Yoga and Nothingness

“Create space for nothingness to turn itself into what it wants to be."

I’ve been pondering the idea of present moment awareness as a means to “create space for nothingness to turn itself into what it wants to be." A true testament to living in “the now,” it carries a profound, almost mystical notion about the relationship between emptiness, potential, and creation. I suspect it suggests that there is an inherent intelligence or force within the void of nothingness, what some might call the "unknown," that is waiting for the right conditions to manifest into something new, something yet unseen, and unnamed.

I wonder if “nothingness”, in this context, isn't truly absence, but rather a state of pure potential. In many philosophical and spiritual traditions, nothingness can be seen as a fertile ground where new ideas, energies, or forms can emerge. Yoga, for instance, suggests that the calming of the thought waves in the mind (Yogash chitta vritti Nirodha) invites and instructs us to reside in the present moment, where we can remember or recognize that all things are interconnected, and everything arises from an underlying emptiness.

The invitation to "create space" suggests a willingness to allow this emptiness to be, rather than trying to fill it or control it. It is about stepping aside, embracing uncertainty, and allowing things to unfold naturally. The challenge here is to sit with that uncertainty without rushing to impose meaning or structure, trusting that the "nothingness" will transform on its own terms and in its own time.

I don’t believe that “creating space” means inaction. Instead, it is about clearing away distractions and assumptions that might prevent new things from arising. Meditation is paramount in clearing away the distractions. Think of it as a garden where you might prepare the soil, remove the weeds, and then allow the new seeds to take root. The space you create is not a void of inaction but a nurturing environment for growth.

This space can also be a psychological one, where we let go of rigid expectations and allow the mind to be receptive, open to new possibilities. It can be a creative space, a time for artistic or intellectual endeavors where the mind is allowed to roam free, unconstrained by the need for immediate results. It is the willingness to let ideas, visions, and inspirations find their own form and emerge at their own pace.

The phrase "what it wants to be" points to the idea that the potential of nothingness is not random or chaotic; there is a kind of inner direction or purpose. This might mean that all things have a purpose, an end goal or an inherent nature or purpose that they move toward.

“What it wants to be" could be the manifestation of one's deepest calling or purpose. It is the realization that life, or a creative project, or even a moment in time, has its own flow and direction. Our task is not to force it into a shape we expect, but rather to create the conditions in which it can reveal itself in its fullest expression.

An integral part of this process is learning to release control while maintaining an active awareness. In a world where we often seek immediate results, this is paradoxical. There is a tension between our desire to have solid ground under our feet and the organic unfolding of something from the void. It requires patience, trust, and surrender. Of course, these qualities can be difficult to cultivate in a world driven by productivity and immediate gratification.

By stepping back and making room for nothingness, we are also asked to question the limits we place on creativity, on ourselves, and on the world around us. We are invited to reconsider the boundaries between what we can control and what must simply unfold. There is a deeper wisdom in the allowance for things to "become" rather than demanding they follow a preconceived path.

To "create space for nothingness to turn itself into what it wants to be" is an invitation to embrace the unknown with open arms. It is an act of faith in the potential of what lies beneath the surface of our immediate perceptions. It is the acknowledgment that emptiness is not something to be feared but rather something that contains infinite possibilities waiting to emerge.

Whether on a personal, creative, or spiritual level, this idea teaches us to be open to transformation, allowing life to unfold naturally, without forcing it into predefined shapes. In that openness, we might discover new depths of ourselves, uncover new ideas, and see the world with fresh eyes; a reminder that everything is constantly coming into being from the nothingness becoming, again and again, what it was always meant to be, when it is meant to be.