Live before you die, so that death is also a lively celebration.
B.K.S. IyengarRead
As animals, we walk the earth. As bearers of divine essence, we are among the stars. As human beings, we are caught in the middle, seeking to reconcile the paradox of how to make our way upon earth while striving for something more permanent and more profound.
Interpretation
The quote reflects the human experience of balancing earthly existence with a search for deeper meaning.
In this quote, B.K.S. Iyengar presents a contemplative view of the human condition, suggesting that while we exist as physical beings on Earth, we possess a spiritual essence that connects us to something greater, symbolized by the stars. This duality creates a paradox for humans who must navigate their daily lives while still yearning for a deeper understanding of existence and purpose.
In practice
In a speech about personal growth, you might use this quote to highlight the balance between earthly duties and spiritual aspirations.
Live before you die, so that death is also a lively celebration.
Hard work and humility are essential for spiritual sadhana.
Asana done from the brain makes one heavy and done from the heart makes one light.
The body is your temple. Keep it pure and clean for the soul to reside in.
Healthy plants and trees yield abundant flowers and fruits. Similarly, from a healthy person, smiles and happiness shine forth like the rays of the sun.
Before peace between the nations, we have to find peace inside that small nation which is our own being.
Increasing extremism - across Africa and the world - must be understood in the context of the failure of our leaders properly to manage diversity within their borders.
It is easy in the world to live after the world's opinion; it is easy in solitude to live after our own; but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude.
If a company has acted badly, people want to punish it - not in order to deter future misconduct, but simply because they're outraged. And the more outraged they are, the more punishment they want to inflict.
Having a strong race lens means you understand racism is threaded through and institutionalized in all of our systems and our very perceptions, threaded through how someone looks at you, treats you, thinks about you and your potential.
Neither of my parents went to church, but they did everything that you needed to do to be Christian. That's something a Quaker would call an intimation of the divine.
Justice is achieved only when injustice is absent.
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