“A state in which the aspirant is one with the object of his meditation.” — B.K.S. Iyengar
Gates reflects on what is known in yoga as a drishti, or gazing point, by sharing a story about the training Crazy Horse, the famous Sioux warrior, received as a child. Each day, young Crazy Horse roamed the plains with his friends, learning to ride, hunt, and find food—not just for himself but also for those in need within his community. At the end of each day, he was asked to describe, in vivid detail, everything he had observed: the texture of tree bark, the calls and behaviors of birds, the plants he encountered—eventually identifying over 2,000 species.
The lesson? Crazy Horse’s upbringing required him to truly see his world. His education on the plains demanded unwavering attention to the living beings around him. Imagine if we approached each moment of our own lives with that same depth of focus. Take, for example, the familiar ritual of making or grabbing coffee in the morning. What if we fully immersed ourselves in every step? The sound of beans hitting the grinder, the whirring as they spin, the rich scent of freshly ground coffee. Or, if using pre-ground coffee, the sound of scooping it from the bag and the gentle pour into the filter.
It reminds me of that famous scene from Ally McBeal. Courtney Thorne-Smith’s character is about to take her first sip of coffee when Ally interrupts, saying, “You were just about to drink this cappuccino like most men make love—skipping over all the foreplay.” The scene unfolds as a playful, suggestively sensual ode to savoring each moment, and it’s surprisingly relevant here. The deliberate slowing down, the act of holding the cup, smelling the aroma, and engaging the senses before taking the first sip—this is exactly what Gates encourages us to do in this entry.
But how does this connect to our drishti? To establish a steady gaze, we must first fully experience the object of our gaze. Then, we must align this external focus with internal stillness. How does our body respond? Are we breathing naturally, or holding our breath? Is our gaze laser-sharp, or softly focused? Are we struggling to quiet our thoughts, or allowing them to dissipate gently?
Noticing how we notice becomes an essential part of the practice. Does awareness begin with finding our drishti, or do we become attuned to our body and mind first, allowing the drishti to follow? It doesn’t really matter, as long as we feel present in the moment. By shifting from macro to micro awareness—whether during yoga, making coffee, or simply being—we become one with the experience.
In this way, every activity becomes a classroom. When we pay attention to the smallest details, we cultivate a deeper connection to the wholeness both within and around us.
Namaste, and thank you for reading!
Lauri
©Lauri Stern - Custom Designed Wellness
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