Yogic sages would agree that the first-century Rabbi
Hillel’s questions are worth asking:
If I am not for myself, who will be for me?
If I am only for myself, what am I?
If not now, when?The true purpose of yoga is to discover that aspect of
your being that can never be lost. Your job may change,
your relationships may change, your body may change, your
beliefs may change, your desires may change, your ideas
about your role in the world may change, but the essence
of who you are is the continuity of awareness that has no
beginning or end. Your thoughts, beliefs, expectations,
goals, and experiences may come and go, but the one who
is having the experiences—the experiencer—remains.
As you progress in your practice, you may find that the
answers to the questions, Who am I? What do I want? and
How can I serve? emerge from a deeper layer of your
being. You may find your sense of identity changing,
reflecting a more expanded view of your self. You may
find your desires becoming less personal. As your concept
of self expands, your concern about others may simulta-
neously increase. You may discover a deepening aspiration
to make a contribution to your community and your
world. This expansion of self-awareness is the essence
of yoga.
Soul Questions 29