The Twin Pillars of Yoga
by Lisa Longton
Sutra 1.12 states “Abhyasa vairagyabhyam tannirodhah” which translates to “Practice and detachment are the means to still the movements of the consciousness”. These two concepts of practice and non-attachment have been called the twin pillars of yoga, the twin disciplines of yoga, or as BKS Iyengar wrote, “A bird cannot fly with one wing. It needs two wings to fly. To reach the highest spiritual goal, the two wings of yoga abhyasa and vairagya are essential”.
Abhyasa is translated as repeated practice, but the meaning is much more complex. This refers to a very deep, sincere, consistent practice, not merely hard work. It refers to steadiness, a continuous effort, and a firmly established practice. The following two sutras 1.13 and 1.14 specify a practice that is for a very long period, without interruption, and with as much earnest devotion and enthusiasm as in the beginning. So what are we practicing? We practice all of the eight limbs of yoga.
Vairagyabhyam is translated as non-attachment, freedom from desires, renunciation. Non-attachment is not the same as indifference or having a lack of appreciation for life. It isn’t asking us to give up all possessions, or to be dull and lose our incentive, but instead to let go of the mental attachment to the possessions and desires. Swami Satchidananda said, “When we have nothing to possess, we have nothing to worry about. All worry is due to attachments and clinging to possessions”.
Now onto the “movements of the consciousness” part of the original sutra. What does that mean? In my classes I refer often to the thoughts in our head being like the glitter in a snow globe, often swirling around. Desires are the cause of the swirling of the mind, causing the “movements of the consciousness”. When the mind is tossed around by desires of one thing after another, there won’t be peace in the mind.
The twin pillars of practice and non-attachment enable us to find peace in the mind. Go ahead, celebrate life, respect and enjoy life, while remembering that everything changes, and everything is transitory, and non-attachment stops us from getting too enmeshed and hurt when change happens.