thing in art is freedom! In art, there are millions of paths—as many paths as there are artists." –Rufino Tamayo
"Many paths lead from the foot of the mountain, but at the peak we all gaze at the single bright moon." –Ikkyu
