TWO PATHS
When we move into a new activity, no matter
what it is, we need to decide which tools we
are going to use and how much time we are
going to spend. We also need to consider our
strengths and weaknesses; we need to see
whether there is a specific deadline to deliver a
result. And then, we select the most
appropriate method for us to progress in our
endeavour.
There are two major different paths one may
choose when it comes to yoga, our spiritual
practice, or any aspect of life we want to work
on. We either go for a short way full of thorns,
or we go for a longer but smoother path.
When I just started my spiritual journey, I was
always trying to find a shortcut. Surrounded by
people who were inspired by the idea of
reaching enlightenment, I gave up on my
career and social life. I started overloading
myself with all sorts of spiritual practices: long
meditations, yoga, pranayama, mantra
chanting, reading the scriptures, pilgrimage,
fastening, abstaining from excessive social
engagement.