Thanks for joining My Daily Thread again today. We’re continuing with our journey through the Yoga Sūtras, and today we’re on Sūtra 2.24:
"tasya hetuḥ avidyā"
“The cause of this union is ignorance.”
This is a short verse, but it carries immense depth. Patanjali tells us that the reason we become entangled in the world—the reason we confuse the changing with the eternal, the Seen (prakṛti) with the Seer (puruṣa)—is avidyā, a fundamental misperception of reality. It’s not just a lack of knowledge. It’s forgetting who we truly are. Avidyā is when we believe we are our thoughts, our fears, our roles, or the way others see us. It’s when we forget that we are awareness itself.
This is what causes the sacred union—or saṁyoga—to feel like suffering instead of awakening. But saṁyoga itself is not the problem. It’s sacred. It’s purposeful. It’s here to help us grow into true awareness. Every relationship, job, challenge, joy, and heartbreak becomes a teacher. Not to punish us—but to help us remember who we are beneath it all.
But then come the citta vṛttis—the whirlpools of the mind. The stories we’ve picked up over time, spinning constantly: “I’m not good enough,” “I need their approval,” “Something’s wrong with me.” These are not truths. They are distortions. Mental noise. The more we believe them, the thicker the veil of avidyā becomes.
So what can we do?
First, recognize the voice of avidyā. That inner chatter that says you’re not enough—that’s not the real you. That’s a conditioned echo, not your essence. Just pause and remember:
“I am not these thoughts. I am the one who sees.”
Second, reframe the chaos. When the world feels overwhelming, when fear or comparison takes over, ask yourself: “What is this moment trying to teach me about my true nature?” Use the sacred entanglement as a mirror, not a trap.
And finally, stay kind. Everyone is under the influence of avidyā to some extent. So approach your path with compassion. No need to rush. Just stay present. Stay open. Let the practice slowly, gently, strip away what you are not.
Because underneath it all, you are already free. Let’s keep going.