surrendering to the formless
Written by Desmond Olubunmi · Founder of Sunya
The ultimate act of disidentification — dissolving the illusion of the finite, separate self and bowing to the infinite, formless consciousness that is the true ground of being.
In the yogic tradition, Shiva does not merely refer to a deity. It translates literally as “that which is not” — the boundless Void, the unconditioned space of pure awareness from which all forms (the Waves) arise and into which they dissolve. Namah means “to bow.” So Om Namah Shivaya is not a religious plea to an external entity.
It is a precise internal technology — a continuous declaration: “I bow to the divine formless essence within.” By repeatedly bowing the “I” to the Void, the localised contraction relaxes and the central channel opens wide.
The physical yield: Sit with an upright spine. Before making a sound, establish the inner posture of surrender. Let the shoulders drop, soften the belly, and physically yield the weight of the body to gravity.
The inward bow: Take a deep breath and begin to softly chant Om Namah Shivaya — best chanted mentally with full energy-body awareness, though it can also be chanted aloud. As you say Namah, feel a deep internal bowing — dropping the Doer, dropping the mental armour, dropping the effort to be a separate, isolated entity fighting the world.
Purifying the body: As the syllables roll through your system, place your attention on the physical body. Allow the pure vibration of the sound to wash through the cells, organs, and channels. Trust that the intelligence of this primordial sound is reorganising and cleansing everything within the biological vehicle.
The silent pulse: After chanting aloud for a few minutes, close the mouth and let the mantra continue mentally. Let it become a subtle, continuous pulse in the background of awareness. As the repetition deepens, stop directing the mantra entirely and simply rest — surrendering without effort, allowing the mind to dissolve into the stillness. From here, move into deep meditation and pure presence.
Merging with the Void — Shiva: As you rest in this silence, direct your attention to the silent, empty awareness within yourself. Offer your finite identity entirely into this boundless, unchanging emptiness — “that which is not.” The Wave has stopped resisting. It simply dissolves back into the Water.
Through this continuous act of internal bowing, the separate self becomes utterly transparent. The terror of annihilation vanishes because you have voluntarily surrendered the limited self before life can threaten it. You are no longer the frightened, separate self trying to control circumstances.
You remember that you are the eternal space in which all of this is happening. The finite Wave joyfully bows to the infinite Water, and rests in supreme, unshakable peace.
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