Spiritual Bypassing is the tendency to use spiritual ideas to avoid or refuse to work on unpleasant, unresolved issues. Examples would be, labeling panic disorder as the Kundalini process, avoiding dealing with things at hand and escaping to a spiritual retreat, etc.

In Bhagavad Gita, Arjuna gives multiple reasons to wriggle out of fighting the battle. This is a classic example of Spiritual Bypassing. From not wanting the kingdom to being ready to give up pleasures and be a beggar, to labeling himself greedy – he tries it all with Shri Krishna to escape from what needs to be done.

Shri Krishna pulls Arjuna out of his delusion by putting things in context, vehemently rejecting Spiritual Bypass. In fact, Krishna says that even though he himself is the very Universal Divine, he has incarnated to do his duty, his Dharma. So, even the Divine doesn’t Bypass its Dharma because everyone, from the Divine to the dust has a role to play in universal functioning.

The practice of Yoga shouldn’t be taken as a license to ignore aspects of being human. Neither does Yoga ask us to ignore our current state nor does it tell us to sidestep issues that are immediately relevant, physical or emotional.

Yogic teachings are deeply pragmatic and bring the seeker face to face with unresolved issues that need to be worked upon. None of the Yogic teachings have to be thought of as a license for spiritual bypassing.

As Yoga seekers, we have to confront issues honestly and face unresolved developmental tasks with patience, faith, and grit. Look at your Yoga Sadhana as a preparation to face challenges that come on the path as you explore the depths of your mind.