Bow Down Yoga with Sofi Dillof, advanced certified Jivamukti instructor

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.

 

Jivamukti Podcast "Ishvara - the Guru that is here, there, and everywhere"

This Jivamukti Yoga Podcast is a full hour and a half Jivamukti class begining with chanting and an opening talk followed by an hour asana class, relaxation, and meditation.

Click here to play this podcast or right click (control click apple users) to save to your desktop.

You can also download and subscribe to my podcasts through iTunes!

To read my essay on Ishvara Pranidhana go to www.jivamuktiyoga.com and click on the "Focus of the Month" link.

If you have a minute after the class, leave a comment on this post and let me know how it went for you!

Go forth brave warrior ......

Here is your mission: It 4:55 pm. The post office closes at 5pm. You have a letter that has to be mailed today. Can you try as hard as you can to make it to the post office in the next five minutes but remain completely un-effected whether you make it there in time or not? This means not feeling happy (yeah me... life is great) if you make it and not feeling distressed (this is horrible ..... everything is wrong now) if you don't.

Often times I use this example in class to illustrate the praxis of "action-less action" or "non-attachment to action", one of the central themes of the Bhagavad Gita.

"Self-possessed, resolute, act, without any thought of results, open to success and failure. This equanimity is Yoga." - B. G. 2-48

There is no need, nor is it necessarily possible, to refrain from action in order to attain liberation (Moksha). The key is to perform all actions with an attitude of selflessness or dispassion. Remember, it is only the ego that is caught up in the whole "win/lose, success/failure" trip. This egotistic tendency stems from our own sense of self importance and leads to a life of anxiety, pain, and suffering. Instead, strive to make each action selfless. Relinquish your "it's all about me" attitude. Act wisely and boldly but do not concern yourself with the outcome of your actions.  In doing so, the mind will remain steady, undisturbed and focused in all situations. This is true liberation. Nothing will get you down!

This same teaching can be found in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. Here, Patanjali explains that Yoga (or Samadhi) can be attained through the non-identification of the fluctuations of the mind. In order to reach this one must sincerely, consistently, and with great effort practice concentration (abasyah) while simultaneously employing viragayah (non-attachment to all desires and worldly matters). In other words, work very hard in your pursuit of Yoga but have no expectations as to the outcome of your efforts. Worrying about whether or not you will someday attain liberation will only interfere with you efforts.

So, go forth, brave warriors. Take action! Engage! And then let go! Remain steady in mind and steady in heart. Everything else will take care of itself.

Om Shantih.