An Epic Battle of Truth vs. Ego – The Meaning Behind the Warrior Poses
The Warrior poses can easily be the most iconic standing postures in yoga; ironically the mythology behind the pose itself (aka virabhadrasana), at face value, doesn’t seem like a very “yogi type” story.
The story centers around a love between two gods who’s unconditional love for one another was not met by the girl’s father. The father greatly disapproved of the man his daughter fell for and would purposely exclude him from family affairs. One day the fathers behavior put his daughter in such a rage that she burst into flames killing herself. Her lover was so angry he ripped a dreadlock from his head and threw it onto the ground. His dreadlock was transformed into Virabhadra (aka “great warrior” or “distinguished hero”). Virabhadra then carried out the lovers revenge by killing (beheading) the father.
The story goes on eventually bringing peace and forgiveness back to the household, but for the purposed of this blog we’re going to focus on the moral of the story which is truth vs ego.
Every day we wake up seeking our truth. We stand in the mirror brushing our teeth thinking through our day ahead, already applying expectations and most likely judgements to what’s to come. Will I be late? Will my co-workers show up? What needs to be done? Who do I need to talk to? Can I avoid this or that, or even a particular person? Maybe even play out conversations you know you will have, predicting how they will go, and then how you will react? Straight away you apply your truth/expectation, and therefore engaging your ego.
What happens if things don’t go your way, or how you anticipate they “should.” There’s really only two possibilities, either they will or they won’t.
What happens to your ego when confronted with element of surprise?
Now, what if you woke up with zero expectations, you had no pre-devised judgements. What if you woke up and started your day looking through a positive, more relaxed lens. Knowing not all your positive outlooks will come true, and that most likely your expectations of yourself and others will fail. And what if you were ok with that? Maybe even look forward to the element of surprise and notice how it could bring you to something greater. Maybe you position your ego in a way to crave that new adventure ahead – bringing you to a higher state of mind, an elevated self, a shining example of how great we can be.
There’s a Yoga Sutra (1.33) which is translated as such…..
“In order to preserve an elevated state of mind, be happy for those who are happy, cultivate compassion for those who are sad, feel delight for those deemed to be lucky [virtuous or righteous], and experience indifference toward those perceived to be wicked.”
Your ego is a part of you, it will always be a part of you, and it makes you your unique self. But you also need to be mindful of where it can lead you. My yoga teachers taught me that you’re always one breath from jealously, judgement and destruction; or you’re one breath from compassion, love and understanding.
Warrior poses are a reminder of the ferocity within you which can not only destroy but can also achieve the highest level of compassion and love. As in life, your yoga practice begins when things get tough.
With gratitude and excitement,
Namaste