Sutra 1:30 In My Own Practice

In Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, Chapter 1, Verse 30, he writes about the obstacles that we encounter on the path to Realization. The 9th obstacle that he illuminates is "instability in maintaining a level of practice once attained."

When I first read this obstacle, I thought about it intellectually. "Yes," I thought, "I can see how one might struggle to maintain a level of practice (no matter how high the level). It could be laziness or a change of focus or a loss of interest."

I realize now that I struggle daily with this very obstacle.

I am quite focused and determined when I want to progress. I set my eye on a goal and I work toward it. In this way I can make progress quickly. But once I have achieved the goal, I soon lose interest. I set my sights on a new goal and work in a new direction. In this way, I often have trouble maintaining the levels of my practice. My attention wavers from goal to goal, forgetting that which I have worked hard to accomplish.