"The urge in every man to fill an inner emptiness is the soul's desire for God." — Paramahansa Yogananda, The Yoga of Jesus On the Saturday before Easter, many Christian churches hold a vigil. The lights are low, the body on the crucifix is covered. Worshippers may themselves feel a longing, a deep sense of grief. We don’t need explicit physical or emotional suffering to feel an inner emptiness, although for many of us that’s where the door of the tomb suddenly opens. There’s a great yearning to understand the depth of experience, its meaning. Many traditions, including Christianity, teach of the need to empty ourselves of ego’s desires so the soul’s desire can be fulfilled. Jesus’ suffering was about more than physical pain. His was a suffering for all humanity—for our sense of separateness from God and our lack of awareness of sacred union. A suffering held in the knowing that the soul’s desire can be fulfilled. What is your belief? Is suffering a doorway? Is emptiness? What does the story of today, Holy Saturday, bring up for you?

If you’re interested in reading more about The Yoga Sutras, here is a book I’ve been moving through for nearly 20 years. Just like scripture, each time I sit with a sutra, something else is revealed. I’ll be sharing more books in this thread. Please feel free to share the books that light you. Inside the Yoga Sutras by Rev. Jaganath Carrera https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/inside-the-yoga-sutras-a-comprehensive-sourcebook-for-the-study--practice-of-patanjalis-yoga-sutras_jaganath-carrera/380600/item/4247494/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=pmax_high_vol_scarce_%2410_%2450_17400876848&utm_adgroup=&utm_term=&utm_content=&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=17400878123&gbraid=0AAAAADwY45g7v1UsmdB_E2xurd-FcC6wD&gclid=Cj0KCQiAy6vMBhDCARIsAK8rOgk_gyRJqP0LzTCuCpwlypwCPjfaF7qcOYydin8dadJVGdFSPOsJqCAaAuzDEALw_wcB#idiq=4247494&edition=3318489