Third Series

Amazing demonstration of various postures in 3rd series. Fun to watch, as well as inspiring.

Humbly at His Feet

Moving video showing pictures of Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, and longtime Ashtanga yoga teachers who carry on his legacy.

Daily Gratitude

Today I am grateful for:

• A lovely early morning practiced followed my a walk in the forest. Doesn't get better than that.

• My first go at kayaking! Whew, talk about a shoulder workout...but, so incredibly neat you can kayak in and around Stockholm. Very cool.

• 11pm and there's still some daylight. Sun is up at 3:30am too!!

• Dinner and a movie with DF - simple and wonderful.

• Going to bed feeling totally spent but feeling like you had such a wonderful day.

• Summer!!!!!!!
  

Ashtanga Yoga Knee Training

Practices for more flexible knee joints. Not for beginners or those with knee injuries! Enjoy.

Daily Gratitude

Today I am grateful for:

• Saturday morning walks - ♥
  

• Gift from DF - of course he's the best gift of anything material.

• The best muesli ever for breakfast!! Yum. Yum. It's always the little things.
  

• Fresh summer salad for lunch, my favorite.

• A night out with friends - ★

• Every new day to see things differently and understand more deeply.
  

Kino Macgregor

I had the pleasure of meeting Kino, Certified Ashtanga yoga teacher, last winter in Mysore, India. She definitely has spunk and energy that matches her depth of knowledge. Enjoy!

The Blogoshpere

Real generosity toward the future consists of giving all to what is present.

— Albert Camus

Hard to believe I've been blogging for close to a two and a half years. Ha. Never thought I would become a regular blogger, while at the same time, pleasantly surprised at how much I've come to enjoy it.

The connections I've made through cyberspace have blessed me in many ways. At first, I was apprehensive about putting myself out there, so to speak - but really, it has only added to my life.

The amazing thing is, I've had the opportunity to meet 3 fellow bloggers this year alone! Women whose blogs I read and connected with, before meeting in person - and I met all of them in Mysore, India. So, I have to give my girls' props today!! Don't know what exactly took me so long!

Anyhoo - if you haven't already - check these ladies out when you get the chance.

Yogini's Quest - One of the most open...or wait...the most open person I've ever met! It's refreshing to meet someone who holds nothing back, but has a heart of gold. I love your honesty in every moment, your quick wit, your adventurous spirit, and laughter. You ask the hard questions and aren't afraid to take a look. I'm honored to be your friend, and fellow yogini.

A Lotus Girl - Ha! A force of nature that's for sure!! Enough energy to out last those half her age, and still have something leftover. With a charitable spirit, and a passion for helping others, you are undeniably generous of spirit, heart and soul. I don't think I would be too off base to say you love India more than all of us combined! What a pleasure it was to meet you and your precious Ray.

Inside Owl - Grounded. Insightful. Open minded and open hearted. Each of your blog entries are deeply rooted, often blowing my mind to bits. Literally. You give me much to think about, that's for sure, and I appreciate your point of view. I had such a pleasure meeting, and conversing with you. Such a strong yogini-inside and out!


Hopefully I'll be meeting up with you ladies in the not too distant future. All the best to you, and of course we'll stay in touch through cyberspace!! xoxox.

Daily Gratitude

Today, I am grateful for:

• Long Walks - so many beautiful places to walk in Stockholm.
  

• Hugs & Kisses - good medicine.

• Swedish Strawberries!

• Reminders of how precious life is.

• Sushi!! - how I love sushi, let me count the ways...especially with amazing company.

• Pranayama!! - 'nuff said.
  

• For every moment I feel the presence of Grace and connection. Thank you.
  

Lino Miele

Lino Miele, Certified teacher of Ashtanga yoga, out of Rome, Italy, brings a realm of playfulness to the practice. Very inspiring. He begun his Ashtanga journey at the age of 38!

Getting Into Lotus

Tips for those who find lotus pose a challenge. Enjoy!

Learning and Experiencing

“Be strong then, and enter into your own body;
there you have a sold place for your feet.
Think about it carefully!
Don't go off somewhere else!”

- Kabir

I've stepped away from writing about yoga for a while, even though it has continued to be a strong presence in my daily life. I guess you can say I've been marinating this past year, and I feel ready to share some of my insights. Not that they're gonna be anything earth-shattering. No. Just some little tidbits I've experienced or picked up along the way.

Steadfastly, the beginning of this year, I found a new place of devotion when it came to practice. I became reinvigorated on a different level. With it being my 2nd trip to Mysore, India, 2nd series was the focus this go around. I found new depth, and a different kind of strength. Somehow that happens naturally as the internal forces come alive, and the outer, physical skin, becomes softer and more refined.

Since being in Sweden, DF and I have continued to practice in the early, wee hours of the morning. It has been wonderful practicing with him. We help each other out in our more challenging asanas, while continuing our own flow. In addition, we've practiced with various teachers in the city, and guest teachers who have come through. There are quite a few experienced teachers established in Stockholm, which will be nice once I land my feet here. Previously, I was lucky enough to take a few classes from Certified teahcer, Alex Medin, based out of Oslo, Norway, and recently from long time Authorized teacher Gabriella Pascoli, an Aussie, based out of Goa, India. Both, were absolutely fabulous, and I highly recommend them.

With learning and experiencing a new found depth within the physical practice, it becomes a natural progression to feel compelled to delve deeper into self-study of philosphy (svadhyaya). Simply put, I cannot have one without the other. It's interesting how they balance each other other out, and put everything into proper perspective and light. Everyday seems to open a new door of understanding and wisdom, and becomes an exciting part of the process.

As always, there will be lots to share.

John Scott

Always a treat to watch a long time practitioner and senior teacher of Ashtanga yoga. Here, John Scott covers the core principles of the practice. Inspiring.

Daily Gratitude

A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving.

— Lao Tzu

Today, I am grateful for:

• DF - everyday spent with you has been a gift in every way imaginable.

• Daily, early morning yoga practice - the gift that keeps on giving.

• Pain - an opportunity to learn something.

• The beauty of Stockholm - I can't say it enough. I love it.

• The Scandinavian air - yes, I've said this one too many times too. Can't help it.

• The bluest of blue skies these past couple days. Absolutely lovely.

• Inspiration - A feeling that comes from within. God's grace. Thank you.
  

Practice Commentary

I had to post these videos, not only for the demonstration of postures, but because of the commentary and truth behind what the teacher, Anne Nuotio, expresses regarding practice. What she said deeply resonated and rang true for me in many ways.

A Swedish Midsummer

Epiphany! Light poured in, my soul took flight, and I had encountered why I was put here, and who to thank for it! Each portrait represents a fresh journey, a voyage of disclosure, as I am privileged to explore the uniqueness of others.

-David Goatley

Midsummer is a big deal in Sweden. Almost a bigger deal than Christmas!! Actually, if you were to ask a Swedish citizen they would probably say it is about equal to the Christmas holidays. Who new? It's such a big deal that Midsummer's Eve, and Midsummer's Day are national holidays awarding most citizen's the day off. Pretty nice if you ask me. I've been pretty tickled by this since it's centered around the Summer Solstice, and not around any one religion.

So what can you expect from a typical Swedish Midsummer's (or Midsommar's) celebration? Well, here is some of what to expect.



On the Menu

A typical Midsummer meal consists of the first potatoes of the year, pickled herring with sour cream, and fresh strawberries of the season...and, let not forget the schnapps! For some reason the Swedes like to sing songs before throwing back a shot of throat burning alcohol. I guess it makes it go down easier.

Traditions

Houses are decorated inside and out with wreaths and flower garlands.

Events include dancing around a maypole while singing traditional songs, that everyone seems to know. I'm not kidding. I've witness this first hand, and it looks like everyone is having a fun time doing it...or is it the schnapps?

Midsummer's Eve, young girls will pick seven wildflowers (sometimes nine) and put them under their pillows when they go to sleep in belief they will dream of their future love. Cute.

Evening bonfires are also a common occurrence during the "Midsommar" celebrations which stretch throughout the two days.

Midsummer is believed to be a time of year when extra magic is in the air. A time for rituals and rites!!


Maypole

So, there you have it. Some basic info on a Swedish Midsommar. One thing I have learned about the Swedes is they are true sun worshipers. In the dead of winter there can be close to only 4 hours of light, so when Spring and Summer come round they in no way take the sun for granted. People come alive, basking in the rays like nowhere I've ever been. It's pretty cool. However, it's easy to do in a place like Stockholm. With plenty of green space and lovely sites all around, it would be a challenge to take any of it for granted. That is why I feel so completely thankful to have gotten in touch with this country.

Swans

I wouldn't dream of working on something that didn't make my gut rumble, and my heart want to explode.

-Kate Winslet

Blue Skies

The five colors blind the eye. The five tones deafen the ear. The five flavors dull the taste. Racing and hunting madden the mind. Precious things lead one astray. Therefore the sage is guided by what he feels and not by what he sees. He lets go of that and chooses this.

-Tao Te Ching

Work and Career

Leisure is a form of silence, not noiselessness. It is the silence of contemplation such as occurs when we let our minds rest on a rosebud, a child at play, a Divine mystery, or a waterfall.

-Fulton J. Sheen

Having a week of solid rain in Stockholm really makes you appreciate the sun, that's for sure! I was beginning to wonder how much water could actually fall from the sky, and for how long. At any rate, nothing beats the Scandinavian air - it really is like no other place I've been - a pure and simple pleasure to breathe it in.

With the rainy weather, I suffered my first sinus infection I've had in a long time. Ever since going deep into Yoga it's a rarity to be afflicted with a cold of any kind. Being forced to power-down gave me the opportunity to re-evaluate a few things. There will be lots to hammer out with the impending move to Sweden. I'll have to leave the country to process paperwork to legally live here, and both DF and I are a bit uncertain about how long it will take.

Along with that, I've been chewing on several possibilities when it comes to work and career. Yes, the Yoga teaching will always be there, however there are other avenues I feel pulled and open to pursue. Why not. In many ways, my Yoga practice opens the portals within myself to be expressive and creative, so to have another outlet in my "work" would be delightful, and I feel compelled to explore what that means.

I guess now I've come to a place where it isn't about ambition. The themes that ring true are collaboration, inspiration, and creative expression. Where the work in itself brings a sense of completeness.

Landslide

The honorary duty of a human being is to love.

--Maya Angelou

Tapas

Just as your car runs more smoothly and requires less energy to go faster and farther when the wheels are in perfect alignment, you perform better when your thoughts, feelings, emotions, goals, and values are in balance.

-Brian Tracy

I love the idea of Tapas. Enough so, that I have a tattoo, written in Sanskrit, on my body. Below are a few excerpts on Tapas from, Inside the Yoga Sutras, by Reverend Jaganath Carrera, I'd like to share.

Tapas is not resignation, a passive submission to the sorrows of life, it is the embracing of pain as friend and teacher.

...to be free, we need to overcome our limitations. They need to be exposed, examined, and uprooted.

Tapas helps uncover hidden shortcomings by forcing them to surface in the conscious mind. Taken with the right understanding, suffering can bring forth the effort to overcome limitations. It also stimulates introspection and inspires creativity.

In the name of tapas, seekers expend great energy struggling to reconcile their beliefs with their own shortcomings and the disappointing realities of life. But the struggle is not fruitless; it brings us to a deeper self-knowledge and a truer understanding of life.

Tapas is not simply a patient, if unsettling, wait for painful events to come along so that they can be accepted. It can also be a voluntary act of will, a choice to embark knowingly on a path that might bring discomfort and challenge before producing its benefits.

Tapas also refers to the effort to be regular in the Yoga practices and to live a yogic lifestyle.

...tapas is the embrace of the entirety of life. Tapas is the foundation of an intimate relationships with the Intelligence that animates life. This relationship gives birth to wisdom, the certain knowledge--a steadfast faith--that the peace and joy of the inner Self is stronger and more enduring than an pain that life may bring. Through perfection in tapas, the fear that life is devoid of wisdom vanishes. Wisdom, faith, and fearlessness--these are the fruits of tapas.

War/No More Trouble - Playing for Change

The White Tiger - Book Review

The White Tiger, written by Aravind Adiga, is a worthwhile easy read. A fiction, illustrating the darker realities of India, through the eyes of a hired driver, is interesting, as well as entertaining.

Having spent only a total of 7 months in the country, naturally I've only experienced the bare minimum. However, it is a place of paradox in many instances. Much about this fascinating country has made me take pause, to shake my head and say, only in India, which are colorfully expressed in the book.

With 1.2 billion people, and 61 years since independence from English rule, India is just hitting it's stride, and books like The White Tiger give us the opportunity to get a feel for one side of this vast, multidimensional country.

Twists and Turns

We delight in the beauty of the butterfly but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.

-Maya Angelou

It's hard to believe a year has passed since I've been out of the United States. The months flew by, much has changed and developed, shifts and openings, challenges, surrendering, awakening, discovering, have all entered into the equation. To think I've gone from being in Taiwan to Hong Kong, Thailand to India...to end up in Sweden. Sweden?! I never would have entered that into the mix before hand, but that's how life works, that's what makes it exciting and unexpected. I welcome it.

I laugh when I tell people that Sweden was never on my radar of places to see or visit, but what a pleasant surprise. Of course, it took meeting an incredible human being, a vibrant soul full of love and integrity, to take me to what seems like a distant land. To think I've met someone who probably knows me better than anyone, and for it to happen in such a short amount of time is a gift. It's true, you can be with someone for a lifetime and never really know them. In turn, you can embrace fully everything before you and come to know someone in an instant. Time is insignificant. What matters is how deep you go. Encountering someone who is willing to go deep is a beautiful thing. Many run from this, for true intimacy is about being true to yourself first, and the key word is willingness.

With plans to move to a foreign country I have to say Sweden is an added bonus. It's like the cherry on top of a fabulous sundae. Granted no place is perfect, and there are some pretty cold winters in these parts, but the beauty and culture far out weigh anything that could even be considered negative. For one, I'm stoked about living in Europe and being in close proximity to many other amazing cultures and sights. There is lots to discover.

The added challenge of learning another language will only broaden my experience as well...puts me in an interesting place. The fact I will need to get over my shyness and bust out Swedish will definitely have me stepping outside my comfort zone. It's pretty much like stretching into a challenging asana, finding ease in the uncomfort.

I enjoy the contrast other countries and cultures bring to the experience. I could never fathom the fear related to those who don't embrace diversity and uniqueness. I say, bring it on. Through the observation and immersion of varying cultures I've discovered a place within I hadn't realized was there. It's cool. Something comes alive and awakens. Nothing to fear. Nothing to fear at all. When I see the alternative, I see stagnation, like one note being played over and over again with no change in sound or rhythm. We never see rivers flow in a straight line. They meander and curve while making it to their destination, and isn't it a delight to contemplate where the twists and turns take us.

Strength

The following are words on Strength and intensity of practice from, "Inside the Yoga Sutras," by Reverend Jaganath Cerrera.

Strength

The goal of Yoga is not easy to attain. It requires dedication, resolve, and perseverance to master the mind.

Strength is a foundation of all vows and commitments and is needed for success in any significant undertaking.

Whenever we make resolutions, it seems we are tested. Temptations, distractions, and old habits spring up from every side. We need to find the inner strength to persevere and to discover ways to succeed. If we pass the tests, we will be living heroic lives, demonstrating strength and integrity in our undertakings.

Strength is also what sees us through the dry periods of our practices. It is easy to meditate, pray and do pranayama when sweet benefits are experienced. But what keeps us going when we pray and feel no one is listening or meditate and spend the time half asleep or wondering what we should eat for breakfast?

Every seeker goes through difficult times. What once seemed rational now seems foolish. "Why should I be nonattached? I don't seem to be getting any benefits or having any fun. And why should I spend a couple of hours a day meditating? I seem to be missing out on a lot of enjoyment in life."

In times of trials we continue simply because we said we would. Our practice is not based on how we feel but on adhering to principles. That is strength, and it is beautiful.

1.22. The time necessary for success also depends on whether the practice is mild, moderate, or intense.

The previous sutra spoke of the zeal of the practitioner. This sutra expands on the idea of the intensity, the number of practices performed and the degree to which they are integrated into daily life. The more practices that are incorporated into daily life, the sooner the influence of ignorance diminishes.

A mild practice describes on that lacks steady enthusiasm and is most likely irregular. For these students, practice is minimal and regarded as a necessary chore. Practitioners in the middle category usually find at least some time everyday to fit in Yoga practices. They enjoy benefits, but much of their practice remains disconnected from the rest of their lives. Zealous practitioners make sadhana their priority. They keep inspired and focused and look forward to periods of practice. They also tend to see every aspect of their lives as an opportunity for growth. For them, practice becomes a character trait.

Although success in Yoga requires full application of our resources, we should be on guard against fanaticism. Any practice or lifestyle that abandons balance and harmony can lead to lopsided development, rigidity of outlook, and interpersonal strife. Practice should be balanced by nonattachement.

There is lots to be learned from the above excerpts. I'd have to say when it comes to strength the practice has given me this in every possible way, not only physically, but mentally. For, it all begins in the mind. I love how Sri K. Pattabhi Jois would say, "body strong, mind weak!" in reference to those who may be struggling in practice. It is so true in many instances how really when our mind cracks we see it manifest in our daily practices. However, not only that, in essence we truly are strong, and staying steadfast with the qualities of dedication, resolve, and perseverance, much can be accomplished on a deep level.

There have been many times where I've had to question why do I get up so early to do this again and again. The mind, going the through the tapes of doubt and apathy. To then, do it anyway, and when done to know with utmost certainty why I do it. There has never been a regret, not one, when it comes to taking up the practice of Ashtanga yoga. If anything if has given more than I could have imagined. The days I have felt weak and out of touch have taught me just as much as the days when everything seemed to flow into a magical rhythm. Everyday is different, the outer energy shifts and changes. Can I tap into the changeless and timeless when all on the outside seems lost? A question. An important question to ponder.

Faith

Words on Faith from," Inside the Yoga Sutras", by Reverend Jaganath Carrera

Faith

We look to faith to sustain us through difficulties and to provide meaning even in trying situations. Faith is not simply a higher form of belief. It is a powerful wish for something to be true. Faith is a state of certainty, of knowing. It is related to direct perception.

......As faith grows, it brings steadiness of mind. It provide the psychological "room" for life's lessons to be learned. Faith becomes the context in which we experience events. The result is reason but as profoundly rich, subtle, and complex field for learning and growth.

Faith is cultivated when we think of all the blessings we have already received in our lives. This helps to develop gratitude, gratitude ripens into devotion, and devotion culminates in faith.

Nonattachment Opens the Door to Wisdom

Words on Nonattachment from "Inside the Yoga Sutras," by Reverend Jaganath Carrera

Nonattachement Opens the Door to Wisdom

Wisdom is the ability to rise above the perceptions that are clouded by biased self-interest to discern the meaning concealed in a fact or event.

Nonattachment lifts us over the trees so that we can see the forest. If our attention is captivated by the disappointment we feel for a tree that has fallen, life in the forest can seem cruel and senseless. But if we expand our vision, we will see that this same fallen tree is returning needed nutrients for the forest floor as well as continuing to provide a home for countless creatures. Nonattachment frees the mind to rise above self-centered notions of the way of life so that we can glimpse the Divine Plan.

Understanding and working with nonattachment is a challenge but it is also highly rewarding. One day we will discover nonattachment's character as inner strength, objectivity, loving and caring, and the best way to enjoy life. Even a little success in nonattachment brings great benefit.

1.16. When there is nonthirst for even the gunas (constituents of Nature) due to realization of the Purusha, that is supreme nonattachment.

...Supreme nonattachment is based on having an inner experience so sweet, satisfying, and compelling that there is nothing on the outside that can compete with it.

I truly resonate with the last excerpt above. I can only begin to understand the meaning of this through experience and practice, and certainly reaffirms time and time again how desires in this life are fleeting at best, all the while, the richness felt inside stretches on and on, never ending, always giving, always loving...eternal.

The birds have vanished into the sky,
And now the last cloud fades away.
We sit together, the mountain and I,
Until only the mountain remains.

~ Li Po (701-762)

Your body is precious. It is your vehicle for awakening. Treat it with care.

~ Siddhartha Gautama

Venice of the North

"Be daring, be different, be impractical, be anything that will assert integrity of purpose and imaginative vision against the play-it-safers, the creatures of commonplace, the slaves of ordinary."

~ Cecil Beaton

A Firmly Grounded Practice - II

You are what your deep driving desire is.
As your desire is, so is your will.
As your will is, so is your deed.
As your deed is, so is your destiny.

~ Briha Daranyaka Upanishad. IV.4.5

More on cultivating a firmly grounded practice from, Inside the Yoga Sutras, by Reverand Jaganath Carrera.

Patience, perseverance, joy, and dedication combine to shorten our journey. Even a one-hundred-foot cube of granite can quickly disintegrate under this pressure.

Yoga is a science. If you practice diligently, you'll get the results. There is no doubt about it. We develop into better people, seeking within ourselves to find the place where devotion lives, where consistency is the natural state, and where the roots of love are hidden. We could replace, "long time, without break, and in all earnestness with "devotion, consistency, and love." These qualities will serve us well in any endeavor.

How can we tell if our practice has become firmly grounded? One simple answer is: when it is harder not to practice than to practice. Another touchstone is: when, for reasons beyond your control, practices are missed. Does skipping a day or two or a change of schedule initiate a cascade of irregularity? If so, the practice is not yet firmly grounded. Those who have firmly established their practice are not thrown off by changes in schedule, place, or time. For them, the joy and benefits of the practices are stronger than worldly distractions.

Dedicated practice generates a flow of mental energy toward Self-realization so strong and vital that no other result can follow. If we persist in promoting that flow, we will someday experience help (grace) in the form of the pull of the Absolute.

I also appreciate how the author explains the oneness of what Yoga practice means, and is never limited to any one thing.

Sri Patanjali demonstrates the universality of his understanding by simply presenting steadiness of mind as the foundation of spiritual practice.

That is why it is not a stretch to say that when a Catholic prays the rosary, it is essentially what the Yoga Stutras define as Yoga practice. It is the same with a Buddhist monk engaged in walking meditation in the jungles of Thailand and the Jew who reverenly prays in front of the Western Wall in Jerusalem or the Muslim facing Mecca in prayer. They may or may not know the name "Yoga," but according to the authority on the subject, they are engaged in Yoga practice.

A Firmly Grounded Practice

From the unlocked cage of my heart,
White doves of love go winging,
Wild larks of sunrise singing,
The ice of my heart is broken, broken,
Joys fountain leaps in the air,
And all the while no word was spoken,
I only looked at something fair.

~ Sangtharakshita

Haven't posted much lately on daily practice, so I feel due. I've continued to carry on where I left off in Mysore, India, going deeper within each posture, finding new edges or places to enter. Even though I've been doing it for years it hasn't been boring in the least. Enriching at best. Yeah, I've practiced 3rd series with several certified teachers that felt I was in a good place, but I've learned just how intertwined each series really is, and how nothing is ever lost. Rediscovering familiar postures with continued enthusiasm has never ceased to bear fruit. At any rate, I feel inspired to stick with what I've practiced with Sharath and simply be with it.

Instead of worrying about any one posture, my focus has continued with how I link each posture together, flowing in a unified manner. This is where I feel encouraged to deepen. Allowing my breath to fuel the movement, and be present with each place I come into isn't always easy, but once lost in the breath and movement, nothing feels better. The formula of this connection gives boundless space to experience inner freedom. Connectedness. In the flow, I've begun to notice places where I cut my breath short, having a tendency to loose focus or inner stillness. These are good places to observe, while ironing out the angst I feel when it comes to any one asana. Can I find deeper ease and steadiness? What is it that pulls me out of center? Where do I tend to effort too much or become complacent? Obviously, these processes happen in a fraction of a second, but nonetheless it has taken me inside the depths of the mind where everything begins.

With that being said I'd like to continue with excerpts from, Inside the Yoga Sutras, by Reverend Jaganath Carrera where he shares his insights on what it means to have a 'firmly grounded' practice.

1.14 Practice becomes firmly grounded when well attended to for a long time, without break, and with enthusiasm.

What is a "firmly grounded" practice and why is it a desirable state?

A firmly grounded practice is one that occurs daily without strain or grudging participation. It is meaningful, inspired, and focused. It is a joyful habit that accompanies practitioners throughout their lives and becomes the unbroken thread that guides them to Self-realization.

A firmly grounded practice is not simply an ingrained routine of spiritual exercises but an anticipated time of connection to deeper levels of self. It is a time of growing acquaintance with our True Identity, of spiritual discovery and nurturance. Times in practice are times of integration and increasing wholeness. This vision of practice is the ideal and is achievable by anyone who follows the advice presented in this sutra.

The attainment of a firmly grounded practice marks an important stage in spiritual pursuits: it is the shift from "doing Yoga" to having Yoga practice become a natural expression of who we are. Practices are no longer activities outside us--techniques or observances that have been added to our daily life. Practices become as integral to our life experience as eating and sleeping.

Yet most practitioners know that there are times when practice is not a pleasant experience. Initial enthusiasm--the anticipation and zeal to experience the peace and joy of higher spiritual states--can gradually give way to complacency and carelessness. These are times when much of our energy is spent on cajoling, persuading, and sometimes even intimidating ourselves to practice. When practice is irregular, the hoped-fo benefits are not realized leading to a downward spiral of even less frequent, less focused practice. To avoid this pitfall, Sri Patanjali offers a simple, effective formula for cultivation a firmly grounded practice.

He goes on to mention the importance of patience, knowing it will take time, the value of consistency, and emphasis on enthusiasm possessing non-attachment to results, however stressing that no effort in Yoga is ever wasted. I especially like the enthusiasm part. Whenever doing something joyfully, no matter what it is, makes the process in itself a living, breathing work of art to experience in the moment.

Heart

Be still like a mountain. Flow like a great river

~ Lao-Tzu

I'd like to share another excerpt from, Inside the Yoga Sutras, by Reverend Jaganath Carrera. The following commentary is regarding living with a pure heart.

At some point in your grade-school years you were probably asked to memorize a poem to recite the next day. What did you say if you know it perfectly? "I know it by heart." Not by head, mind, or brain, but by heart. Heart implies the totality of the mind, something deeper and more stale than the usual thinking apparatus. To have a pure heart is to have a clean, steady mind--a state of nirodha. The result of this purity is that we shall see God. There is no choice implied. If your heart is pure, you will see God; no ifs, ands, or buts.

The Old Testament contains a very similar idea. It appears in Psalm 46.10. This time it is God speaking: "Be still and know that I am God." Stillness is the requirement. Stillness; no simply refraining from motion, but absolute stillness, like the calm, clear surface of a lake which can reflect like a mirror.

All those who have achieved nirodha have the gift or dual vision. They see the unity that is God behind the diversity of names and forms. They never lose sight of the Cosmic One that is the ground of all creation. How do those of us who have not attained this lofty state view the world? What happens to our perception of the Self when the mind is colored by ignorance?

A Defining Moment

Loose yourself.
Escape from the black cloud that surrounds you.
Then you will see your own light.
As radiant as the full moon.

~ Rumi

A defining moment. A time when a choice must be made. A culmination of experience, and living. Knowing that either I can walk down a path I've already walked, or choosing another. A moment of timeless knowing, as past and future rush forth as one, a receiving of clarity on what needs to be known.

I had this exact experience during my time in India. So much gathered for me to reach this point. A glimpse. A glimpse, how I tire at drawing in a certain energy. A pattern. A wheel of constant turning. Turning. Turning. No longer, I decided. This is insanity. At that moment, I told my friend, I want to choose different, and I did. As simple as that. No longer did I need the counsel of other people's opinions. In my heart I new. There was no doubt, not for one second. No regret. Not a single one. How could there be? I had a small taste of foresight. No longer fearing the unknown. I went with my heart, and what a glorious gift that became.

Somehow, we become comfortable spinning the same wheel. Like my wise friend used to always say..."We sit in shit because it's warm. But, we're still sitting in shit." I used to laugh when she would say this. What a revelation.

Listening and consciously letting go. When we choose the guidance of our higher nature, we never loose. Sometimes we get caught in thinking we know what it is we want, but the guidance within always knows what is best for us.

I laugh at my blindness. I've come to a point where this is possible. Finally, I banished the doubt I harbored then, and those who fed on it, and allowed it to continue. It's hard to believe how long I've ignored the strong impulses that have nudged me for so long. What a comfort to know it has always been, and always will be, patiently waiting for me to eventually listen. Trust. What a gift.

To witness this gift manifested in human form, to whom I've grown to love in a flash of instant, has taught me much, and has loved openly, fully, and completely. With the stillness of mind, I see you, and will forever be held in gratitude because of this gift. ♥u,DF.

Yoga Sutra Study

"Maturity includes the recognition that no one is going to see anything in us that we don’t see in ourselves. Stop waiting for a producer. Produce yourself."

~ Marianne Williamson

I'm greatly enjoying the current Yoga Sutra translation/commentary, I'm reading/studying at the moment. Haven't exactly counted how many Yoga Sutra translations I've read, but it's been a fair amount. Good to get various perspectives, ultimately putting the threads into practice, coming to experience them on a deep level. Yes, gaining true understanding is more than simply reading text. At this stage in the game, I'm still very much a novice. Naturally, it is a life long endeavor and practice. No rush. Slowly, slowly.

When understanding the nature of the ego, I really got a kick how the author, Reverend Jaganath Carrera, described it. Here it is as follows.

The ego is something like a dog marking its territory in a forest. Before the dog came along, the trees were simply there, belonging to no one. When the dog adds its scent to the trees, it feels that they're his. The pooch now has something to defend--property to worry over. Likewise, the ego stakes out the borders of self-identity and then exerts effort to maintain and strengthen it, while avoiding anything it regards as threatening or unpleasant.

It is at the level of ego that suffereing arises. The ego prevents us from perceiving the Purusha (Divine Self) as our True Identity. It harbors expectations and cravings, becomes frightened, insecure, angry and envious. Yet it is the same ego that experiences love, caring, and compassion. So, in the name of Yoga, what will we be asked to do with the ego?

The yogi's first task is to eliminate not the ego but the selfishness that pollutes it. When this is accomplished, negative traits disappear, leaving the virtrues intact. But even a clean ego has limitations--the ego, by definition is limitation. It defines and maintains our most basic parameter: our sense of separateness. Enlightenment requires one more stage: the transcending of the ego, a shift from identifiying oneself as the body-mind to the realization of oneself as Purusha.

~ Inside the Yoga Sutras, A Comprehensive Sourcebook for the Study and Practice of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, by Reverend Jaganath Carrera

The description of the ego being like a dog marking its territory, makes sense. I've never quite heard it described as such. Kinda gave me a bit of a giggle.

I move in waves when it comes to philosophical study. Often, I feel it is best to put all that stuff away and simply live life and maybe stop contemplating so much, but continuing to observe the raise and fall of emotional reactions, getting a feel where patterns may stem, continue. There's really no going back on this matter entirely. Once delving into this practice, by putting space around reactions, begins the process of taking responsibility for one's own circumstances. We do create our reality, even though we may not want to except it. However, there is great empowerment in understanding this as well. I'm not saying it's easy, nonetheless.

Most importantly, as simple as it sounds, if I'm not laughing enough on any given day THEN surly I need to lighten up. :-)

Inspiring Short Film in an Inspiring Country