The Landscape of the Self

Tea Đuričić
MSc Candidate, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Vienna

Abstract

Yoga is more than a practice—it is a living science of experience, an inner compass amid the storms of life. For me, yoga became a stabilizing force, a supporting pillar on my path through life’s highs and lows. In moments of inner unrest, it was the simple, breathing action—prāṇāyāma, silent meditation, mindful movement—that reconnected me with my innermost self.

In this talk, I aim to show how yoga extends far beyond physical exercises. It is an integral part of the spiritual journey toward self-realization—a method through which the inner world aligns with the cosmic order.

Yoga is a comprehensive science of consciousness, rooted in the Vedas, systematized by Patañjali’s Sūtras, embodied in the Hatha tradition, and aiming for a living, holistic awakening as taught in tantric philosophy.

At the heart of this system lies the eightfold path of yoga (aṣṭāṅga-yoga), as described by Patañjali—an inner map for the transformation of consciousness.
These steps are not a linear system but rather aspects of an integrated process of awakening. They guide us from outer discipline to the innermost truth, from external form to the essence of being.

Equally, the yogic understanding of the five kośas—the sheaths of the self—opens a deeper perspective on our human existence. These sheaths represent layers of our being, from the gross to the subtle.
Yoga is the art of consciously penetrating these layers to ultimately reach the innermost core of being—the ātman, the unchanging, silent center that is one with brahman.

Today, we live in a time when science is exploring consciousness and spirituality is striving for embodiment. In this field of tension, yoga offers a third path: a bridge between inner experience and outer knowledge, between self and world, between science and spirituality.

Yoga invites us to become the architects of our own being—in deep connection with all that is.

Biodata

I was born in Belgrade, where I spent the first eleven years of my life. At that age, I moved to Vienna, a transition that brought with it both opportunity and challenge. I often say I was “born in light and raised in darkness,” a phrase that captures my journey through contrasting worlds—externally and within myself.

From a young age, I began working in various roles, gaining experience across different fields. I worked as a waiter, a model, in office settings, in gardens and in art galleries. Each job taught me something about people, the world, and myself. However, I began to realize that what I truly longed for was a deeper understanding of who I was and where I came from—beyond job titles and appearances. That led me to explore psychology academically, but the structure of formal study left me feeling that something essential was still missing.

Through a close friend, I was introduced to yoga. It quickly became an anchor in my life, offering stability, connection, and clarity. Yoga helped me reconnect not only with myself but also with the world around me. My journey inward eventually brought me outward again—to the earth itself.

I am now in the process of completing my studies in soil culture at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences in Vienna—often lovingly referred to as the “University of Life.” I am becoming a landscape architect, blending my sensitivity to inner spaces with a passion for shaping the outer environment in a more conscious, harmonious way.