Here's what I've been thinking about...

Imagine that you are in a flow type asana class. Through out the class the poses are changing but the breath remains the same. The breath exists in the different forms of the asanas and each asana presents a different situation which sets the stage for different experiences to be had. The flow of asanas leads eventually to Sivasana, corpse pose, representing the death of our attachment to the body and mind and our awakening to the True  Nature of Oneness.

Now imagine that each asana is representative of one of your life times.  The breath is a metaphor for your Soul. Just as the breath exists with in each new asana, your soul goes through many many cycles of birth, death and rebirth. Each time it does it takes on different forms and incarnates into different situations so that certain lessons can be learned and certain karma's can be worked out. All this, of course, is to facilitate the Soul's journey towards Moksha, liberation.

When you are in a pose in class that feels less then blissful you might be afforded some ease by the knowledge that the pose is not going to go on forever nor is it the last pose that you will we do. This sense of calm leads to a state of equanimity of mind that allows us to stay present and work through the discomforts and hopefully remove some deep seeded obstacles of body and mind that are preventing us from experiencing a greater sense of happiness and freedom in the pose.

In much the same way, the life that you are living now is just one 'asana' in the sequential series of many. (I'd even go so far to say that this entire manifest universe is but one in a series of many  sequential universal asanas but I'll save that for another time.) The placement of this life time is not arbitrary. It is a logical progression from the last and will lead you to where you need to be going just as the vinyasa unfolds in class. At times this 'asana' which is your life might put you in certain positions or situations that are uncomfortable; even, at times, painful. Why? So that you may learn and work through what you must in order to grow and evolve. If you resist or shut down during those times in your life what will happen? Well, what happens to you in class when you resist of shut down in a pose? Sometimes nothing and sometimes it actually become more painful (and of the two, the later is probably preferable). If you remain present in life and dedicate yourself to working just as you do in an asana in class , then it would stand to reason that you would also remove some deep seeded obstacles of body and mind that are holding you back from greater experiences of happiness and freedom with in this life time. Make sense?

Just as you would stay connected to the breath in class, strive to remain connected to the changeless nature of the soul rather then the ever-changing nature of body and mind. Put this life time in perspective. Do the work you need to do so that you might flow gracefully into the next life time and one day, into Bliss.

 

Comments

[Linda]

Thank you for sharing your insights. They are very helpful. I wish I lived in your area - I would love to attend your class.

With gratitude,
L

[Kim]

This is my first time to visit your blog, and I love it! Thank you for creating it. Jivamukti yoga really does have a transformative effect on my life and I am so grateful for it.

[Sofi]

Thanks Kim. Always great to hear from other "Jiva Yoginis"

Be Well,

Sofi