Īśvara-praṇidhāna – surrender/dedication to God

Jim Tarran

When yoga teachers talk about being non-competitive, this does not reflect some utopian idealism, but a down-to-earth pragmatism. A sense of space provides sufficient disentanglement from our formations, compulsion lessens, and the opportunity to respond begins. This is the beginning of what yoga poetically describes as ‘Ishvara Pranidhanna’: surrender or dedication to God, or handing over to intuitive, creative action.

This is a deep meditative feeling, which has a wisdom to it, that, because of its immediacy, has little to do with preconception, yet, feels limitlessly and deep ‘knowing’. Because of its direct relationship with the present, there is no battle between self and other, and therefore it feels, unlimited energised and lifted.

Quotes

You shouldn’t chase after the past or place expectations on the future.
What is past is left behind.
The future is as yet unreached.
Whatever quality is present you clearly see right there, right there.
Not taken in, unshaken, that’s how you develop the heart.
Ardently doing what should be done today, for — who knows? — tomorrow death.
There is no bargaining with Mortality & his mighty horde.
Whoever lives thus ardently, relentlessly both day & night, has truly had an auspicious day: so says the Peaceful Sage.

— The Buddha