By Marieke, The Netherlands
Table of Contents
Flying into a New Year: Cultivate the art of inner peace
My 15 year old cat, Quibus, loves to jump into my suitcase. He is fond of being in boxes, freshly laundered clothing, my bed, suitcases & backpacks. His action suggests he’s aware of my forthcoming departure, making a habit of settling into the suitcase, which complicates packing. It’s as if he senses my attachment to him. Once again, I’m preparing for a long term visit to India, torn by the difficulty of leaving him behind, feeling a strong sense of responsibility for his care without relying on others.
Preparations for my India journey proceed smoothly, except for concerns about the health of my 15-year-old companion. The last few weeks he didn’t seem so well so we visited the vet. A diagnosis of thyroid issues has him on medication, offering some relief. Thankfully, he’s back to purring contentedly in my lap during my morning meditation. While my Yoga teacher Vijay Gopala (Sage ViGo), told me better not to – as meditation better should be practised with oneself – but I cannot resist the presence of my best friends, especially in the quiet dawn hours. And above that Quibus knows the art of persuasion.
Thankfully, my parents have agreed to care for my aging, fragile, yet deeply beloved creature, allowing me to fully immerse myself in Yoga, in Life, without worry, and to cultivate the art of inner peace.
I literally fly into the year ahead, as my flight is on New Year’s Eve. I begin the year with a Pancha Kosha Meditation & Detoxification Retreat designed to rejuvenate and purify all five sheaths of my being. This transformative retreat, based on the profound Patanjali Yoga Sutras, has had a deep impact on me in the past, gently reminding me not to cling to concepts but to remain open. I have a strong sense that this time it will bring even greater change to my life. Somehow, I know it will…
Empty-Handed: The universal truth of attachment and loss
One of the things I experienced while traveling up and down between Netherlands and India is the many attachments. Showing in cultural concepts ‘How things should be’ as well as the things and persons I leave behind like family, friends and housemates (I live in a community), my cat, plants, food, that favourite dress which doesn’t do in India, the Dutch seasons etc. The same counts for the moment I arrive from India back home missing the daily cooked sattvic food, the tropical fruits&plants, the visibility of stars and moon in the darkness of the night, surroundings of the Yoga Gita Ashram I stay in, the teachings, the caring people there…and so on. Attachments on multiple levels which I come across in being in 2 cultures. And although I know the universal truth of attachment and loss, which we will have a look at in the coming paragraphs, living it is something different.
We arrive on this earth empty-handed, and we leave empty-handed as well. It’s a universal truth that we can’t carry any (physical) possessions or experiences beyond this life. However, despite this reality, we often find ourselves fixated on holding on to things, rather than letting go of them. Consider how effortlessly we receive our monthly salary without much thought, though any delay or reduction causes us worries, stress and agitation. We take comfort in watching our bank balances grow but feel uneasy when they drop.
We dedicate significant effort to accumulating and retaining possessions, but life itself operates without discrimination between gaining or letting go. So why do we experience such discomfort and imbalance when faced with loss?
The birth of a child fills us with joy, while the loss of a loved one brings sorrow. These emotional responses are rooted in our attachment to others and a sense of separation that makes us believe we can lose something. In reality, both gaining and losing are inherent parts of life’s natural flow and can be met with the same ease. When we don’t feel a sense of oneness, we experience separation from others, which leads to the fear of potential loss. In the next paragraph, we will explore how overcoming separation opens the way to the state of peace.
Beyond Boundaries: Embracing oneness and transcending loss for global peace
If we were to truly feel a sense of unity with all things, the notion of loss would become irrelevant. Most of the time, we experience a sense of unity within our own bodies. For instance, when the right hand holds your mobile and you pass it to the left, you do not feel as though you’ve lost the mobile. However, if somebody else were to take your mobile, you would feel that it’s gone. You might even report it to the police if someone took it without your permission. Now, imagine going to the police and stating, ‘My left hand stole my mobile from my right hand.’ They would likely consider you crazy and hand you over to a mental hospital.
If you were to zoom in from the macroscopic level of the body down to the microscopic level of cells, molecules, atoms, and beyond, you would encounter the smallest unit of existence. Everything around us is ultimately composed of this smallest particle. However, because we tend to perceive ourselves only within the confines of our individual bodies, we have constructed barriers that create a sense of separation, leading to the belief that we can experience loss.
Using breathing as an example: Does my neighbour take my oxygen by inhaling? Where does my exhalation go? Where are the boundaries of breathing? In a room with 30 people, our inhalation and exhalation interconnect us deeply, yet we still perceive ourselves as separate.
In the process of evolution leading to human beings, we gained the ability to transcend boundaries thanks to our self-awareness.
Scenario: Imagine a room with 30 hungry people. Fifteen bananas are brought in. Most would instinctively try to share them as fairly as possible, giving each person half a banana. But if that same room were filled with 30 monkeys, the strongest would likely grab most of the bananas, leaving some with nothing at all.
The progression from primates to Homo sapiens graced us with awareness, enabling us to sense oneness. Within this unity, there is no space for sadness, illness, strife, anger, or conflict. It is the true path to joy, contentment, ease, and liberation, which will be felt as expansion beyond borders. In this state of oneness, there are no opponents to fight, nor is there a concept of gain or loss – just as one hand cannot steal from the other. As a result, bananas will be shared equally, because the hunger of one is felt as the hunger of all. With this rise in consciousness, peace will establish itself globally.
This vision of oneness has always resonated deeply with me, guiding my choices and interactions.
Long before I formally encountered the path of Yoga, my life was already guided by the pursuit of harmony and peace. Whether between people, animals, or even in professional settings, I have instinctively sought to nurture harmony and equality.
Journey Within: Navigating the path to inner peace through Yoga
For as far back as I can recall, my quest has been for peace. Whether it was stepping between clashing classmates, engaging with bullies to stop their aggression, or even attempting to nurture harmony between quarrelling cats, I have always sought to sow seeds of peace. My professional path led me to work as a designer and purchaser for a Fair Trade company in gift, home & decor items, driven by the desire for universal equality and human rights.
In my travels across the world for business, I encountered extensive poverty and inequality, and alongside that, a prevailing sense of hopelessness arose in me. Despite our efforts, the impact we had on our partners and their workers seemed almost nothing, like drops lost in an ocean of societal challenges. After some years, I began to feel a conflict between my aspiration for greater global equity and the environmental impact of consumerist habits like buying gifts and home decor items.
I searched for peace in the world, but it always felt just out of reach. I realized the path I was on was not bringing me closer to it, so I made a change. Leaving my job, I started a journey to become a teacher, even though I was in my late thirties. My new mission was to raise awareness among the youth. Despite my efforts, I found myself disillusioned once more. It took time, but I came to realize that true peace, the kind that lasts, originates from within and then radiates outward.
In my search for ways to cultivate inner peace, Yoga appeared on my path. (More about that you can read in my earlier blog). What began with deep doubt, due to past experience blossomed into a firmly anchored knowing that Yoga is a true path of evolution. The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali are an immense gift to humanity. The truths they hold make it clear: if we could truly live them, both inner and outer peace would already have been established long ago. Yet, because of past conditioning and the entanglements of the mind, we are not yet able to embody these Sutras fully. Fortunately, I met Vijay (Sage ViGo) in this lifetime, who has a rare ability to translate the Patanjali Yoga Sutras into very practical guidance – both on the Yoga mat and in everyday life.
Now I have discovered that Yoga, for me, is the gateway to inner peace. So let’s dive a little deeper into it.
अथ योगानुशासनम्॥१॥
Atha Yoganuśāsanam||1||
Now the path of Yoga -union- is revealed
The word Yoga originates from the Sanskrit root “Yuj,” meaning to unite, which refers to merging the individual with the universal consciousness. Within Yoga, this unity embodies the alignment of body, energy, mind, wisdom, and soul – the integral layers of our existence, the five sheaths mentioned earlier.
Instead of chasing after peace in the outer world, Yoga teaches us to become the embodiment of peace itself. By delving deeper into this concept, we recognize that chasing external fulfilment implies its absence within. Thus, true peace emerges not from getting but from the realization that it already resides within us, waiting to be discovered through practices like Yoga.
Yet realizing peace within is not merely a philosophical insight, it becomes tangible when experienced in practice. On the Yoga mat, every posture invites us to embody this inner truth, showing us that peace is not something to achieve, but something to allow.
Effortless Peace: From the Yoga mat into daily life
When practicing Yoga on the mat, the goal is not simply to move from one posture to the next or complete a set sequence swiftly. The true essence lies in embodying the essence of each posture fully – transcending boundaries and dissolving the awareness of physical limitations – sensation of the mat beneath your feet. It is about merging seamlessly with the entire experience, something that can only unfold through a state of effortlessness.
This principle mirrors the very nature of existence itself. Consider a mango tree: Does it strain to produce its delicious fruit? Or observe a cat: Does it struggle to fall asleep after chasing a bird? No, in both cases, action arises effortlessly from a foundation of consciousness filled with its qualities such as satisfaction, stillness, joy, and abundance.
Sage Patanjali describes this effortlessness in Yoga Sutra II.47 as:
पर्यत्नशैÙथल्यानन्त्यसमापÙत्भ्याम् ॥४७ ॥
prayatna-śaithilya-ananta-samāpatti-bhyām
prayatna = continued effort, natural tendency for restlessness
śaithilya = decrease, relaxation, ease
ananta = infinite, eternal
samāpatti bhyām = merge, unite, coalescence
Translated it could be read as follows: “Mastery of an asana is achieved when the effort of performing it dissolves, allowing one to connect with the infinite essence within.”
In one of Vijay’s teachings, he explained ananta-samāpatti-bhyām as the state where alignment with all dissolves duality. In such a state, there is no sense of separation between oneself and the other, and nothing can truly shake you. And isn’t that the deeper essence of peace? Nothing has the power to unsettle or disturb you, neither past experiences nor future desires. No life situation brings unbalance or resistance. Simply being in the present moment embodies what we call inner peace.
Yoga does not remain confined to the mat. Life itself places situations before us that test our ability to live what we have practiced – moments that invite us to embody effortlessness, peace, and oneness in the very heart of human experience. Sounds simple enough on the mat, until life steps in. So, here we go…
Parting Paths: Farewell to love, farewell to yesterday
I’m three weeks into my journey in India when I receive a call, something very unusual, from my mother. They’re at the vet because Quibus has been unwell for a few days. Sadly, they’ve learned that his condition has worsened to the point where it’s kinder to end his suffering and allow him to pass peacefully. Tears stream down our faces as my parents express their regret that I can’t be there for his final moments, unable to bid him a proper farewell (although I sensed it might be our last goodbye when I left, and I cherished that moment deeply). I empathize deeply with my parents as they bear the burden of this decision. It’s a meaningful moment of connection as we share in the pain of losing this beloved soul, this little black creature who has been a part of my life for so long.
I struggle with the sadness of his absence and mourn the loss of this beautiful soul, who would often leap onto my shoulders and snuggle into my neck. Although I know he is now free from the pain and difficulties of his final days, letting him go was not easy. It’s a reminder of the inner work I still need to undertake – precisely why I find myself here at Yoga Gita Ashram: to establish, bit by bit, a deeper sense of oneness and non-attachment.
This doesn’t mean not caring, but rather being with both the love and the pain of losing Quibus to be present as part of my life. Not clinging to the sadness, nor laughing it away because of some idea of how non-attachment should look. The practice is simply to be effortless with the tears and the pain – and in that, to discover that an overwhelming thankfulness arises toward life itself.
So there we go… losing Quibus reminded me that non-attachment is not about withdrawing from love, but about allowing life to move as it does. And this truth reaches far beyond personal loss – it is woven into the very laws of nature.
Non-attachment: Space for newness - where endings become beginnings
If we try to hold on to everything in life, it leads to chaos. Though that can be a hard truth to accept, especially after losing a loved one, life is not meant to be clung to or approached with excessive attachment.
Picture that mango tree again, now stubbornly clinging to its ripe fruits, refusing to let them fall. In such a scenario, picking a ripe mango would be a struggle. Or worse, if none of the fruits were released, it would lead to a messy, rotten, and sticky unpleasant-smelling disaster. The truth is, many of us behave like these sticky stubborn mango trees, unwilling to let go of things, ideas, or past memories. This clinging consumes our physical, energetic and mental bodies, hindering the potential of newness and creativity in life.
If you observe the mango tree, you’ll notice it naturally releases its fruits once they’ve ripened, allowing space for new ones to grow. This reflects the fundamental law of nature, which applies equally to us as human beings. Just as the tree creates space for new growth, we too can find freedom in letting go.
Consider the analogy of a carafe filled to the brim with water, leaving no room for anything else, even delicious mango juice (assuming it’s made from a non-sticky mango tree!). Once the water is poured out, the carafe becomes receptive to anything, ready for endless possibilities. Similarly, in our lives, clinging onto things prevents us from embracing new opportunities. By releasing attachments, we create space for rejuvenation. The space that opens through letting go becomes the ground for creation. All around us, life reflects this truth.
This principle extends far beyond material possessions. It includes actions, relationships, identities, thoughts, and concepts – any influence that occupies space within us.
By letting go of attachments, we free ourselves from unnecessary burdens and begin to experience a deeper sense of freedom. This freedom allows us to welcome what is yet to come – the unknown. A freedom that opens space to fully immerse ourselves in the fresh and the new.
Ancient Truths: A new life in a peaceful world
It truly feels like a new beginning now that my beloved cat won’t be by my side anymore. While it’s heartbreaking, it also offers a practical freedom and space – no more need to arrange care. It’s one less thing to be emotionally attached to, but in exchange, there are cherished, sweet memories.
The images we hold onto shape our future based on the past, fulfilling our expectations. Yet, life unfolds unpredictably, offering fresh and new experiences. Just as a tree never grows identical mangoes twice, each moment is unique. It will never give birth to Quibus again or bring back the exact moment from an hour ago. Remaining receptive to this constant newness and avoiding the imposition of our past or future enables us to truly open our eyes to life’s ever-refreshing essence.
If we embody newness itself, our focus won’t linger on the things that set us apart due to cultural or religious interpretations. We’ll embrace others as an extension of ourselves. And move beyond conventional judgements of good or bad, right or wrong, likes or dislikes.
Such a mindset inevitably leads us towards greater inner peace and a more harmonious connection with others. Then we are able to spread our wings – allowing water to pearl off our feathers, emptying the carafe, avoiding being sticky mangoes – and flying into a New Life within a world of peace.
And now, here’s the twist:
To step into this sparkling newness, all we really need to do… is embrace the oldest wisdom we have. Yes, the Patanjali Yoga Sutras. Ancient, thousands of years old.
The irony? By living these timeless – yet never spoiled – truths, life becomes new in every single moment. Inner peace takes root as our foundation, and from there it radiates outward like ripples on water. It spreads through laughter and freedom, until even so-called enemies find themselves sharing a freshly effortlessly picked mango together.
About the author
The emergence of the first blossom in spring is a delightful spectacle to me – beautiful, fascinating; year after year, moment after moment. Each bud knows exactly what it must do to become a perfect flower or a delicious fruit. And then, with complete surrender, it lets go and becomes one with Mother Earth again.
Sometimes, I wish that, as a human, I also knew in such detail which movements I need to make. At times, my movements seem to follow a clear path; at other times, it is my rational mind and emotions that appear to determine my dance of life.
Within every person resides the same enormous potential as in a flower bud. I would love to see every person fully blossom, surrendering just like the spring blossom – so that everyone shines -and in doing so, we make the world a more beautiful place together.
That’s why I created blossomYou.nl, a space dedicated to supporting your journey towards unfolding your full potential through art and expression.
Fully blossoming, how do we do that as humans? That is a good question. In my personal search for the art of living, nature, yoga, spirituality, and the arts continuously inspire me to find movements that bring energy, self-awareness, and direction.
Let’s blossom together and live in peace.
All love,
Marieke
2 thoughts on “Flying into Peace – Patanjali’s Ancient Teachings for a New Life on Earth”
Lovely to read this, thank you for sharing
Living peace and oneness for a world expressing that 🙏
thanks Marianne.
…And thank you aswell for all your inner and outer work for making this world more peaceful day by day. the beautiful Yoga space you have established in Arnhem, Netherlands is definitely contributing to that🌟