Real Yoga

Tapas - intentional self-discipline

Svadhaya - self-study, self-inquiry

Isvaraprandihana - Surrender to God

In my humble opinion, the above 3 practices are essential  for serious yoga practitioners. I'd like to explore these ideas with you.  Please share your thoughts by commenting.  I'd like to hear what you have to say.

Let's start with Tapas:

Tapas means to burn.  It refers to the disciplines and austerities used to create heat required for transformation.  Here's the thing, ttransformation on the surface level is really pretty easy. All that's required is some new clothes, new name and new circle of friends and WaLa! You are transformed. (Rent the movie Kumare....and you'll understand what I mean). I see a lot of this sort of transformation. Yes, it is technically transformation and I've been told that it serves the person in some way. Perhaps for some, "fake it till you make it" works.  Does fake bliss feel the same as real bliss? I doubt it.

A while back I did some research on women in yoga. What I found was that a lot of popular, modern "yoginis" actually had a hard time with discipline. They found the disciplines their teachers gave them to do too hard, so they changed the disciplines, left their teachers and started their own yoga style that suited them better. Is it discipline if you change it to make it easier for yourself? I came face to face with this challenge this week. I am in the middle of a 40 day moon salutation sadhana. My intentional self-discipline is to do 11 rounds of Chandra Namaskar each day followed by 108 mantras to the moon. I'm doing great the first week or 10 days but then my knee started bothering me. I could very easily use that as an excuse not to practice. I did toy with the idea, telling myself that "I'm honoring my body" by not doing it. Would it still be tapas if I use the excuse of a little discomfort to derail my intention? I doubt it. 

Svadhaya:

Think about how people use the ancient yogic principles to justify their bad behavior. For example, when using the concept of practicing acceptance to justify avoiding the difficult task of changing something that needs to change. Using the idea of surrender and karma to avoid taking responsibility for our own circumstances in life. The truth is that what we need to surrender are the excuses we tell ourselves about why we have the difficulties we have in our lives. Then there would be a chance for real transformation.

The truth of the matter is that when you begin the practice of Svadhaya you will, without a doubt, uncover issues that you will be required to address. That is, if you're interested in transformation on a deeper level.

You will find out things about yourself that you may not like to admit. One of my biggest revelations and challenges has been attachment. My attachment to people and my attachment to my own beliefs and opinions. I could call my attachment to people and my beliefs loyalty and devotion. But is attachment the same as loyalty and devotion? I doubt it.

Ishvarapranidhana:

Do what you do in service to God. Offering all your tapas to the greater good of all. Here's where it all comes together.... at least for me. I ask myself, and you, what is your motivation for doing what you do?

Why are you doing the disciplines? What transformation are you seeking? These questions can be answered through self-inquiry(svadhaya). The serious yoga practitioner is willing to ask herself/himself the hard questions and will answer honestly. 

Am I doing the disciplines because I'm seeking the approval and recognition of my teachers and peers or for God?

Is the transformation that I seek superficial, simply to fit in with the popular crowd or am I ready for the hard, dirty work of releasing the fantasy world we have created in our own mind to discover who we really are?

What transformation are YOU seeking and are you willing to do the work required to achieve it?  Are you ready to surrender yourself to the will of the Divine?

The lotus of the heart

Anahata chakra..... The heart center. 

Anahata means un-struck

It’s color is green

Symbolized by lotus flower with 12 petals

Element is Air

Located at the center of the chest

Sense of Touch

Bija mantra: Yam

This center is for unconditional love for the self, and others, compassion, passion, and devotion. When fully open it becomes a channel for Universal Love

When balanced, a person feels joy, peace, harmony, happiness, forgiveness, acceptance, compassion, and generosity

When unbalanced, fear, anger, isolation and unworthiness. Unsympathetic, self-centered, selfish, unforgiving.

"The heart chakra is the bridge between our humanity and our divinity" ~SD

In the sacred circle today a wise woman shared some very powerful sentiments with regard to the heart chakra.   I share with you here the message my heart received from her words.

Never fear that you are unloved....for the love of the Divine Mother is unconditional and ever present in our lives. 

Imagine the most beautiful flower you have ever seen.  The only way the flower can successfully open to it's fullest expression is if it has strong roots and a strong stem.  The heart chakra is that beautiful flower.  In order for it to bloom in it's full beauty it needs strong roots (groundedness and a sense of security - 1st chakra) and a strong stem (a strong, functional relationship with the Self  as well as others. That includes self-love - 2nd chakra). 

The deep longing for love and connection that we feel in our hearts should be turned towards God. Like the flower turns it's face to the sun.

I am eternally grateful to this practice of yoga and to the teachers who lovingly guide me along the way. It is what strengths me and gives me a sense of groundedness and security.  It is the practice that feeds me and opens, not only my heart, but my connection to the Divine.  When the connection to God is strong,  the knot in our heart dissolves and we can truly be a channel for Universal love.

 

Temper tantrum ahead... proceed with caution!!

One thing I know for sure is that I have no patience for yoga babble.  I was trying to think of way to say what I need to say in some flowery, fluffy way so that it won't come across so harsh.  Sorry... I can't come up with any yoga babble so here's my disclaimer:

You may not like what I have to say but that doesn't mean you don't need to hear it.  If you get offended easy... stop reading now.  If you're interested in getting to the heart of the matter.... keep reading.  The choice is yours.  I will try to say this as nicely as I know how.

It's time to wake up people!!  It's time to take off your malas and your fancy yoga pants and get down to the business of actually being a yogi!!!  Get off your meditation cushion and get your hands dirty in the world!!!  PAY ATTENTION TO THE YOGIC TEACHINGS!!  THEY APPLY TO YOU TOO!!

Yea, you... drinking your coconut water while your neighbor is dying of thirst.   You, who are busy counting mantras on your $108. malas while your friend is crying for help.   While you're practicing holding head stand for 20 minutes, there's a child who needs a mentor. 

All the talk of love and light and enlightenment has blinded us!!  The world will not be saved by meditation alone.   We must all be willing to get off our asses and WORK!!   Remember that??  There is real work to be done in this world if there's any hope of a future for our children. 

We cannot all renounce the world and sit in our air conditioned yoga room pretending that all is right with the world as long as we talk about contentment and acceptance.  Have any of you read the Bhagavad Gita??  Didn't Krishna talk about doing your duty?  I think so.   What is your duty?  Do you even know?

I'm no expert in spiritual matters but I do believe I remember 200hr yoga teacher training.  I remember some mention of karma yoga.  Remember Karma yoga?  The path of self-less service??  Not everyone is suppose to be a guru or priest!!  Some of us are suppose to be in the trenches, so to speak.  Who is the better yogi??  MY ANSWER.....THE ONE DOING HIS/HER OWN DUTY JOYFULLY.  Whether it's being the guru or being the one taking care of the day to day needs of the masses. 

Why is it that people in yoga-land are willing to travel to the other side of the globe to offer their self-less service but won't stop what they are doing to drive (in their air conditioned car) a few blocks to help a friend who is stranded in the streets for hours in 100 degree heat??????  

I know this won't make me very popular in yoga-land but hell... I've never  been in with the popular crowd anyway why worry about it at this point in my life?  The people closest to me know that I take my responsibilities very serious and that means my commitment to karma yoga.  

THIS IS A CALL TO ACTION....LOOK AROUND YOU... SEE WHAT WORK NEEDS TO BE DONE AND JUST DO IT!!!  EVEN IF NO-ONE IS LOOKING!!!!  Then you can call yourself a karma yogi.  

Never give up

This......is Pumpkin.

He is the most determined, clever, ingenious dog I have ever met.  You see, Pumpkin is bad.  Just down right bad.  That's why he's not allowed in the living room when no one is home.  To keep him out of the living room we block off the room with a huge piece of plywood.   That seemed to work.  Little did we know that all the while he had been formulating a plan.  Here's the plan (as we see it anyway...) He carefully pushes the dining room chair out from under the table.  Then he carefully jumps on the chair, making it easier to jump onto the dining room table.  Then he figures he has a better chance of jumping over the plywood.  So far, he hasn't figured out that part.  Knowing Pumpkin.....it won't be long before you figures it out.  NOTHING CAN STOP A BEAGLE FROM GETTING WHAT HE WANTS..... NOTHING.... Not even an iron dog crate. 

This...... is Ganesha

Ganesha's story goes something like this....He was chosen to be the scribe of the ancient yoga knowledge. The deal was that he was to write down the knowledge without stopping.  If he stopped for any reason the connection to the Divine wisdom would be broken and the information would be lost forever.  (No pressure, right?).  Somewhere along the way his pen broke so he broke off one of his tusks and used it as the pen. When the ink dried up he used his own blood as the ink..... How's that for perseverance and determination????

Then there's me..... I really did think of myself as being determined and I certainly felt like perseverance was one of my attributes.  Until today that is.  Today I realized that when I make the decision that I can't do something, for whatever reason, I simply shut down.  I close the door and move on.  Pumpkin notices he can't enter the room one way so he figures out another way.  Ganesha can't finish writing with the broken pen so he thinks of another way.  Me, I can't do it so I give up.  Fascinating!!   Finally the light bulb came on today.  Just because I can't do something one way doesn't mean I can't figure out another way to do it that I am more comfortable with.   There must be 100 ways for Pumpkin to make his way into the living room.  He's going to try all 100 until he finds the one the works best for him.  Why the hell do I stop after one try??

With examples of fierce determination like Pumpkin and Ganesha....We can longer say we can't do this or that.  We must try to find the way that works best for us and not quit until we have  exhausted every possibility first.   These traits of determination and perseverance can be strengthened with practice.  Like the muscles in our bodies, the more we use them, the stronger they become.  The stronger they become, the easier it becomes to accomplish seemingly impossible tasks.

Jai Ganesha!  Jai Pumpkin!

Role call.....

Ever try to close a container that you've overfilled with stuff?  Clearly you have too much stuff in there for it to close properly but you still try.  You push down one end and the other end pops open.  You re-arrange the stuff to try to get it to fit better.  You struggle and struggle to squeeze everything in and tightly close the container.  Sometimes you have to resort to tying or taping the container so that it stays shut with all your stuff inside. 

When we continue to play a role that we have clearly outgrown it's as pointless as trying to fit 100 lbs of stuff in a 5lb container.   At some point we need to recognize that it's no longer working and we need a different container.  

I have been know to throw away stuff because I like the container better than the stuff.  Sometimes we get attached to our container... aka:  the roles we play.   We identify more with the role than the person playing the role.  

I heard a speaker recently who described it as a seat assignment.  He said that right now the seat assignment the Universe gave him was the assignment to travel around sharing his story with others but that maybe tomorrow the assignment would change and he'd be painting houses.   

One day our seat assignment is the teacher, the next it's the student.  The roles are not fixed.  Like everything else in the Universe the roles we play are fluid and ever changing.  We must be willing to flow with Grace or be dragged.   We must be willing to evole or become extinct. 

When the role/container that we have neatly stuffed our true Self into becomes too small to contain it we must let go of the role and take on the next one.  Acceptance means being willing to change your seat assignment when the Universe is showing you that it's time. 

I can assure you that there will be people who will challenge you.  People get attached to the roles that we play, especially when we're really good at them.  They see you only as the role.  I can attest to this first hand.  I was so completely attached to the role my teacher was playing.   There was a period of time when I was so completely attached that I almost felt like his sole purpose was to support me on my jouney. 

I'm grateful that the Divine opened my eyes so that I could see that even the teacher is on his/her own jouney and also needs support.  It is sometimes difficult for us to accept when other people let go of the roles and accept a different seat assignment but it's necessary.   As we accept the changing roles of the people in our lives we can more easily accept the changes in our own roles.

Fluidity is the key. We must recogize that unless there is fluidity there will be stagnation.  We evlove or become extinct. 

What is love?

The question of the day.......What is Love?.....

I posted this question on my facebook page and it seems the question has ruffled a few feathers.  The reaction I've gotten to the question has been very interesting.   My favorite reaction is "What kind of question is that?!"  It was just a question.   I'm curious.  Curious about what people are thinking.

My pal, Jon, reminds me often that not everyone things like I do. (  Although I can't imagine why not)   I know what love means to me and I wanted to know what it means to other people.  In yoga-land they're always talk about love.  No matter what the question, no matter what the situation, no matter the problem the answer given is always LOVE.  BUT WHAT DOES THAT MEAN???

Those of you who know me personally know that I'm not the mushy type.  Does that mean I'm not loving?  Those of you who know me personally know that I would move mountains for you. That's what love is.  Doing whatever is needed to care for those I love,  even when I want to smack them.

I have found that the word "love" is too limiting.  There should be way more ways to describe love. For instance.... I love cupcakes and cosmopolitans and I love my children do not adequately describe my feelings.   Can you even describe feelings? 

I'm rarely at a lose for words but there aren't words powerful enough to adequately describe what love is. 

Some of my facebook friends shared their thoughts:

*  "Love is the willingness to recognize that which is real" ~ Erich Schiffman

*  It is now.

*  Open armed surrender to the process

*  "love is EVERYTHING"

*  unconditional selflessness.

*  Divinity devouring/nourishing/sacrificing itself for and in and by itself...
*  Love can not be emphatically defined. It changes its shape all of the time. Once it is labeled it diminishes its existence. Love is the unique perception of an individual that regards an experience as being wonderful beyond words.
*   Love is caring for someone with all your heart in good and bad

All wonderful comments but I must agree with this one:  "Love can not be emphatically defined. It changes its shape all of the time. Once it is labeled it diminishes its existence."

I can tell you that when I love.... I love with all my heart.... I love you means I would die for you.   Love means that I will go to hell and back to take care of you.  Love means that I accept you for you, the good, the bad, and ugly.  But that also means that I love you enough to call you out when you are not living up to your own Divinity...... 

Love is helping others find their way back to God.  Even if that means they don't like us much in the process.... 

The paper mache heart

The story goes something like this......


There once was a girl who thought her heart was made of paper mache. She thought this because she could feel in her heart even the slightest shift in energy. Her heart was constantly being tossed around, torn and tattered. She did her best to protect it from the storms but her efforts only lead to the paper mache being damage from her own tears.

One day, she was sitting on the porch listening to the giggles of the children playing. The good thing about having a paper mache heart is that it's also effected by the slightest bit joy, like the sweet giggles of little ones at play. That's when she noticed the gentle breeze making beautiful music as it blew through the wind chimes.

The girl then decided that maybe it would be better to think of her heart as a wind chime instead of paper mache. Like a paper mache heart, the nature of the wind chime is to be effected by even the slighted movement. Only that the wind chime uses the shifts to create music where the paper mache is torn apart by the shifts.

"Like two golden birds perched on the selfsame tree, Intimates friends, the ego and the Self dwell in the same body. The former eats the sweet and sour fruits of the tree of life while the latter looks on in detachment." ~ Mundaka Upanishad