What's the point?

One-pointed focus is the holy grail of many practices. In yoga, dhārana has varyingly been described as one-pointed awareness, concentration, focus… It precedes the absorptive, blissful states that we yearn for. Modern mindfulness, with its emphasis on dealing with this moment in time, adapts the meaning of focus accordingly. It is to be non-judgemental, practiced “in a particular way.” In this era, multitasking, headaching and having one’s attention pulled in any which way is part of the parcel of being human. One-pointed focus is a luxury, is it not?

 My question is: do we need discipline to achieve one-pointed focus? Or do we need focus to cultivate discipline? The answer is probably: a bit of this, a bit of that. How predictably opaque. No wonder we wander.

Which is where āsana comes in, my friend. Our body draws our attention effortlessly if we but listen. Slowing down for the sake of slowing down was never the point. Turning inwards for the sake of turning inwards was never the point. The point is what we slow down for, the point is where we turn in to. And that point? It contains the world. Remember Blake? The world in a grain of sand, no less. Except the grain of sand is infinitely smaller, more elusive. Like sand rushing through our fingers, like our life.

So zooming in in order to zoom out? Sure, it can leave you in a bit of a spin. But in the spin cycle, your dirty laundry gets done. Now all you have to do is fold it up neatly and put it back into the drawer.

Begin with āsana, begin with breath. Allow yourself to be drawn in to that one point, the origin of all. There is deep rest there, energetic resource that is our birthright.

ENERGY BOOST mini-course 18th-27th May 2021. Book via email or Request recording.