What is loss? It is a very powerful word which encompasses many subjects. It has a great many meanings. How do we understand and perceive it? Loss relates to when we identify with our anxieties and insecurities. We lose our sense of clarity and we are faced with disillusionment and uncertainty. When we relate to this, we kill our self.

Loss of harmony is when we are not able to adjust and adapt with our environment, or with another person. What is the source? It is because of frustration, anger and disdain. We are again victims of disharmony. How do we restore our sense of harmony? We practice Kartavyaparayanta (be ever ready to perform tasks without resentment). No, we must develop the attitude of karma (action) yoga. Karma Yoga is that our senses are performing karmas, our mind is performing karmas and our life is performing karma. It is our resentment free attitude which enables us to develop greater self-awareness. This behavior pattern according to Sri Krishna leads to inner purification defined as Atman Shuddhi.

Facing the eternal battles in life, is a way of handling loss. Sri Krishna tells Arjuna that an individual has to face life, accept it and fight at every step. See life as it unfurls itself. There is constant conflict within us. Conflict has to be faced with a Yogic attitude and this leads to the awareness of central consciousness which is within us and it is the source of our Yoga Sadhana.

Some quotes by great writers, which will help us to understand loss.

There are far better things ahead than any we leave behind. – C.S. Lewis

No one ever told me that grief felt so much like fear.

You cannot prevent the birds of sorrow from flying over your head, but you can prevent them from building a nest in your head. – Old Chinese Proverb.

When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight. – Khalil Gibran

Tears water our growth. – Shakespeare

Everything you look at can become a fairy tale and you can get a story from everything you touch. – Hans Christian Anderson

What does this mean? Loss matures us and we can look upon each of our experiences as stepping stones across the river of liberation. By embracing a Yogic life, it is possible for us to come to terms with our ongoing life.

Aim Hrim Klim

Photo by Jonatán Becerra on Unsplash