Lama Surya Das describes three levels of aspiration, or pranidhana. These outer, inner, and secret levels can teach us how to cultivate spiritual aspiration more fully in our lives.
The outer, external level of aspiration is behavioral. At this outer level, we recognize the importance of our actions, and the discipline required to act well. Though we don’t want our behavior to be the only level of our aspiration, we certainly cannot delve any deeper unless we harness our behavior in a healthy way.
The second level is internal, and therefore shifts from behavior to attitude. We’ve all experienced times when the best we can offer is the action itself, because our inner attitude is coming from another place entirely. That’s good control! But when we come to a place where our actions and our attitude match, we reach a place of integrity. Our actions carry a new kind of fullness, because they aren’t cut off from our emotions and intentions.
The third level is called the secret level, because it involves the synthesis of mind-body-soul. So we move from experiencing aspiration as behavior and attitude to experiencing it as a sacred bond. When spiritual aspiration becomes a sacred bond, we often call it a vow.
Vows embody the best description of our goal in pranidhana, because vows hold all aspects of these three levels. When we commit to a vow, we commit to behaving a certain way, thinking a certain way, and, deeper still, experiencing a steadfast commitment to the purpose.
While each of these three levels of aspiration carries an important aspect, the combination of all three holds the true power. When we integrate our outer, inner, and secret/spiritual lives, we become the highest version of ourselves.
Important reminder: Not every area of our lives integrate at the same time. So be patient with the less integrated parts of yourself. And be proud of the places where you see growth!
This post is part of the Paramita Project, where I’m practicing one paramita each month. Read all my posts on aspiration, pranidhana, here.
