EXPLORING THE EXPERIENCE OF AWE THROUGH THE LENS OF YOGIC PRACTICE: AN INTERPRETATIVE STUDY BASED ON THE PĀTAÑJALA YOGA SŪTRA

Awe is a widely discussed topic in contemporary research, recognized as a positive emotion due to its diverse benefits across various domains of life. Western psychologists suggest that the experience of awe can play a vital role in mitigating stress in today’s fast-paced world, helping to balance and moderate its effects. In their paper Awe and the Interconnected Self, Susan K. Chen and Mariam Mongrain (Department of Psychology, York University, Ontario, Canada) argue that this positively valanced emotion can be cultivated, and that an individual's capacity for absorption may be a key antecedent in experiencing awe. Absorption refers to one’s ability to fully engage with the world by utilizing perceptual, motoric, imaginative, and cognitive resources (Tellegen & Atkinson, 1974, p. 274). In yogic philosophy, kaivalya (liberation) is achieved through the practice of Ashtanga Yoga (the eight-limbed path). While kaivalya and the emotion of awe are fundamentally different concepts, the practices outlined in Ashtanga Yoga may foster conditions that encourage the experience of positive awe. I propose that elements of yoga, particularly Yama, Niyama, and Asana, can help regulate and enhance the experience of awe. This paper explores the potential for yoga to regulate awe and investigates the connection between yogic practices and awe, with the aim of demonstrating how this relationship can contribute to a more positive and meaningful life.