Exploring the Wisdom of Ecclesiastes and the Yoga Sūtras
From Striving to Suffering
Have you ever worked tirelessly toward a goal, only to wonder afterward—Was it really worth it? Or maybe you’ve chased a dream, a relationship, or recognition, believing it would bring lasting joy… only to find the satisfaction fades.
I felt that way during my first few years of yoga practice. Back then, I was practicing yoga at the gym and at home, with little understanding of what yoga truly was. My practice revolved around chasing the perfect pose I’d seen in a magazine or on the web (this was before the days of social media). I pushed my body to the limit, driven by the belief that no pain, no gain. But instead of feeling uplifted, I found myself increasingly exhausted—my body stressed, and my mind growing discouraged.
Even when I did manage to “master” a pose and celebrate the achievement, the joy didn’t last. There was always another pose I couldn’t do, another shape to chase. The momentary pride would soon be replaced by another wave of striving. The cycle felt endless.
That quiet ache—when something we’ve longed for finally arrives, only to slip through our fingers—is something most of us know. And when we try to hold on, cling, or repeat the high, we suffer.This kind of suffering—born from mistaking the temporary success or happiness for the permanent—is something that both Western and Eastern wisdom traditions have contemplated deeply. Though they come from different parts of the world, they arrive at a similar truth: we often suffer because we place our hope in things that are constantly changing, forgetting to root ourselves in what endures.
“All is Vanity…” – Ecclesiastes 1:2
The Book of Ecclesiastes opens with a bold declaration:
“Vanity of vanities, says the Teacher… All is vanity.”
(Ecclesiastes 1:2)
Here, “vanity” doesn’t mean ego or arrogance. The original Hebrew word is hevel, meaning vapor, mist, or breath. It suggests that much of what we chase—status, success, possessions, even knowledge—is fleeting, elusive, and insubstantial.The writer of Ecclesiastes, known as Qoheleth or “the Teacher,” explores the cycles of life, the toil of human labor, and the pursuit of wisdom—only to conclude that these too are like chasing after the wind.
“Ignorance Is Mistaking the Impermanent for Permanent” – Yoga Sūtra 2.5
Thousands of miles away and 500 to 800 years later, Patañjali’s Yoga Sūtra echoes a similar insight.
“Ignorance is regarding the impermanent as permanent, the impure as pure, the painful as pleasant and the non-Self as the Self.”
(Yoga Sūtra 2.5)
This kind of ignorance is called avidyā, and it is considered the root of all suffering. We grasp at things we believe will satisfy us—thinking they are solid, lasting, or define who we are—and hold them so dearly. But like vapor, they slip through our fingers, turning hope into despair. When we mistake what is passing for what is eternal, we suffer.
A Shared Realization Across Traditions
Both Ecclesiastes and the Yoga Sūtras reflect a profound human truth: we tend to cling to things that are impermanent, often overlooking the deeper, enduring realities beneath the surface. Whether it’s a job title, a perfect body, a spiritual milestone, or a lasting legacy—we often build our sense of identity on shifting ground, hoping for security in what inevitably changes.
These texts also warn us about relying solely on intellect. Ecclesiastes offers a sobering observation:
“In much wisdom is much grief; and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.”
(Ecclesiastes 1:18)
The yogic tradition, too, distinguishes between intellectual understanding and the kind of insight that brings liberation. It’s not enough to accumulate concepts in the mind—we are invited to see clearly through direct, lived experience. This is why Sri Swami Satchidananda wrote in his commentary on the Yoga Sūtras, “Things like books are only aids which we should not hesitate to let go of when they are no longer useful. With the help of a ladder we can get to the rooftop, but once on top we let go of the ladder.”
Both traditions gently remind us that true wisdom isn’t about collecting more—it’s about embodying what we’ve learned through lived experience, and then knowing when to let it go once it has served its purpose.
So… What’s the Way Forward?
While these teachings may sound bleak at first, they are actually invitations to wake up.
In the Yoga tradition, the antidote to avidyā (ignorance) is viveka, or discerning wisdom, the kind that helps us recognize what is truly nourishing and real. As stated in chapter 2 verse 26, “When one sees the distinction between the seer and the seen, then liberation comes.”
In Ecclesiastes, the Teacher ultimately turns to humility, reverence, and surrender, recognizing that meaning is found not in striving, but in aligning with a deeper source. As this is expressed in chapter 12 verse 13, “Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.”These aren’t rules to follow out of fear. They’re ways of returning to what’s steady. Whether we call it God, the Self, the Source, or Pure Awareness, both paths invite us to come home to something that doesn’t rise and fall with every passing moment.
Taking It Inward
Coming from different traditions, both texts offered me a shared insight: suffering arises when we cling to what is constantly changing and expect it to satisfy something deeper in us. Whether it’s a yoga pose, a job, a relationship, or recognition, if we look to it as our source of worth or security, we’re bound to feel disappointed. Because like vapor, these things are beautiful—but not solid.
But neither teaching ends in despair. They both invite us to shift our gaze and to root ourselves not in the temporary, but in the timeless. In yoga, this means remembering our true nature beyond the fluctuations of thought and form. In Ecclesiastes, it means humbling ourselves before the mystery of life and aligning with something greater—what we call “God.”
This perspective doesn’t mean we stop enjoying life or striving for growth. It simply reminds us to hold things lightly, to cherish what comes and let go of what fades, and to anchor ourselves in a deeper truth which doesn’t disappear when the pose is over, the applause fades, or the seasons change.
In our everyday lives, we can practice noticing where we might be clinging to vapor, expecting the impermanent to satisfy our deep longing for peace. We might pause and ask:
- Am I trying to find security in something that always changes?
- Can I soften my grip and rest in what is already present?
Whether you’re on a spiritual path rooted in yoga, faith, or just open curiosity, these ancient voices remind us: You don’t have to chase the wind. There is something still, deep, and enduring—right here.
Key Takeaways
- Clinging to the Impermanent Brings Suffering: Both Ecclesiastes and the Yoga Sūtras caution against seeking fulfillment in what constantly changes.
- Wisdom Is Discernment, Not Accumulation: True wisdom means recognizing what lasts and letting go of what doesn’t.
- Suffering Has a Shared Root: Avidyā (ignorance) and hevel (vanity) both describe the mistake of trusting in the fleeting.
- Knowledge Must Be Lived: Insight becomes wisdom when it’s embodied—not just understood mentally.
- Let Go When the Lesson Is Learned: What once guided us must be released when it has served its purpose.
- Root Yourself in What is Unchanging: Both paths point us to something steady—God, the Higher Power. the Self, or Awareness.
- Practice Letting Go Daily: Notice where you’re clinging, soften your grip, and rest in what’s present.
- A Shared Invitation: Whether through yoga, faith, or inquiry, the message is the same: stop chasing the wind—come home to what truly lasts.
Reference
- “Ecclesiastes 1 ESV – All Is Vanity – The words of the.” Bible Gateway, https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ecclesiastes%201&version=ESV. Accessed 15 July 2025.
- Satchidananda, Swami, editor. The Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali. Translated by Swami Satchidananda, Integral Yoga Publications, 2012.