Today when we look at the news, it is so difficult not to be heartbroken. Whether we read about the Middle East, Ukraine, domestic violence, child abuse, climate change and environmental destruction, or even just the rising rates of depression and suicide, the global condition seems tragically dire. Yet these varied catastrophes have one common cause: a feeling of separation.

When we feel separate from our true Selves, from God, from the Universe, we suffer. When we feel separate from each other on the basis of race, religion, color, gender, political party, or nationality, we have conflict in the home and in our communities and war and terrorism occur. When we feel separate from Mother Earth, we see Her as a resource and use, abuse, and discard Her. As the root foundation of all this suffering is the myth of separation, the root remedy is union, or yoga.

As more and more people around the world do yoga, we must ensure that we spread not only the physical exercises but the ultimate fullness of yoga.