In Chapter 1, Verse 12 of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras the concept of Vairagya is mentioned. Broken down the word means "Drying up of the passions and desires". Often times it is simply referred to as "non-attachment".
I mention the idea of non-attachment in probably every one of my yoga classes. I just love the idea of completely releasing all expectations, judgments, fears, anxieties, etc. to fully ease the mind. Most students come into class with an idea of what a specific posture looks like, but I encourage them to let that image go. Allow yourself to practice non-attachment, quiet down your judgments, and fulfill the posture as it is meant to be lived through your own body.
In order for students to stay completely present in their practice, I encourage them to release attachments from events from the past and attachments to expectations for the future. All we have is the present moment. As cheesy as it may be, I just adore the quote, "Today is a gift. That's why we call it the present." It's the ultimate in cheese, but it is so true. Why live in the past? Or have your head in the future? All you have is what is right in front of you. Why not embrace it??
Enough said. I'm obviously a big fan of Vairagya, non-attachment. However, it's not the easiest concept to embrace in our society. We look in the mirror every morning and point out flaws in our appearance. There's always something we feel can be or should be fixed in our personal presentation. We dwell on events from the past and wish we could have said or done something differently. The future is something we're constantly dreaming about and planning for.
I'm guilty of all of the above. If I'm having a "bad hair day" before I go to work, I have a small panic attack. (Just remember that I sweat for a living!) On a regular basis I dwell on past conversations I had with people. Should I have said this rather than that? And worst of all, I'm a planner. I'm constantly wondering where I'll be in a year, 5 years, 10 years.
But what happens when we release our inner critic, let go of unchangeable events from the past, and dive head first into the future without expectations? Nothing. At least nothing bad. The world will not collapse and crumble. Instead, you might notice the opposite. You world might open up to bigger and better things. You just open up the opportunity to live a fuller life.
"Attachment is the great fabricator of illusions; reality can be attained only by someone who is detached"
-Philosopher, Simone Weil
