more of more or less

I believe and it is also my experience that when the mind, the body and the breath are integrated, or working more harmoniously with one another we will usually experience a state of peacefulness that could be called by some a 'spiritual feeling'. This so called 'spiritual feeling or experience' is not a separate space that we have to try and reach by 'being good', it is an inner experience, a feeling of integrated peacefulness that opens us up to a new level of experience. And it is created by integrating the mind the body and the breath. This same feeling can happen sometimes by chance, e.g when we hear some beautiful music, or see a great piece of art or a lovely view etc. These are known by some as 'peak experiences', a heightened state of awareness where you may notice things that otherwise you would miss.

So we have our mundane everyday level of awareness where we spend most of our time. We spend most if not all of our time on this level thinking allot. We think about many things, we plan and create, we fantasise and remember things and we project into the future, in this space we are all very unique. Suddenly either by chance or by design we are catapulted into a peak experience. We enjoy this peak and then return to the mundane and get on with our life. These peaks have been known by some to completely change a persons life.

When we do our yoga practises over and over again aren't we moving in an upward arc in terms of our awareness/consciousness and energy levels? Is this true or not and if it is how do we deal with it? Once you have decided that you are moving into a higher or different state of consciousness you surely have to decide what you are going to do with it, because now you have moved or are moving into learning how to create these peak experiences at will!

We may have one life or many lives if you believe that. But whichever you believe, the truth is that you are here now! What you are doing here and now is another thing altogether. As one becomes more aware, one surely 'needs' to take more responsibility for oneself. At any time asking oneself the question, "What Am I 'really' doing", is very profound. Not in a neurotic way but in a 'felt and grounded' way.

The way it seems to go is: Improving commitment to practising Yoga - leading to increased levels of energy and awareness - leading to increased need to take more responsibility for oneself.

As awareness increases so does the part of the mind that is determined to hold you back. This part of the mind in some systems is referred to as the 'ego'. The goal then for some seems to be to 'destroy' the ego. Well if you do that you will not be very functional in this world of materiality anymore will you? So surely it would be better to look at the 'shape' you are in and determine from there where you 'want' to go next. This may seem like a bit of a contradiction in respect to me already having said that there is only 'here and now', but you know what I mean don't you?

First we practise - then we become aware - then we take action. Otherwise there is the 'fear' of becoming a 'physical jerk', i.e, running from yoga class to yoga class, from teacher to teacher looking for something that you already have. I'm saying this of course knowing that I spent quite a time running around before I 'realised' something very important.

Om Hari Om