Sunday, September 19, 2010

Nurture Your Connections Through Samadhi

The ultimate goal of a yoga practice is connection; in fact, the word "yoga" means to yoke or join. The final step in the formal path of yoga is called samadhi, which has been translated as "bliss" and "absorption into the infinite." This final step is when we recognize that the separation between individual beings is an illusion, and that we are all a part of something larger than ourselves.

But what does this mean on a day-to-day level? It means that our practice can be an opportunity for us to improve our relationships. As we come to understand and treat ourselves better, we can be better friends, parents, coworkers, and partners. As we learn to love ourselves more, we can love others more.

So the next time you hit a wall or engage in a conflict in your relationship, take a moment to ruminate on the idea of connection. Can feeling more connected to the person you are fighting with help sooth things over? Can pondering the notion of loving that person show you that conflict is only a fleeting thing, while connection is eternal?

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