Published July 22, 2026 08:08 AM
In the quiet sanctuary of a yoga class, amidst the gentle flow of breath and movement, a profound connection to ancient narratives often emerges. Yoga teachers frequently weave tales from Hindu creation myths and cautionary sagas into their instruction, leaving students with a lingering curiosity about these foundational stories. Longtime yoga practitioner and instructor Janet Stone has recently illuminated the significance of these collected narratives, known as puranas, in her new book, Stories of Our Lives: Awakened Living Through Sacred Mythology. This comprehensive work delves into the enduring relevance of these ancient texts, offering a roadmap for understanding ourselves and the universe through the lens of myth.
The book, released by Mandala, an imprint of Insight Editions, explores the fundamental question of why these ancient stories continue to resonate today. Stone argues that stories are not merely entertainment but are integral to the human experience, serving as the "threads in the fabric of human existence" and the "universal language that transcends time and culture." They provide a crucial means for self-understanding and for comprehending the world around us, inviting individuals to reconnect with a deeper, innate nature that can become obscured by the complexities of modern life. Through these narratives, Stone suggests, we gain a "boundless lens" through which to view ourselves and the human condition, fostering a connection with the "eternal flow of life" and unveiling the interconnectedness of all living things.
The Enduring Power of Narrative
Stories possess a potent capacity to stir a wide spectrum of human emotion, from tears and passion to wonder and awe. They have the power to inspire adventure, forge connections, and even create division. As wisdom keepers, joy makers, sorrow trackers, and sources of inspiration, stories, whether transmitted orally or in written form, have the ability to awaken dormant aspects of our inner selves. Immersing oneself in an ancient tale is akin to remembering forgotten parts of one’s own identity. The great legends, according to Stone, serve as bridges, connecting our mundane existence with cosmic phenomena and aligning the human heartbeat with the rhythm of the universe.
The puranas, originating from India, are a rich collection of such legends. They are built upon a collective understanding of the intricate interplay between the mind, body, and spirit. Stone posits that these narratives offer a vital "road map back to our inherent oneness" and illuminate the diverse facets of human life experiences.
Unlocking Self-Awareness Through Mythic Archetypes
The puranas offer more than just compelling narratives; they provide profound insights into ourselves and the universal themes that shape our lives, bringing the "collective unconscious" into tangible form. By engaging with these stories, individuals can cultivate a stronger personal practice and deepen their awareness of internal guidance systems.
Stone explains that by identifying with characters in these narratives—whether as heroes or as antagonists—we gain a valuable perspective on our own multifaceted identities and the various roles we inhabit throughout our lives. The puranas expose the "masks" we adopt for social acceptance, to navigate challenges, or even to deceive ourselves and others. However, the book emphasizes that living with an inauthentic persona ultimately leads to suffering. The puranas encourage a "heroic path" of introspection, urging individuals to explore their inner landscape, recognize their diverse inner selves, and embrace the "bountiful gift of integrating and expressing all aspects of ourselves."
Viewing ourselves through the prism of the puranas and their archetypes is likened to observing a grand cosmic play. In this drama, we enact love and loss, preferences and aversions, fears and confidence. Within this vast celestial performance, every individual is a crucial character, embodying the hero, the villain, the sage, and the fool—a being of infinite potential for growth and transformation.
As we venture into the expansive world of the puranas, Stone advocates for the cultivation of curiosity as the most essential tool. It is through this lens of inquiry that we can move beyond superficial understanding and access the profound wisdom embedded within these timeless narratives. The sacred, she asserts, resides all around us, and the question remains: are we willing to attune ourselves to it? Are we prepared to listen, observe, and feel our way into these narratives, allowing them the power to transform us? These stories offer a respite from the relentless pace of daily life, immersing us in sacred wisdom and a deeper knowing, thereby opening the door to awakened consciousness.
The Pillars of Sacred Engagement: Sravana, Darshan, and Bhava
The book elaborates on three core practices through which one can engage with these sacred stories: sravana (sacred listening), darshan (sacred seeing), and bhava (sacred feeling).
-
Sravana: The Art of Sacred Listening
Sravana is defined as the ancient art and profound joy of listening to divine stories and absorbing their symbolic richness. This practice invites us to immerse ourselves in ancient narratives that echo our contemporary experiences. Traditionally, the profound wisdom, spiritual teachings, and epic tales of India were passed down through oral recitation. While Stone’s book presents these stories in written form, she encourages readers to open their "inner aperture" and listen to the deep understanding sparked by the tales. The act of truly hearing stories brings us into a more intimate dialogue with our subconscious. It allows us to suspend our assumptions and enter a realm of remembrance, recognizing that our own stories, though born of specific times and places, capture universal themes of the human experience. We are invited to hold onto this thread of connection, and by stepping back from our daily dramas, we can perceive how this thread is woven through time, linking us to those who came before and those who will follow.
In our hyper-connected, information-saturated modern world, we are bombarded with data at a pace that often outstrips our capacity for comprehension, discernment, or emotional processing. Our auditory senses have, at times, been tuned to "false narratives" that lead us astray, fostering belief in the superficiality of social media and messages of division, fear, and inadequacy. When we engage with stories that depict the universal struggle between light and shadow, we recognize that even the most revered figures grapple with their inner forces. This realization offers the reinforcement needed to rise above the pervasive "maya" (illusion) that can ensnare us. Amidst the chaos of information, listening to these ancient stories provides a "beacon of clarity," guiding us through illusion and reminding us of our shared origins and collective destiny.
-
Darshan: The Practice of Sacred Seeing
Darshan refers to the ancient practice of auspiciously beholding—either in physical form or within the mind’s eye—a deity, a guru, or anything that inspires illumination. When engaging with the tales of gods and goddesses, we can employ our sense of sight to look inward, perceiving these divine figures not only externally but also within ourselves and the world around us. This practice can also involve observing imagery, a murti (sacred statue), or natural elements that foster a deeper connection with the essence of the myth.
Our perspective fundamentally shapes our understanding. By broadening our viewpoint, much like a camera panning back, we can apprehend the "infinite tapestry of life"—encompassing not only human existence but all life and its divine interconnectedness. Stone poses a critical question: how can we judge ourselves or others as superior or inferior when we are all integral components of this same vast tapestry? Outdated patterns of perception can trap us in a cycle of self-criticism and self-aggrandizement, preventing us from approaching the world with genuine curiosity. Our endeavor, therefore, is to open our eyes and begin to recognize the divine within and all around us.
-
Bhava: The Resonance of Sacred Feeling
Bhava, encompassing the feelings, emotions, and the overall "vibe" of an experience, is a foundational element of storytelling. It is within the realm of bhava that we forge a genuine connection with the heart of the stories. By embracing the emotional landscape of the puranas, we engage with the navarasas, the nine fundamental human emotions: shringara (love or beauty), hasya (laughter), karuna (sorrow), rudra (anger), vira (heroism or courage), bhayanaka (terror or fear), bibhatsa (disgust), adbutha (surprise or wonder), and shantha (peace or tranquility). Engaging with these navarasas allows for a profound connection with the tales and a deeper exploration of our own emotional terrain.
These emotions grant us permission to exist fully as feeling beings in the world. The power of a story to evoke the diverse spectrum of human emotional experience provides a more profound understanding of our own subconscious motivations and internal conflicts. When we allow emotions to flow freely, we can move beyond the analytical confines of the frontal lobe—the part of the brain responsible for higher-level cognitive functions—and access the sensory and emotional processing centers of the occipital and temporal lobes. Through stories, we can enter the intuitive and emotional realms, transcending the limitations of purely cognitive engagement.
The journey through the oral tradition, as presented by Stone, is not solely about sravana, darshan, or bhava in isolation. It is about the dynamic interplay of all three. By actively participating in these timeless tales, we imbue them with life and, in turn, discover a deeper comprehension of ourselves and our rightful place within the "grand tapestry of life."
This exploration of feelings, experiences, and expressions captures essential elements of our individual selves and the shared human condition. Each narrative offers a story, a lesson, and a testament to humanity’s profound longing for meaning, purpose, and connection—an intense yearning for remembrance.
Excerpt reprinted with permission from Stories of Our Lives by Janet Stone © 2026. Published by Mandala, an imprint of Insight Editions.
