We’ve been working with the Sādhana Pāda of the Yoga Sūtras, and this week our focus has been on a powerful verse—Yoga Sūtra 2.21:
tad-arthaḥ eva dṛśyasya ātmā
Translation: The very existence of the seen (dṛśya) is solely for the sake of the Seer (dṛṣṭṛ).
This teaching reminds us that everything in the external world exists to serve the evolution of our inner awareness. But that doesn’t mean we’re encouraged to become self-absorbed or narcissistic—this isn’t a green light for an “I, Me, Mine” mindset. That approach would just lead us right back into the grip of the kleśas, especially rāga (attachment to pleasure) and dveṣa (aversion to pain).
The word ātmā used in this sūtra speaks to the essence, the innermost self. It points toward the Vedāntic ideas of Ātman (individual soul or Self) and Brahman (universal reality), which echo the Sāṅkhya concepts of Puruṣa (pure consciousness) and Prakṛti (nature/matter). So, the real takeaway here is this: the entire dance of existence around us is not random. It’s actually unfolding for the sake of our awakening—for our liberation (kaivalya).
To live this out practically, it starts with mindful engagement with the world. Every experience—especially the uncomfortable ones—is an invitation to ask, “How can this moment help me see more clearly?” Instead of defaulting to grumbling, complaining, or negative mind loops, we can use life as a mirror for self-discovery.
Yesterday, we added the second insight: non-attachment to outcomes. So many of us are caught in the chase—after success, pleasure, validation. This is rāga in action. And when things don’t go as hoped, what follows? Frustration. Resentment. Disconnection. By softening our grip on results, we make space for a deeper, steadier peace.
That brings us to the third pillar: dharma—our purpose. Not just a job title or achievement, but a question of becoming. “Are my choices shaping me into the person I need to be?” This line of inquiry led us into our full week focused on relationships, and that essential question we keep returning to: “How am I showing up?”
All of this—the mindful engagement, the letting go, the purpose-driven living—cultivates our connection to the inner Seer, the draṣṭā. That still, wise witness within us. And yes, we can nourish that connection through seated meditation. But it might also come through movement—your swimming, your dancing, your running—those moments where the mind quiets and the deeper awareness emerges.
And to integrate even further, don’t forget the power of journaling. Giving yourself space to reflect, to pause in stillness, to notice what life is revealing to you. Because, always, life is bringing us something. Some teaching. Some mirror. Some gift. The invitation is to pay attention—to see.
