Happy/Not Happy ?

"All I want is to be happy". This is a common answer when people are asked what they 'really' want. We are told that the 'Royal road of Yoga' leads to Enlightenment/Samhadi/Bliss absolute and we have been given the maps to get there. This is very good, now all we have to do is get on with it!

But a small voice in me says, "Yea right" in a kind of dismissive tone. Well ok then, if this voice is there in me all I need to ask is, does it have any relevance to my ongoing well being? It is a voice I know well, it is part of my personality make-up, it has been with me a long time, so can I afford to ignore it?

'To be or not to be. That is the question'. Well he knew what he was saying when he said that didn't he?

The question, "Who am I" if uttered outside of the yogic arena would seem a little disconcerting. Imagine standing with friends and saying that, they would probably think you were joking and if they considered you were serious would probably tell you of a psychotherapist they know. 'But' within the realm of the 'inner work' of Yoga/Meditation this question has a profound significance. We all, I believe, have roles to play and we can be many things to many people, father, mother, brother, sister, friend, work colleague, employer, employee etc, and In order to exist relatively comfortably we have to learn to adapt to our differing situations and relationships. Even those that have 'found themselves' I would say would have to compromise at certain points to 'play the game of life' with others.

In our practise, whatever it may be, aren't we looking for a 'place to be peaceful' with ourselves and others? We start with ourselves working through postures some of which we may find very challenging. In starting with the dis-comfort of certain postures aren't we learning to 'handle' our discomfort? We all have our favourite postures as we have those we avoid and dislike, this is the same with our lives too isn't it? We have things we 'love' to do and we have things we 'have' to do. We may love going to the movies but don't relish the thought of getting on the tube on Monday morning in the rain and cold, or it may be the opposite, whatever turns you on. So in effect the Asana practise is seen as metaphor. Hanging out in our least favourite posture first thing on a Monday morning for half an hour takes us straight to the core of our resistance to 'FEEELINGSSSS'.

So you could use the adage; If you're going to suffer get on with it! Otherwise enjoy yourself!

I am not being unsympathetic I know exactly what it is like to 'have to' do some thing I don't really want to do. This is a basic fact of life that I have taken many years to come to terms with. Suffering in the short term to achieve the long term goal, whatever it may be.

'A human being can only achieve full stature by living with dignity in the face of absurdity' Albert Camus.