Yoga’s Niyamas: Ishvara-Pranidhana as Deep Devotion and Joyful Surrender
Complete surrender.
To me, Ishvara-pranidhana is the practice of total trust and alignment with the Divine, emanating a flawless faith that delivers you into complete connection and oneness of Universal and Individual.
It is utter devotion to the Divine, and absolute joyful surrender.
The Individual self completely gives itself over to the Universal.
And what happens is that, through this act of letting go, you experience a supreme wholeness and loving consciousness.
This union is beyond description, yet so many have tried to explain this experience that we call Enlightenment, Nirvana, or Samadhi.
And this is what yoga leads us to; what all the practices are guiding us towards so that we can know ourselves as complete beings, beyond the illusion of separation.
The Problem With Practicing Ishvara-Pranidhana
The problem most of us face with devotion and surrender is that, as humans, we tend to have trust and control issues.
If you just snickered or made a face, you’re probably recognizing this in yourself. I know distrust and control have been big themes in my own life.
These show up in myriad ways, but the fact of the matter is that when we have a hard time trusting ourselves, others, or the course of life, things are difficult. We worry more. We fight the flow of life. We don’t have as much fun and make things hard for ourselves.
Yet when you look at the big picture, we are not, ultimately, in control.
Yes, our intention, focus, and actions shape our experiences, but so do a lot of other influences.
So the answer to these problems is actually learning how to connect with and trust a higher power.
Of course, then we run into all kinds of possibly sticky situations that have to do with religion and the interpretation of to whom and how we pray or connect.
My solution to this is to simply turn to the truth that resides in your own heart.
Whatever you call it – God, Goddess, Supreme Spirit, Universe, Divine, Creator – whatever name you give this conscious, omniscient, omnipresent energy, you already know it in your own heart.
And so, Ishvara-pranidhana says, connect with what you believe as true, as deeply and profoundly and completely as you possibly can.
Yoga and Accessing the Ability to Surrender
There are many ways to learn to let go of the things that get in your way and interfere with that all pervading Oneness we’re going for.
Here are a few examples:
- Forgiveness (essential and incredibly powerful)
- Lovingly identifying and intentionally releasing ideas and habits that don’t serve your highest good and expression
- Energy work
- Journaling
- And, of course, practicing asana, pranayama, and meditation.
These last three, the main practices of yoga, move and clear energy, support transformation and development of your awakened self, and help you tap into the part of yourself that is untarnished and eternal.
When you cultivate a connection to the Divine, you can trust the Universe to guide, protect, and nurture you.
This is huge.
And, really, it makes sense. When you surrender your worries and cares to a higher power, you are allowing yourself to be directed by a perspective and understanding beyond the scope of your individual awareness, and in so doing, opening to limitless possibilities.
Studying the Sutra
From the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali…
Sutra 2.45: Samadhisiddhih Isvarapranidhanat
Samadhi – profound absorption, superconsciousness
Siddhih – attainment, spiritual success
Isvara – God
Pranidhanat – by surrender, by complete devotion
“Surrender to God brings perfection in Samadhi.” – B.K.S. Iyengar
This sutra tells us that the complete attainment of oneness and vast understanding comes from surrendering to the Universal energy that lives within you and all around you.
It is, and always has been, the ultimate practice.
Solstice and Transitioning into 2012
This is a perfect time to practice Ishvara-pranidhana.
Solstice invites a deep dive into the inner realm. Deep devotion makes this a delight, and the ability to joyfully surrender makes it so much easier.
2011 was an intense year in many ways, and 2012 is likely to be just as intense or more so.
This time, as one cycle turns into the next, is a time to be grateful for what has come before and welcome the evolution of the world and who you are becoming.
Acknowledge the blessings that you have received and that are present in your life.
And then connect to the source of those blessings.
When you align yourself with the truth in your heart, when your every thought, word, and action is devoted to this highest part of you and you trust that everything will work out in the best possible way (even when you can’t see it at first), then you set yourself up for a graceful transition.
By dedicating yourself to this sacred and ancient practice of ultimate union, good things happen. Life becomes more beautiful, more flowing, and more joyful.
May this time be blessed.
May your practice carry you through every challenge to see the gift it brings.
May your devotion and ability to surrender joyfully bring you incredible insight, and may the positive results of your practice ripple out to bring harmony to everyone around you, and the beloved Earth who holds us all.
