PEACE LOVE YOGA: Rome

Burnt To Ash

"All Inquiry is meant for one purpose; to take you experientially into the unknown as efficiently as possible. Once you get there, simply be still because inquiry has delivered you to its destination. The rest is up to Grace. Do not hold onto any knowledge that comes your way. Even the greatest revelations much not be clung to, or you will end up with a head full of memories and a heart empty of substance. The truth is ever new, existing only in the now. The highest truth is beyond knowledge and experience. It is beyond time and space, and beyond beingness, consciousness, and oneness. Just remember that all direct path techniques are meant simply to undermine, to cut away, the one who is performing them. No matter what spiritual path you've walked or what teachings you've followed, they must lead you back to no path and no teaching. A true teaching is like a blazing fire that consumes the itself. The teaching must not only consume you, but consume itself as well. All must be burned to ash, and then the ash must be burned. The, and only then, is the Ultimate realized. True Enlightenment destroys enlightenment. As long as you can refer back to yourself and say, 'I'm enlightened', you not. Enlightenment is authentic only when there is no one left to be enlightened. Even to say 'I am nobody', is one too many. There's a point when you intuitively realize that to be Free you have to give up your attachment to Freedom. You have to quit asking yourself: Is it still there? Am I okay? You have to decide to never look over your shoulder again to see if you're free or if others know you're free. You just have to let yourself burn there - no matter what. This isn't something I can help you with. I can tell you what you need to do, but you have to do it. In the beginning, teachers can help a lot. But the deeper you go, all they can do is point, and clarify, and tell you what you need to do. Only you can take this step. Nobody can push you in to this place."

- Adyashanti

No Expectations

A spirit that lives in this world

and does not wear the shirt of love,

such an existence is a deep disgrace.

Be foolishly in love,

because love is all there is.

There is no way into presence

except through a love exchange.

If someone asks, But what is love?

answer, Dissolving the will.

True freedom comes to those

who have escaped the questions

of freewill and fate.

Love is an emperor.

The two worlds play across him.

He barely notices their tumbling game.

Love and lover live in eternity.

Other desires are substitutes

for that way of being.

How long do you lay embracing a corpse?

Love rather the soul, which cannot be held.

Anything born in spring dies in the fall,

but love is not seasonal.

With wine pressed from grapes,

expect a hangover.

But this love path has no expectations.

You are uneasy riding the body?

Dismount. Travel lighter.

Wings will be given.

Be clear like a mirror

reflecting nothing.

Be clean of pictures and the worry

that comes with images.

Gaze into what is not ashamed

or afraid of any truth.

Contain all human faces in your own

without any judgement of them.

Be pure emptiness.

What is inside that? you ask.

Silence is all I can say.

Lovers have some secrets

that they keep.

(Rumi)

4.11.13

I've been promising more yoga related topics and they are to come and with that being said it has been an Autumn season like no other. Luckily, I've been able to keep my head on straight on some level. Within the whirlwind I'm late posting photos from our travels. Last september I hosted my annual Ashtanga yoga retreat in Salento, Italy and we made a stop in Rome afterward. The old world charm of Rome goes without saying so I won't bore you. It is one of those places you have to revisit to be able to soak it all up. This was our second trip and we still didn't have time for the Vacatian! That's on our list for next time.

7.10.12

Roma! A few days before and after our retreat we spent time in Rome. It stole my heart. Filled with beauty and history, Rome takes the cake. David and I simply enjoyed exploring the city streets. We'd walked down one street and awe how beautiful it was and then turn the corner down another, and say the same. Then there was the gelato. We indulged, consuming the best in town. Somehow my aversion to dairy took a back seat. I just had to try, and that I did, on more than one occasion. Made me breakout like crazy afterward, but somehow it was worth it, hahaha.

Being the fashion buff that I am I couldn't resist perusing the various high end boutiques. The house of Prada brought a tear to my eye. Yes, this yoga girl can still appreciate things of a material nature. It's simply an appreciation of things well made. The Italians have a special knack for this when it comes to fashion. It is undeniable.

I'm already looking forward to my next trip! Roma! I love you!

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PEACE LOVE YOGA

R. Sharath Jois

Burnt To Ash

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Hamsa

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4.11.13

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