Vairagya (Detachment)
Today, I found myself swept up in the whirlwind of my thoughts, running from one impulse to the next, almost without awareness. It was fascinating to observe how easily I acted on these compulsions and wasted a whole day getting distracted by random things. It made me wonder, how can I catch myself during this whirlwind, detach from it & realign?
What do the yoga sutra’s have to say about this?
अभ्यासवैराग्याअभ्यांतन्निरोधः
abhyāsavairāgyābhyāṃ tannirodhaḥ || Patanjali Yoga Sutra, 1.12
“Practice by non-attachment thus we can control our mental activities.”
We come across the concept of detachment - Vairagya. And this detachment is always exercised with Viveka (discernment). So we are not always detached and floating in outer-space but CHOOSING - discerning when to exercise detachment. i.e. to manage the activities of the mind.
So, it is letting go of whatever you’re doing in that moment, noticing your compulsions and then choosing to break the cycle. In this situation, that might look like getting up and just shaking/moving the body for a few minutes instead of a 60 min yoga practice. Maybe just stopping and taking 20 conscious breaths. Choosing consciousness over compulsions.
The Suffering of Avidya (Ignorance)
A key yogic teaching is that suffering, or dukkha, stems from avidya, which means ignorance or incomplete understanding. We often act without full awareness of how one action influences the next. It’s like throwing a pebble into a pond—the ripples extend far beyond the point of impact. When we behave kindly to someone, we pass that positive energy forward, influencing their next interaction with someone else.
But the opposite is also true: when we act out of impatience or frustration, we create negative ripples that extend into the world. Every decision we make leaves a residue, affecting not only our future actions but also the energy we bring into the lives of others.
So when that mind is running all over the place and we have a hundred things to do - especially at these times, it becomes really important to take a step back and realign our intentions.
Dhyana (Meditation): A Quiet, Alert Consideration
This brings me to the practice of dhyana, or meditation. Meditation is more than just sitting quietly; it’s about developing a sharp, focused awareness of our thoughts and actions. When we meditate, we are clearing the “glass” through which we perceive the world, allowing us to see things as they truly are. This clarity prevents us from acting impulsively or in avidya (Ignorance).
By cultivating this quiet, alert consideration, we learn to pause before reacting. We create space between impulse and action, and in that space, we find freedom from compulsion.
As Victor Frankl said - “Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom"
So, we meditate not just on a cushion, away from the realities of our life but DURING it! Moment to moment.
Through the practice of dhyana and mindfulness, we develop our own methods for making decisions. We learn to understand our behaviours and impulses without being enslaved by them. What are the patterns of thoughts and actions that we cycle through on a day to day basis?
Yoga gives us the tools to become our own guides. With practice, we cultivate the ability to listen to our inner wisdom and make choices that align with our deeper values, rather than being driven by fleeting desires or emotions.
Clarity
Ultimately, yoga is about cultivating clarity. When our perception is clear, we act with intention rather than impulse. This clarity allows us to avoid actions that create dukkha or regret. It’s not always easy, and I certainly don’t always succeed, as my mind’s whirlwind today reminded me. But this practice is ongoing, and every time we catch ourselves, we have the opportunity to return to stillness and clarity.
In a world that often pulls us in a thousand different directions, it offers us a way to ground ourselves. To observe the flow of thoughts, to detach from compulsions, and to act with awareness.
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The journey isn’t about perfection; it’s about learning to see clearly and act wisely in each moment. I see it all as a Sadhana (practice) whether through meditation, asana, philosophy & contemplation or just - Life. It’s all Yoga. And sometimes Detachment is powerful and it's a skill worth practising if we are to apply it in life.