As human beings, in order to experience this cosmic creativity affecting our life, we have only to become aware. In awareness there is perception, cognition, understanding, wisdom and right action. Awareness is the key. Awareness is not an activity of the mind that we experience in our daily life. It is an inherent attribute of consciousness.

It is the essence of consciousness, and we have to move towards realizing that consciousness, realizing the essence of that cosmic energy or prana. That is the mantra of yoga. If awareness had no role to play in our life, we would not even talk about it. Yogis would not even mention it. We are conscious beings, so why is there so much emphasis on awareness?

This awareness has to span the gross, subtle and spiritual dimensions, all three at the same time. There is awareness of the mental process, the mental thoughts and expressions and the inner emotions, as well as awareness of how we can relate to our environment and how we can use the changes and situations to experience harmony.

Not all paths are covered with flowers; there are thorns too. When we feel we are being sucked into negativity or when we feel we are moving towards positivity, at that moment we have to make an attempt to find our balance inside.

Too much positivity is not good and a little negativity is not bad. A coin has too sides. Our life has two poles. Awareness helps us to follow the middle path. That is the statement of the Chandogya Upanishad: “Walk straight.”

United Kingdom, June 8–11 2000

 From the book “Yoga Sadhana Panorama Vol.4”, pg.146-147, Sw. Niranjanananda Saraswati