If you’ve ever read the 12 steps, the fifth niyama, or moral imperative of yoga, will look very familiar. Isvara pranidhana means surrendering to God. Just like “Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.”
Ishvara means God or the supreme being. Pranidhana means to devote, dedicate, or surrender.
The idea of surrendering to God is probably the biggest sticking point for people who enter 12-step programs. First, there’s the problem of believing this can be done. Then there’s the problem of doing it.
If they’re stuck on three, people who don’t believe in a sentient higher power face a real challenge getting to the other nine steps. However, some ideas from the Hindu tradition can help you find a relatable higher power.
Hindus often have an Ishta Devata or a personal, chosen deity they pray to. As Steve Briggs wrote in an article for Hinduism Today, the Ishta Devata “epitomizes their most cherished spiritual bond. It’s natural to find a personal God that is more appealing than the Advaitic (from the Hindu text the Advaita Vedanta) concept of a non-dualistic Absolute that never assumes individuality, remaining forever devoid of attributes.”
In other words, if a higher power seems too big or abstract to relate to, you can find a smaller, friendlier representative. Having grown up Catholic, I find this concept natural. Many Catholics are devoted to particular saints to whom they feel drawn. Technically, Catholics don’t worship the saints but ask them to intercede with God on their behalf.
How do you find an Ishta Devata? I turned to that reliable source, Reddit threads, to see what people said. You can follow a deity worshiped by your family or village, consult an enlightened guru, go to an astrologer and choose a deity based on your natal chart, or try out deities one by one and see which lasts. Some insist you will know your Ishta Devata in your heart and don’t need to consult outside sources. As one person posits, “There is one GOD, but it is up to us to give a form to pray, but the form does not care.” They compared choosing a form of God to eating rice—you can cook it in many ways, but your body will still digest it as a complex carbohydrate.
So maybe your Ishta Devata will be Jesus, a modern classic and easy to find many opportunities to worship. Or perhaps somebody else grabs you – Krishna, the Virgin Mary, Brigid, Celtic goddess of healing, or Shango, the West African deity of storms and virility. You may relate to a deity from your cultural roots or a different culture. This is your personal belief, and you don’t have to justify it or share it.
Now for part two. Surrendering to this deity.
The surprise for me here was that it’s not one-and-done. Surrendering happens over and over, deviating from my to-do list on a daily basis. Yes, I still make lists. I’m from the God-helps-those-who-help-themselves school. So, I make plans but prepare for frequent disruption. Not that those disruptions don’t often bother me. I’m not a saint!
While newly sober people are usually aware of our powerlessness over alcohol, when things are going well in our lives, we typically feel more powerful than we are. This is a survival mechanism, so we don’t go nuts thinking about how our luck can change at any second and that death is inevitable. Yikes. I’d rather be in control.
One time I stayed late after a self-help meeting talking to a squirrely guy in a dark parking lot. His life was completely fucked up, but I could see how he fought to believe he was still on top of things. I saw clearly how he was like a teeny tiny ant trapped in something sticky. And I realized, goddamn, we all are. NOT surrendering is an illusion and a waste of energy. Sure, we should try to direct our line of ants in the direction we want, but we can’t be sure whether we’re heading toward an enticing discarded watermelon or onto the long tongue of an anteater.
An early sponsor took me to the beach and pointed at the ocean. “Still feeling powerful?” she asked. “Stop the waves.”
We might as well align ourselves with the best force of good we can find. And then let go—at least a little.
Yoga is more than poses.
SOBRIETY IN FLOW: Discover a deeper aspect of yoga beyond the poses with Teresa Bergen. Explore the philosophy, ethics, and spiritual principles of yoga intertwined with sobriety. Dive into the transformative power of the yamas, enhancing character and relationships. Join Teresa monthly for insights on how yoga and meditation can guide our paths to recovery and clarity.
A Disco Ball is Hundreds of Pieces of Broken Glass, Put Together to Make a Magical Ball of Light. You are NOT Broken, Friend. You are a DISCO BALL!
Resources Are Available
If you or someone you know is experiencing difficulties surrounding alcoholism, addiction, or mental illness, please reach out and ask for help. People everywhere can and want to help; you just have to know where to look. And continue to look until you find what works for you. Click here for a list of regional and national resources.
