I love it when I come across an idea that I once found ridiculous, but now rediscovered, hits me smack in the face with its wisdom. Was the idea ridiculous or was it me?

In BKS Iyengar's seminal book Light On Yoga, one of the benefits of asana practice he outlines I found to be a silly idea, and I scoffed at when I first read it over 20 years ago. I came across the passage the other day and I was indeed in place of "hearing" the teaching.

The yogi does asana in order to experience different forms of life - be it animals ( ustrasana / camel ), sages ( mariciasana ) or gods ( hanumanasana ) - by putting his body in that form. The yogi recognize that, despite the difference in form, the essential nature of each being is the same: Life Force, Prana, God. In this way the yogi doesn't fall prey to the illusion that she is separate from other forms of life. "That which animates me animates All". From that understanding the yogi experiences inner integration and an interconnection with all beings. This is Peace. Living from this place of interconnection the yogi will put aside selfish desires and choose actions that are aimed at the common good. How could she do otherwise?

The deeper beauty asana practice affords is getting this interconnected realization on a cellular level. With our body. It's not just intellectual noodling about the nature of the Universe. It is a fundamental deep " body feeling / knowing " which seats us precisely Here, where we are, completely satisfied and content. This very moment in time, in this vast expanse of the Universe exists "me" and I am meant to be here and I am One with All That Is. What a gift.