October 25, 2015

I was always reluctant to set goals. I was much more interested in going with the flow of life and seeing where I ended up. And then a few things happened to impact this idea. In my late 20s I considered taking a professional development course laid out in a number of modules over three years. I chose not to take it, thinking that I would not know what could happen over the time of the course. Would I change jobs or move, for example. Then, three years (and maybe more) passed, anyway and I did not have the designation the course would have provided. This was an interesting lesson. Time passes regardless of the decisions one makes.

Next, in my early 30s a friend challenged me to layout a 10-year plan. Ten years, I remember thinking, how can I possibly know what will happen in ten years! With much resistance, I did however sit down to create a picture of what I would like my life to look like 10 years in the future. When the plan was finished, I found it surprisingly exciting to have this idea of what I wanted life to look like in the future. It was a road map that had room for detours but it directed and focused my attention in an unexpected way.

The yoga philosophy talks about intention in two specific ways. One is the san kalpa and it means a concept or idea formed in the heart or mind. It is a definite intention, a one-pointed resolve to do or achieve. It is often used during a deep relaxation process called Yoga Nidra and many teachers may suggest students set this intention at the beginning of a practice or class.

Drishti is the focusing of the gaze for the means of concentration. It is where the eyes are directed to settle in a yoga pose. This calm focus for the eyes is related to pratyahara, the withdrawal of the senses from the outer world to the inner world and concentrating the awareness there. It may also be a reference to the way that we clarify and direct our attention or gaze when setting goals.

In both concepts, there is a call to direct consciousness for the specific purpose of awakening.

So, at the beginning of a new phase, or project, or year, or season or day or asana / meditation / pranayama practice, there is an opportunity to focus or re-focus our gaze and direct our action toward a specific purpose. The beginning of this contemplation process is a appropriate time to clarify our vision and how we will direct our energy forward. Here are some questions to sit with or to free write around or to hold in your heart. I look forward to your sharing around these.

Intention:
What is my relationship to intention setting and the directing of energy or effort toward a particular end point?
What is the intention for my spiritual practices and how do we measure progress on the path?

How do I want my life to look in two, five or ten years?

How can I use intention to deepen my experience during asana / meditation / pranayama practices?