The Path is the Point

Plant the Seeds. Let Go of the Harvest.

When I was growing up, my mom was the person everyone turned to. She was razor-sharp, wildly funny, and could disarm anyone with a one-liner and a raised eyebrow. She was the type of woman who could’ve done anything—really. But she chose stability. She picked the path that made sense. A career with benefits, a pension, a “secure” ladder to climb.

For twenty years, she climbed it. She did everything right.
Until one day, the ladder disappeared.

The company downsized. Her position was cut. The steady paycheck? Gone. Her home? Gone. The version of life she was promised if she just followed the rules? Also gone.

I remember watching it unfold and thinking— wow, you can take the safe route, the one that’s supposed to be guaranteed, and still fail.

So if that’s true…
Why not take the path that feels good in ever step?
Why not follow the tug in your chest, the pull in your gut, the thing that makes you feel alive—even if it’s uncertain?

That’s where this begins:
Not with the harvest, but with the seed.
Not with the outcome, but with the intention.

There’s a saying I come back to often:

“Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds that you plant.”

In the yoga tradition, this isn’t just a nice sentiment—it’s foundational. A principle echoed through the Yoga Sutras, the Bhagavad Gītā, and Buddhist thought alike. Each of these ancient teachings invites us to shift our gaze from results to right effort, from guarantees to grounded presence.

The Gita’s Wisdom on ActionIn Bhagavad Gītā 2.47, Krishna tells Arjuna:

“You have a right to your actions, but never to the fruits of your actions.
Do not let the fruits be your motive, nor let your attachment be to inaction.”

This is the heart of karma yoga—yoga through action. It tells us that what matters isn’t the result, but the heart behind the work. It’s not about how fast something blooms. It’s about whether you’re planting with care, with presence, and with alignment.

It’s a complete reorientation of how we live, work, and practice.

The Sutras: Show Up and Let GoIn Yoga Sutra 1.12, Patanjali offers us this path:

“Abhyāsa vairāgyābhyāṁ tannirodhaḥ”

The fluctuations of the mind are stilled through consistent practice and non-attachment.

Abhyāsa means showing up. Again and again.
Vairāgya means releasing our grasp on how it’s supposed to look.
Together, they remind us: progress isn’t linear. Growth isn’t always visible. Not every day is a breakthrough. But every day is a brick in the foundation. Every practice is a seed.

The Buddhist View: The Path is the Point

Buddhist teachings go even further, reminding us that suffering arises from upādāna—attachment. Not just to things, but to identities, timelines, outcomes. We’re taught to walk the path not for what it gives us, but for what it reveals.

A Zen saying puts it simply:
“The journey itself is the home.”
Because sometimes, the deeper you go, the more the destination shifts.
Sometimes you realize that the dream you started chasing isn’t actually the one that fits.
And that’s not failure. That’s wisdom.

So, What Does This Mean for Us?It means you can do everything “right” and still get knocked off course.
So if you’re going to risk anything—make it worth it.

Choose meaning. Choose the path that lights you up as you walk it, not just when you arrive.
Whether you’re building a business, healing your body, falling in love, or fumbling through your next big step--

Plant the seeds.
Show up. Let go of the harvest.
Let your life unfold like a garden: untamed, imperfect, and full of potential.

Reflection Prompt:

• What seeds are you planting today?
• Are they rooted in fear—or in trust?
• In expectation—or in meaning?
• What would you do today if you knew you could not fail?