Patanjali Yoga Sutras 1.23 īśvara-praṇidhānād-vā

Verse Commentary – Surrender to the Divine by Joseph le Page

In the previous sutras, we see that deep samadhi requires faith in awakening, vitality for the journey, mindfulness and consistency in practice, gradually unfolding as wisdom and clarity. Sutra 1.23 presents another doorway to awakening through Īśvara praṇidhāna, surrender to the Divine Source, the intelligence at the heart of creation’s majesty, which is simultaneously our own true Being. This does not mean that the qualities that support samadhi are no longer necessary, but that through alignment with the source from which they spring, they unfold naturally from within our own Being.

For through surrender to the Divine, we become one with the source and seed of all things, one with the stream of spiritual awakening that naturally carries us home to reunite with our own true Being. And surrender to the Divine, far from being a spiritual fantasy, is simply the recognition of reality, for the scale of creation is so vast, beyond all fathoming, that our entire life journey is barely a flicker in eternity. But as we gradually transcend the conditioned personality, forever bound to “I” and “me,” we awaken to the essence of Divinity and begin to live and breathe through a vision of Unity. And in Unity we recognize ourselves as one with the whole of creation, one with the universal order of all things, one with the wisdom that allows us to clearly see that we are the very truth we seek.

Yet the journey is not easy, for surrender requires complete personal responsibility, the willingness to face life’s challenges honestly and release the limiting beliefs that veil our true nature as Unity. For Īśvara is also present as karma, the law of skillful and unskillful thoughts, words and deeds, through which we gradually discern the choices that deepen suffering and those that lead to awakening. Within the laws of creation, pleasure has its place, yet we cannot blame Divinity when we repeatedly grasp the thorns of attachment while seeking only the fragrance of the rose, which inevitably leads to suffering. But when we choose to open our eyes and see life clearly as a journey of learning and healing, Īśvara guides and supports us at each step of the way with the greatest blessing of all, the gift of Divine grace. And, we need not be perfect to live in Unity, only committed to transformation and learning, using every step to recognize the thoughts and beliefs that create suffering and those that lead toward awakening.

Patanjali Yoga Sutras: Unity and Simplicity

Within this vision of Unity, embodied in surrender to Divinity, our beliefs and priorities are transformed naturally, and the excessive focus on “I” and “me” gradually gives way to living for the good of all beings. And as we walk the path of Unity more steadily, a natural synchronicity unfolds, where the voice of the Divine quietly guides our choices and activities toward the unfolding of our unique gifts and possibilities. For living in Unity, all feelings of defectiveness and low self-esteem are released, for how can there be anything lacking when we are the whole, one with the Divine heart and essence of all that exists?

In alignment with Unity and our own inner Being, we discover a natural simplicity, so that instead of trying to fill ourselves up externally, we open to every moment of life as a gift and a blessing. Living in simplicity and synchronicity, stress, confusion and inner conflict are gradually released, allowing us to live with open hearts and open minds, every step an integral part of the journey of healing. And within this vision of Unity, samadhi, far from being a meditation method or technique, is a homecoming to who we truly are and have always been, one with the heart of Divinity which is our own true Being. As we embody this vision of Unity, suffering is gradually released, allowing us to recognize that the purpose and meaning of our entire life journey is to live and breathe in the ever-present embrace of Divinity. And even at death, nothing is lost, for it is only coming home to that which we have always been, a drop of water merging with the river of life, returning at last to Unity, the infinite ocean of Being, the Source of all things.

Reflection: What is the role of Īśvara in your life and Yoga practice? How do you conceive of surrender and what role does it play in your spiritual journey?

About Joseph Le Page, founder of Integrative Yoga

Joseph Le Page founded Integrative Yoga and Integrative Yoga Therapy in 1993, and is a pioneer in the field of Yoga therapy training programs. He began teaching yoga therapy in hospital settings in 1995 and continues up to the present as Director of The Healthy Heart Program, which conducts Yoga Therapy group programs in public health settings in Brazil.

Joseph has been a speaker at major conferences including Yoga Journal, the International Association of Yoga Therapists, the Kripalu Yoga Teacher’s Association, the International Association of Yoga and Ayurveda, and others. He is co-founder and director of the Enchanted Mountain Yoga Center in Garopaba, Brazil, one of the largest Yoga retreat centers in South America.

He is the co-author of the book Yoga Toolbox for Teacher and Students, one of the most widely used materials in teacher training programs in the US and in Brazil, published by Integrative Yoga. He is also co-author of the book Mudras for Healing and Transformation, also published by Integrative Yoga.