Cultivating Will

Cultivating Will by Eaden Shantay

It was our last day in Bali, Indonesia. The alarm chimed at 1am to begin our journey to Mount Abang, the third highest peak on the Island. We began hiking from the trailhead at 3am through the dark mist of the forest by headlamp. 

The plan was to arrive at the summit by 6am and welcome the sun. I had no idea what to expect from the hike, though with hindsight I can tell you it was straight up. 

Bali, like India, is predominantly Hindu, and there are temples everywhere. On this particular mountain there were three temples along the trail with deities to share prayers and make offerings. Halfway up, between the 1st and 2nd temple, where the trail was steepest, I knew I was in way over my head. 

If I was alone, I probably would have turned back but on that day, I was hiking for Deva. Her favorite thing in the world to do is hike and I wasn’t going to keep her from reaching the summit. 

So I let go of my aching legs, shoes that lacked grip and support, low visibility, rain, and my throbbing pulse and I chanted my way up that mountain—mantra after mantra. I didn’t think about what lay ahead in the darkness, or how I was going to get down, instead I put everything into the next step. 

This was truly a third chakra, will-centered, hike. The only way we strengthen our will—the home of discipline, determination, and drive, is by working it—climbing a mountain or upholding a commitment to a daily morning practice. Each day we say yes to our spiritual practice, we build will. 

Mt. Abang could have chewed me up and spit me out if I didn’t believe in something greater than myself. As a separate human being, I couldn’t have made the summit. But as I prayed to Ishvara (God) through mantra and connected to all that is, I gained access to the power of creation that transcends self-imposed limitation.

I spent a lot of energy on that uphill but the confidence, esteem and gratitude I felt by reaching the summit restored me on a level much deeper than the physical. Walking down the steep rocky path was easy, though not because it was downhill but because I had met my ego and realized it was pure illusion. 

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Learn more about the chakras and other aspects of yoga philosophy in our upcoming immersions called “True Sadhana” (spiritual practice). We are offering 2 locations for the immersion in 2024: Nosara, Costa Rica at Loma Sagrada in April and Carbondale, Colorado at True Nature Healing Arts in May. 

We will be exploring breath-work, meditation, yoga and living a yogic lifestyle—steeped in Vedantic and Ayurvedic wisdom. 

With gratitude and deep blessing, 

Eaden Shantay 

Co-Founder/Co-President

True Nature Healing Arts