I had seen birth and death,But had thought they were different; this Birth wasHard and bitter agony for us, like Death, our death.We returned to our place, these Kingdoms,But no longer at ease here, in the old dispensation…
— T. S. Eliot
In today’s entry, Gates relates the above passage from “Journey of the Magi” about the birth of Christ to explain the concept of vairagya once more. Why revisit this? He clarifies that it’s about our perception of what we may be renouncing, giving up, or shifting.
To compare changing something about ourselves or our lives to death might sound dramatic. For some, even small changes can feel like a huge effort. But for those familiar with sensing when something feels off—whether in our bodies, minds, or environments—change is more like rearranging furniture to refresh the space. We think, “This room could use a new vibe,” so we move a chair, swap out a pillow, and so on.
Through yoga and other practices, we become more aware of subtle imbalances. It’s less about drastic measures, like a restrictive diet or surgery to avoid health issues, and more about gradual adjustments that bring us into alignment. By the time we’re asked to switch from regular Coke to Coke Zero, it’s a much easier shift.
The point is, when we recognize where we’re out of alignment—whether with our highest good, our community, or our family—we’re more willing to make changes that help us feel our best. Change is inevitable, and resisting it is futile. While some may experience change as a kind of death, the practice of vairagya helps us see it more as a rebirth.
Yoga, for me, highlights where I’ve been rigid or stuck—clinging to the idea that my way is the “right” way, often out of fear or stubbornness. Think about how we’re taught what’s “right” from a young age. Veering off that familiar path to create a new one that aligns with who we are in the present can feel like an impossible task, especially if it contradicts our family’s values. But without the trailblazers and paradigm-shifters, where would we be?
Change takes courage, but not as much as we might think. Small steps on a new path can lead us to places we never imagined were best for us. Looking back, we see the growth and positive changes that brought us here. That’s the self-awareness yoga provides—the permission to release what no longer serves us, to shed old beliefs that no longer match our energy.
For some, self-awareness may spark major changes; for others, smaller ones. Either way, we are meant to experience small "deaths" and "births" more often than we realize. Life will undoubtedly bring the capital-D Deaths and capital-B Births, but it’s also filled with lowercase moments of transformation.
Namaste, and thank you for reading!
Lauri
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