Halasana, halāsana – plow pose

When plowing the soil, you must hold the plow firmly and securely in your hands so that the clods are turned. This creates deep furrows and cuts; the earth is crushed. Just as the soil needs to be plowed every year to keep it loose and well ventilated, so too must the soil of our mind be plowed up over and over again to keep it open and receptive.

The process of germination and blossoming seems painful, because in our mind obstacles must first be removed. This is a task that every person has to do himself, despite his devotion to a particular teaching or his devotion to a teacher. As the earth is cut through the furrows, so too may the yoga disciple feel torn as if cut in the middle, separated into a physical and a spiritual self. It is wise to think of it in such moments: just as the earth beneath the ruts is still a whole, on a deeper level the two parts of our self are still united.¹