Before Yoga, there was Samkhya. The Philosophy that answers a lot, but only leaves a few questions. The below story is pure fiction. Let it shine a light on you!
And there was Light.
It was just light. It could not move, it could not learn, it was not alive.
It could not multiply, it could not transform.
But the Light Was. And the Light was Aware.
Everywhere around the Light there was Darkness.
The Darkness was Chaos. It could not move, it could not learn.
But the Darkness Was. And it had the potential to grow life.
And then the Light became aware of the Darkness.
There where it became aware of the Darkness came Action.
The Action was Change. It could not learn, it was not alive.
But the Action Was. And it had the potential to move.
And then the Light was aware that Action was to excessive to be maintained. In order to manifest a third element was required, that was capable of receiving the light. Thus came Cosmic Intelligence.
The Cosmic Intelligence was Balance. It could not move, it was not alive.
But the Cosmic Intelligence Was. And it had the potential to learn.
The Light was just light, it could not move. It could not learn, it was not alive, but it was Aware. And it was aware that the Darkness, the Action and the Cosmic Intelligence came together as a triangle. They became the Manifested.
The Light was just light, it could not multiply, it could not transform, but it could shine.
The Light shone on the Cosmic Intelligence as it was capable of receiving its light. And inside the Manifested it created a reflection. This reflection of the Light had intellectual qualities and was capable of thinking it was aware.
Now the Manifested could learn. The Manifested could move. The Manifested was alive. With all the qualities, it had the potential to multiply, it had the potential to transform. This transformation lead to the Manifested to have the potential to identify with itself.
The Manifested multiplied and transformed, multiplied more and transformed more. There where there was Darkness, now was a universe of endless Space, there was Fire, there were Earth, Water and Air.
The universe existed of suns and moons, planets and rocks.
In some places the transformation and multiplication ended, in other places it continued.
There came oceans and islands, mountains and rivers, ever changeful.
All of it was Matter and it could be sensed.
From the Cosmic Intelligence came the potential to sense other matter and the potential to act on it. From the Cosmic Intelligence came the potential to control these senses and actions.
The Manifested transformed from creation to creatures. Until it transformed to a creature that had all the potential.
Now here I am, with all the complexity of my personality, in the changeful chaotic balance which is my world.
Wondering… Who am I?
Wondering… What is my purpose?
Wondering… What is my potential?
Wondering… Can I connect with this Light inside of me?
If only there was a path to guide me…
Atha Yogānusāsanam