By Gurudevi Nirmalananda

We all love the primal elements: earth, water, fire, air, and empty space.

Yoga names these mahabhutas as the building blocks of all that exists in this world. It is especially powerful where they meet — like the ocean washing against a sandy beach or crashing against the rocks.

Maybe for you it is sunrise or sunset over the sea; when there are a few wispy clouds, you can get all five elements at once:

The shoreline — earth

The ocean — water

The sun — fire

The clouds — air (when the air is holding water, you can see it, otherwise air is invisible)

The space between the clouds — empty space

So many beautiful photographs and paintings feature these primal elements, and they touch something deep inside you. Some of your favorite places probably have the combination of several mahabhutas, perhaps even your own garden.

Yoga explains that we love them because they are different expressions of the One, the primordial essence, which is the source of everything. You are made of this same substance, which is why you experience such a profound feeling in these environments. You enjoy a resonance or a recognition of the shared essence.

Since we are so often out of touch with our own essence, we need these external reminders. Many people even dream of retiring to the hinterlands and living in the midst of nature; they are seeking an environment that will give them constant peace and joy.

Recently I have realized that even before I loved the ocean, I loved fire. My first experience of making friends with fire was when I was about 12 years old. One by one, I lit all the matches in a book of matches and let each burn down to my fingertips. I was enchanted and have been ever since.

Ocean and fire are two very important images in yoga. Many texts speak eloquently of the ocean of consciousness, directing you to your own inner essence so you can discover the vastness and fullness that is even greater than the ocean. At my request, Master Yoga has featured photos of the ocean on our catalogue covers for several years. Of course, our locations on both the Atlantic and Pacific are no accident!

Our January 2006 catalogue has a roaring fire on the cover, to honor the fire of yoga. The power and beauty of fire is captivating. Fire is very important in many ways. The light and heat of the sun makes our planet hospitable to us. Civilization began when man tamed fire. Your own life depends on the cellular fire of digestion and metabolism. Most importantly, yoga specializes in the inner fire, which blazes forth in a radiant glow that transforms your experience of yourself, your life, and the world.

This transformation is needed because you live in amnesia, not knowing your true essence. You are Consciousness-Itself, an individualized form with a type of Divine Amnesia. This is both because you have forgotten your own Divine Nature, and also because the amnesia was placed in you as part of the Divine Play that brings this world into existence.

Your job is to recover from the amnesia and recognize your true being. Yoga is the amnesia-recovery system.

You already know that yoga helps you with your aches and pains, and can even cure many conditions that stymie medicine. I am delighted to hear of every “miracle cure” and receive several reports every week. This is the starting point for most yogis, the motivation to make some changes in your life.

Excerpt from Gurudevi’s book — “Yoga: Inside & Outside,” pages 145-146