Our minds yield the power to create our world. Yoga Vasistha, a scripture on the nature of the mind and the world, says, “The mind alone is the creator of the world. Whatever appears in one’s consciousness gets established and bears fruits.”
How do we tap into this inherent power of the mind?
Follow the Intention - Attention - Manifestation formula. Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar explains briefly, “Have an intention, offer it to the universe, and then have patience.” Here are some yogic secrets that can help you carry out the ‘Intention - Attention - Manifestation’ formula.
Turn your desire into an intention
You have a dream. Great! Now, it is time to give wings to your dream. So that it can fly and take shape. What stops a desire from manifesting is the pandora of emotions it carries with itself. Nervousness to jealousy to anger to sadness, depending on the stage of your desire and the object you desire. The nervous racing thoughts and cracked-up emotions that a desire creates within you weaken the mind. And a weak mind cannot manifest what you want.
- Letting go of the pandora
How do you battle with your cloud of cracked emotions? By not fighting at all. When you meditate, you get a chance to witness your emotions rather than being caught up with them. That is why meditation helps to balance them. Along with meditation, also pray. When you pray, you naturally calm down your nervous system.
When you finally let go of the agitation, you allow your desire to turn into an intention, a strong & steady plane ready to take off.
Attend to your intention the right way
Suppose you want to grow a plant. You sow a seed at a perfect distance from the topsoil. Sowing it too deep or too near the surface will not allow the seed to sprout. You will even be cautious about how much you water it. No water or too much water can also stop the plant from growing.
Growing an intention into reality works on the same principle. Procrastination or overwhelming yourself into inaction equates to giving no water to your seedling. Similarly, stressing yourself too much and too often for your goal equates to too much water.
The way you attend to your intention makes all the difference. Walk towards it with confidence and a certain composure, and you now stand a chance to bring your dream into reality. Break your big dream into smaller goals and make an action plan, and then bring the right attention to your intention.
Breathe out the stress
There are going to be tough times in your journey towards your goal, and being calm and confident during those times is going to be hard. Stress can hit your physical and mental health too. A yogic tool for stress relief and mental resilience prepares you for the arduous journey ahead. The Sudarshan Kriya breathing technique is one such yogic technique that has numerous proven benefits including reduced stress and anxiety.
- Persevere with honor
Rishi Patanjali in the Yogasutras says, “This (the practice of yoga) becomes firmly established in you when you attend to it for a long time without interruption.”
Achieving your dream goal will require persistent efforts. If you want to lose weight, you must exercise and take the right diet daily. Or, if you wish to master a subject or art, you need to practice the art and problems of that subject daily. Whatever you set out to do, do it with honor. When you honor your exercise, or diet, or art, you are bound to love your practice. Even the lunch salad becomes crunchier and more delicious. Your practice will never become a burden or a chore that you wish you did not have to do.
- Have faith
Faith is one yogic secret that most are doubtful about. But it is the most powerful step you can take towards your dream and generally in life. Faith strengthens you. When you have faith that no matter what, the best will happen, then it somehow does.
- Drop your attachment to the result
This is a yogic secret revealed by Lord Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita. He says,
“Work must be done as a yajna to the Supreme Lord; otherwise, work causes bondage in this material world. Therefore, O son of Kunti, for the satisfaction of God, perform your prescribed duties, without being attached to the results.”
When you drop your attachment to the result, you allow yourself to fail and try again. You don’t create stress and anxiety that hinder your progress toward your dream. Most importantly, you don’t let your mind fly into the future and worry if you’ll get where you want. Your attention is in the present, with your practices and action plan, which will help you get there.
Frequently Asked Questions on Secrets of Yoga
You can manifest your goal through the principles prescribed by Yoga. Not by yoga asanas alone. Those can definitely help you feel calmer and mentally stronger through your journey of manifestation.
Meditate to let go of the attachment. Remind yourself of Lord Krishna’s words in the Bhagavad Gita: “You can only exercise the right to work towards your dream. The results do not belong to you. They belong to the Divine.”
No. Once you take the bus to your destination, you don’t keep thinking about it. Once you have committed to an action plan, follow it with patience and faith.
