What is reality?
When we enter a deeper or different 'reality' through effort or luck we see things in a new way usually. When we are 'moved' by a good 'movie' or some piece of music, art or poetry, we can see and feel things differently. A shift seems to take place somewhere in our chemistry and our perception is altered through some means we don't quite understand. These experiences enable us to question 'what is real?'
Once you know you can enter these states at will through yoga practise what is stopping you?
Think about it!
Believing something does not make it so, and by reading some of the vast treatise's on Yoga and surrounding topics we can get overwhelmed by some of the information. Some of the seemingly 'outrageous' statements by some of the more 'way out teachers' leave us a little bemused and sceptical. Such as stories of Yogi's being buried underground for days on end with no food, oxygen or water and stories of levitation can leave us feeling a little bit unsteady so we skim past these subjects and think no more of it. Or maybe even feel a little embarrassed that these people who seem so great in most respects have to go mentioning things like this.
But until we try we do not really know do we? So believing something or disregarding it because it doesn't fit our frame of reference is not good enough, especially since we have entered the 'arena' of yoga practise. Anyway who wants to levitate and hold the breath for an hour, why would we want to do that?
Once we begin to question things a little more deeply, and I think we will, we 'can' become unsteady. Our old references are no longer useful. This is where the 'guru' comes in, the 'weighty one', the 'knower', He/she becomes our guide and/or teacher, leading us through the strange landscapes of our inner world. Some people seem to need a guru and some don't, check yourself, what is it you think you don't know? Probably the last thing anyone needs at times of uncertainty is someone heaping more uncertainty and confusion onto us. At times of uncertainty and at any time in fact 'keeping it simple' is very useful.
If you have life threatening addiction problems a 12 step programme would be a good place to start. If you feel you cannot find the right support there are professional therapists to help you.
YoGa iS Not For EvErYon£!!! is IT? Yes it is . . . . . when y o u ArE Ready. . . .
Beware of the hazards of the teacher/guru's ego.... If it sounds like 'bullshit' it probably is!
'Bliss absolute' is the pinnacle of the practise. Supposedly it awaits us at the top of the mountain. But what if we never get to the top of the mountain, what if we never get near the top of the mountain? What if it's all a big hoax to keep us moving forward and the mountain is merely the carrot dangling in front of our donkey brains to keep plodding on towards this destiny of infinite possibility. But why would anyone want us to do that? The swami's of 2 thousand years ago had no vested interest in 'conning us' did they? Why would they? Or maybe they were all mad, driven insane by these deep breathing practises and strange twisting and bending postures they did.
What do think?
Don't believe it, try it! Your body/mind is the laboratory, this is where you can try out some of these techniques. What are you waiting for?
Why am I writing this?
Through the practise we are 'undoing ourself/s'. We are undoing years of conditioning. Do you think that is going to be easy? Start with what you can manage. Got to an Asana class or two, look around for a teacher you like. Then try doing some at home. If it doesn't seem to be working after 6 months go back to what you were doing before.
'A human being can only achieve full stature by living with dignity in the face of absurdity.' Albert Camus.
'Human life begins on the far side of despair' Jean-Paul Sartre.
'There's a crack in everything, that's how the light gets in' L. Cohen.
Shanti.
0 comments:
Post a Comment