Chapter 21: Your Miracle Angle Stage One of Non-Attachment

“Non-attachment is said to be one of the essential characteristics of the Divine” -Rod Stryker

In the next few chapters we will discuss the different stages of vairagya.
The first stage of Vairagya (non-attachment) is to release the weight of disappointment and emotional pain. Our ability to practice this stage relies on changing our perception of what causes our suffering. This refinement of our personality is “The Miracle Angle.”

Rod talks about Steve Jobs’ 2005 commencement speech at Stanford University, where he outlines his own experience with vairagya. Jobs was able to practice stage one because he let go of the feelings that accompanied the embarrassment of being fired and the loss of a company he co-founded. On an intellectual level, you can let go of a company they founded or similarly painful situation.  However, it is the true release of the feelings associated with the painful event that free you from suffering. How do you do that? The Miracle Angle.

To find your Miracle Angle you must find the nurturing, growth oriented perspective in a painful situation. When you find it, there will be less suffering. The relief of suffering is a clear sign that you have effectively reshaped your perspective. If you are still suffering you either haven’t found or embraced your Miracle Angle.

“Once you detach yourself from your grievances, however justified they might be, and you abide within the perspective of your Miracle Angle, you will find yourself embracing the gift of life and living it more fully.” -Rod Stryker

There is always more than one way to look at a situation; the critical step is to embrace this most expansive and freeing perspective.

If you haven’t done part two of the vairagya exercise in this chapter, go do it! Note how a big part of vairagya is surrender.

When I wrote the second part of my vairagya exercise, I realized that I had a Miracle Angle which allowed me to cope with and eventually be free of the suffering that I was experiencing. What I remember most about that time was my sleep ritual. Bed time would come and my thoughts would turn up the volume. I decided to pray. First I would ask for help to get rid of the pain and then I would think of everything that had happened to me, and replay it in my head.

When my mental movie would stop, I would imagine my future from the Miracle Angle. It was validating, authentic and reassured me that I had made the right choice. I had been blessed to face my fears and felt I could endure anything life threw at me.  Although it is not an official Four Desires exercise it is a great way to go to bed, especially when life is tossing those lessons at you in the form of challenging circumstances.

“Don’t sleep on your resentments, pain and suffering. Before going to bed each night, clear your mind and find the Miracle Angle from which to look at any circumstance that is troubling you. You may not instantly be uplifted by the change in perspective, but it will provide you with the understanding and acceptance from which you can move forward with a clearer sense of purpose.” -Rod Stryker
This week lets find our Miracle Angles, and use them to change our perspective.

Aloha,
Chanti

Learn more about Rod Stryker and ParaYoga at RodStryker.com 
Read The Four Desires book review on Elephant Journal.
The Four Desires: YouTube talks with Rod Stryker
Read other discussions about The Four Desires
Instructions: How the book club works
Rod Stryker travels to the largest spiritual pilgrimage in history in 2013. I’ll be there. Will you?