Chapter 8: The Science of Manifesting Intention
Rod Stryker’s Four Desire (4D) Virtual Book Club

It’s fitting that we are discussing chapter 8 as we bring in the new year.  This chapter is all about goals.

We have all made goals in the past. On average, Americans make about 2 resolutions per year.However, 80% of us don’t achieve our resolutions. Why is it that we fail to follow through on those (important at the time) resolutions?

The answer is two fold:

1. Our desires, goals, and resolutions are not in line and do not serve our Dharma.

2. Our desire plus the energy directed towards achieving the goal must be greater than any resistance surrounding the resolution. We will go into greater detail about this in chapter 11.

In order to follow through with this year’s resolutions, we must first formulate a sankalpa.

Kalpa means “a way to proceed; the rule to be followed above all other rules; a vow.”  San is an idea formed in the heart. Rod Stryker says it is “the most profound way to affect the source of your life by harnessing the power of resolution or intention.”

“Once you make a decision the whole world conspires to make it happen.” –Emerson

If we follow The Four Desires’s step-by-step process in developing a sankalpa, we realize how different it is than simply stating an ordinary goal or resolution. Similar to a new year’s resolution, a sankapla should aim at fulfilling a particular goal in a set amount of time.

At this point, let’s reflect on our dharma code for clarity. We must make sure that what we want is crystal clear and acknowledge it. You will know if you are clear by asking yourself “does my resolution serve my dharma?” At this moment, I too am in the process of drafting a new sankalpa.  The clarity I gain from this act is an indispensable process towards the achievement of my goals and resolutions.

Following this process has helped me to question those early goals: What do I want? Do I really want it?  What would my life become once I had or achieved it?

Once we have created our sankalpa and have begun to use it, Rod says, “[then] the power of resolve focuses and concentrates your thoughts and thereby increases your mind’s capacity.” That capacity leads us to new heights to discern and take specific actions to manifest what we desire. A sankalpa gets us moving in one direction instead of many.

The more we practice with sankalpa and begin to accomplish it, the more we start to believe (believe what?). In that way, the non-material (power of our thoughts and resolutions) start to affect the material; what we desire, becomes.

Are you drafting a new year’s resolution? Do you dare to put it up against your dharma code?

The next few chapters will guide you though the process of creating your own sanklpa. For next week we will discuss Chapter 9 “What is a Right Desire?” where our wants, needs, and cravings will be tested!

Aloha,
Chanti

Learn more about Rod Stryker and ParaYoga at RodStryker.com
Read The Four Desires book review on Elephant Journal.
Read other discussions about The Four Desires
Instructions: How the book club works