Satvada

Essay on the metaphysics of satvada, or the interplay between external/internal and tangible/ephemeral / 2013/3/3

The choice is yours.

In yoga everything is real: the waking world, dreams, fantasies, thoughts, emotions, and the formless void of deep sleep. This is called satvada in Sanskrit. And there is a constant interplay between the intangible things of the internal world and the more tangible things of the external world, with transformations and translations happening in both directions.

Everything is real, but only the things you treat as real can truly come alive. Some realms may have less continuity or solidity but those also have greater freedom and transformative power. If you develop your powers responsibly there, they will emerge into the more concrete contexts. And if you embrace rather than resist the apparent pain and suffering of the so called mundane contexts, its structure, richness, and gravitas will thread its way into the ephemeral ones.

If you behave consistently in every realm, then gradually you will infuse them all with the power, purpose, and intent of your consciousness, and the whole of your being will become fully integrated.

However, you may find it safer and more convenient to split your being into different contexts with different attributes. Sometimes distillation, sedimentation, and precipitation can teach you important lessons or be a respite. Just don't mistake them for the default, primary, or ultimate (hyper-meta) context.

The choice is yours.

Author's Note

I don't see an option for essay so I listed this as a story