It is an established fact that having a sense of meaning and purpose in our lives increases our wellbeing. In the Hindu tradition, you might call it dharma. In Japanese, it is termed Ikigai. It is the joy of being able to express something of your truest self that is of service and value to the world around you. 

In the west, purpose has been tainted to some extent by our capitalist framework. We often experience purpose as a separate thing that we need to achieve; a box that we need to tick. When we experience purpose like this, it comes with a feeling that we are separate from it. We are somehow trying to navigate our separate self over here to attain that separate purpose over there. This creates a sense of stress, and possibly deficit; a sense that we are not enough until we have achieved that external thing. 

However, the most purposeful people I have witnessed in action are the masters and Saints we have been lucky enough to work with. These great ones, from Sri Shakti Amma, to Yogiraj Amar Jyoti, to Sri Jayanara to Sri Amritānandamayi Maa exhibit a relationship with purpose where they are simply one with that. They are not striving to accomplish some external goal (although they do accomplish many). They are striving to go deep into the oneness of the divine. Their whole isness is dedicated to this. In this oneness, they become the unique beings that they are, and their purposes unfold around them with resplendent beauty - and benefit to thousands. 

So how can we let go of the separation we have installed between ourselves and our purpose? 

In this afternoon workshop, this is what we will be exploring. We will be opening into that oneness, connecting with the part of Self that is beyond the separate identity, and gaining guidance and insight about our beingness, which will then naturally give rise to our actions and our doing-ness in the world. I am often astounded by how much clarity comes when I seek oneness: actionable steps that I can take towards the outcomes my soul yearns for in this life. 

It’s incredible what we can accomplish when oneness becomes the wind beneath our wings. And yet, paradoxically, it is still our uniquely formed individual selves - with all of their talents and gifts - that soar on that current of grace. 

Instead of living out our purpose in order to be enough, we can live our purpose as an expression of our wholeness. It is a total game changer.