Life is suffering - this is what Buddha said.
What do you think? Is it really?
Sometimes it is and sometimes it isn't - is more or less an honest answer.
Now if we become more conscious and therefore more aware can't we make our lives so that we suffer less.
According to some we will only suffer if we act unconsciously. If we become more conscious of our thoughts and how they relate to the reality we want to live in then surely we can create the life or (reality) that we want rather than be lumbered with the one we think we have got no choice over.
If we are conscious of what we do and why we do it, would we ever choose to create a mess for ourselves? I don't think so.
So the answer is to become more aware.
We have the tools for this with Yoga - the full picture of yoga provides us with what we need to activate a faster transitional consciousness expansion. It provides us with the tools and also supports us through the various events that will precipitate consciousness expansion, usually these events are referred to as crises.
Om
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
needing and/or wanting
Yogic practice, apart from anything else, has taught me about economy. Energy economy and how I use my body/mind.
Determining for myself what I really need and differentiating need from want.
Compulsive wanting keeps me addicted to things and I become miserable.
'I think therefore I am' - becomes - 'I think therefore, I think, I want'.
According to someone, and I can't remember who, humans have few needs. As far as I can remember they are; food, shelter, warmth, human company, (debatable), water, sleep, going to the toilet ;) and maybe some other things too.
But when it comes to wanting the list can be endless!
Of course it is okay to want things, the same as it is okay to work, eat, go out and play etc. But when the wanting become an addiction, a thing that becomes a compulsive need as opposed to a healthy need, then we/I/us are in deep poo.
'The truth shall set you free, but first it might really piss you off!' Anon quote.
Remember the one great truth - yoga will work, but you have to do some first.
Determining for myself what I really need and differentiating need from want.
Compulsive wanting keeps me addicted to things and I become miserable.
'I think therefore I am' - becomes - 'I think therefore, I think, I want'.
According to someone, and I can't remember who, humans have few needs. As far as I can remember they are; food, shelter, warmth, human company, (debatable), water, sleep, going to the toilet ;) and maybe some other things too.
But when it comes to wanting the list can be endless!
Of course it is okay to want things, the same as it is okay to work, eat, go out and play etc. But when the wanting become an addiction, a thing that becomes a compulsive need as opposed to a healthy need, then we/I/us are in deep poo.
'The truth shall set you free, but first it might really piss you off!' Anon quote.
Remember the one great truth - yoga will work, but you have to do some first.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Tranit time.
It looks on the surface of things as if the global financial crisis is here for a while.
Add to this the already gloomy prospects for the future of the planet, or more directly, the future of the human race as it exists now on this planet and we could easily begin to feel a little stressed or unhappy or both.
It appears as if times are getting hard and all the predictions seem to be pointing at the prospect of things getting worse.
Never more was the time right for paying attention to detail.
What can 'you' do about it?
What do you want to do about it?
Can you do anything about it?
Peace lies within.
Whether you believe this or not it is true.
How can you find peace within?
By shutting up and sitting still and getting on with doing nothing.
By trying to do nothing you will become aware of how difficult that is.
Then you may realise just how busy your mind is.
Then you may start to see what you are up against.
Then you will either give up or get on with it.
Get on with looking inside to see who you are.
It may make it easier if you do some Asana practice first.
It may make it easier if you do some Pranayama first.
When you look in the mirror you will see the cause of and the solution to all of your problems - or at least some of the more important problems that you think you have.
Saturday, September 24, 2011
The only way is in.
When you've had enough take a look inside, you never know what you may find.
You may even find your - SElf!
For those that don't know
Know explanation is possible
For those that do know
No explanation is necessary
OM Nama Shiva!
Friday, September 23, 2011
to be or not to be
After you've done the route of yoga centers and teachers and you know everything off by heart, then what do you do?
Who are you now you can do the perfect posture?
Who are you now you are here on the floor with your yoga mat (if you own one) and your life.
People need to have an identity to cling to. A life needs filling up, so we fill up the empty spaces with people and things. At a certain point some of us ask, 'who are these people, and what are these things for?'
If you find yourself in this position then yoga is for you. It gives you a map to yourself. Don't worry about all the glory seeking pundits who want to tell you how to do it. Find a good asana teacher, find someone that can teach you pranayama and meditation and then get on with it.
Presumably if you have already arrived at a point where people, places and things have become a bore and a chore the last thing you'll need is a 'community' based yoga center, an oxymoron if ever there was one.
If you are serious about yoga you will be led in the right direction. Trust yourself, switch on your 'bullshit detectors'.
Who are you now you can do the perfect posture?
Who are you now you are here on the floor with your yoga mat (if you own one) and your life.
People need to have an identity to cling to. A life needs filling up, so we fill up the empty spaces with people and things. At a certain point some of us ask, 'who are these people, and what are these things for?'
If you find yourself in this position then yoga is for you. It gives you a map to yourself. Don't worry about all the glory seeking pundits who want to tell you how to do it. Find a good asana teacher, find someone that can teach you pranayama and meditation and then get on with it.
Presumably if you have already arrived at a point where people, places and things have become a bore and a chore the last thing you'll need is a 'community' based yoga center, an oxymoron if ever there was one.
If you are serious about yoga you will be led in the right direction. Trust yourself, switch on your 'bullshit detectors'.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
imagine.
To sum it all up just imagine being able to sit still and breathe a deep, calm, regular breath for an hour.
When you can do that you may just be starting to get some where.
Yoga Asana's are used to strengthen the body to make it more capable of containing larger amounts of dynamic energy (prana). In and of themselves yoga asana's are pointless. They are useful as a preparation for keeping still for longer periods of time so that you can generate large amounts of prana. The prana then goes to work on the deeper layers of the body/mind.
You need do no more.
Doing the perfect posture is nothing other than doing the perfect posture, it may make you feel good when you see a picture of yourself for a moment, but beyond that worthless!
Hari Om Tat Sat.
When you can do that you may just be starting to get some where.
Yoga Asana's are used to strengthen the body to make it more capable of containing larger amounts of dynamic energy (prana). In and of themselves yoga asana's are pointless. They are useful as a preparation for keeping still for longer periods of time so that you can generate large amounts of prana. The prana then goes to work on the deeper layers of the body/mind.
You need do no more.
Doing the perfect posture is nothing other than doing the perfect posture, it may make you feel good when you see a picture of yourself for a moment, but beyond that worthless!
Hari Om Tat Sat.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
The Land of sticky mud.
More on Pranayama!
Imagine living in a land that is full of mud. You have to walk around in this mud all day with big heavy boots. You have always walked in this mud so you know no other way to be. One day you find out that you can go to another place, a place that has no mud. You don't believe it, you cannot possibly imagine what it could be like without mud. But you go and see for yourself and it is incredible, you love it there. But after a while you cannot handle it anymore, all the the old ways of living in mud, all of the people you knew that were living in mud are now gone, you miss them. So you go back to mud-land.
But now you have tasted life without mud it can never be the same. You are confused. People in mud-land do not understand you, so you try to explain. Then after some time you go back to the other place without mud and you enjoy it so much you stay there a bit longer. But again you miss the mud ways and people so you return again. This process goes on and over time you slowly adjust to the no mud-land and decide to stay there. Some people follow you, but most do not.
It is a painful time of letting go and transformation. But you know once you have been to no mud-land you cannot go back anymore, life will never be the same again. Some of your friends cannot make the adjustment, they stay in mud-land. The old ways of mud-land are gradually replaced as you adapt to this new place you live in.
Once you have tasted the fruits of Pranayama you can never be satisfied again with living in mundane reality. This is the 'real' disturbing nature of Yoga practise. You will be dicombobulated until you adjust yourself to the new levels of energy that you are bringing in. You may move forward and back until you adapt. You may decide that it is too hard and it is hard. Doing the practice is challenging enough, but making the adjustments that the practice brings with it is even more challenging. This is why some people choose to live in an ashram. Ashrams are a bit like the old convalescent homes for people who can't cope with living in the outside world. Cults form and communities form in order to support one another and play games. It takes the hard edge off of the realisation that we are finite physically and totally responsible for our own lives and that one day we will die.
Siva! Om.
Imagine living in a land that is full of mud. You have to walk around in this mud all day with big heavy boots. You have always walked in this mud so you know no other way to be. One day you find out that you can go to another place, a place that has no mud. You don't believe it, you cannot possibly imagine what it could be like without mud. But you go and see for yourself and it is incredible, you love it there. But after a while you cannot handle it anymore, all the the old ways of living in mud, all of the people you knew that were living in mud are now gone, you miss them. So you go back to mud-land.
But now you have tasted life without mud it can never be the same. You are confused. People in mud-land do not understand you, so you try to explain. Then after some time you go back to the other place without mud and you enjoy it so much you stay there a bit longer. But again you miss the mud ways and people so you return again. This process goes on and over time you slowly adjust to the no mud-land and decide to stay there. Some people follow you, but most do not.
It is a painful time of letting go and transformation. But you know once you have been to no mud-land you cannot go back anymore, life will never be the same again. Some of your friends cannot make the adjustment, they stay in mud-land. The old ways of mud-land are gradually replaced as you adapt to this new place you live in.
Once you have tasted the fruits of Pranayama you can never be satisfied again with living in mundane reality. This is the 'real' disturbing nature of Yoga practise. You will be dicombobulated until you adjust yourself to the new levels of energy that you are bringing in. You may move forward and back until you adapt. You may decide that it is too hard and it is hard. Doing the practice is challenging enough, but making the adjustments that the practice brings with it is even more challenging. This is why some people choose to live in an ashram. Ashrams are a bit like the old convalescent homes for people who can't cope with living in the outside world. Cults form and communities form in order to support one another and play games. It takes the hard edge off of the realisation that we are finite physically and totally responsible for our own lives and that one day we will die.
Siva! Om.
Monday, September 19, 2011
Pranayam!
You have to do pranayama, if you do not do pranayama you will become over grounded and ego centred, you will think you are great because you can do all sorts of things with your body, you will become a physical jerk.
Pranayama can really change your energy levels, so if you are used to low grade energy levels and suddenly shoot up a level or two you may become freaked out and not be able to handle it and then give 'it' up.
It is recommended that you find a teacher to show you how to do it.
Starting slowly and building up the amount you do is advisable.
Kapalbhatti is not in the strictest sense of the word pranayama, but it is usually a precursor to the main thing so it might as well be called pranayama.
Kapalbhatti is used, among other things, for clearing the airways and getting some oxygen into blood stream. Starting with 20 pumps and working your way up gradually to 120 or more.
The rule of thumb is to feel that you are not straining too much, some effort is required of course because it is an active dynamic focus on the pumping exhale. The inhale is more or less passive. The abdominal muscles should be pulled back on the exhale and focusing on the movement of the abdomen is a good way to pay attention to what you are doing.
The abdomen draws back on the exhale and passively moves forward on the inhale.
Time, as they say is a great teacher, the more you do it, the better you get at it.
What can go wrong? There are certain dire warnings around the techniques and effects of Pranayama. I think some of these are a little over the top, but it is always good to be cautious. You may feel dizzy and light headed caused by the effect of a sudden input of oxygen, especially if you are not used to it. This should get better over time and steady practise. If not you should consult your GP if any doubt arises, low blood sugar and/or anaemia may be a factor in feelings of fatigue and light headedness etc.
If you go at a steady pace you will 'feel' the effect of this process. More oxygen will be good for you, you will feel clearer and lighter.
Too much oxygen can cause a thing called tetany. This happens when too much carbon dioxide is discharged, causing an over oxygenation of the blood. The symptoms can be tingling around the lips and sometimes the fingertips. But this will clear up once the body is used to higher levels of oxygen.
The main problems occur from the sudden energy shifts. Supposing you are depressed (tamasic) and you do a whole lot of pranayama, your increased energy can suddenly shoot you into a whole new reality. This of course can be more than a little disturbing to the untrained mind. For example, one minute you are low down and the next you are lifted high. It's great to be up and you feel great. But just as suddenly the effect of the exercise wears off and you are dropped deeply back into the murky depressive/tamasic energy once more. This can feel like hell, because now you have a reference point in the upward direction and something to compare this low tamasic energy with.
But! like I said before, if you have the tenacity you will slowly integrate these feelings of up and down movement of your energy. You will become the master controller of your own energy levels.
To some of you this may appear over simplified. This blog is really for my students. Students that come to me for regular classes. Much of what I have said on here can be verified with a little research. If you can be bothered you can also leave comments, but I don't usually encourage this.
Om
Pranayama can really change your energy levels, so if you are used to low grade energy levels and suddenly shoot up a level or two you may become freaked out and not be able to handle it and then give 'it' up.
It is recommended that you find a teacher to show you how to do it.
Starting slowly and building up the amount you do is advisable.
Kapalbhatti is not in the strictest sense of the word pranayama, but it is usually a precursor to the main thing so it might as well be called pranayama.
Kapalbhatti is used, among other things, for clearing the airways and getting some oxygen into blood stream. Starting with 20 pumps and working your way up gradually to 120 or more.
The rule of thumb is to feel that you are not straining too much, some effort is required of course because it is an active dynamic focus on the pumping exhale. The inhale is more or less passive. The abdominal muscles should be pulled back on the exhale and focusing on the movement of the abdomen is a good way to pay attention to what you are doing.
The abdomen draws back on the exhale and passively moves forward on the inhale.
Time, as they say is a great teacher, the more you do it, the better you get at it.
What can go wrong? There are certain dire warnings around the techniques and effects of Pranayama. I think some of these are a little over the top, but it is always good to be cautious. You may feel dizzy and light headed caused by the effect of a sudden input of oxygen, especially if you are not used to it. This should get better over time and steady practise. If not you should consult your GP if any doubt arises, low blood sugar and/or anaemia may be a factor in feelings of fatigue and light headedness etc.
If you go at a steady pace you will 'feel' the effect of this process. More oxygen will be good for you, you will feel clearer and lighter.
Too much oxygen can cause a thing called tetany. This happens when too much carbon dioxide is discharged, causing an over oxygenation of the blood. The symptoms can be tingling around the lips and sometimes the fingertips. But this will clear up once the body is used to higher levels of oxygen.
The main problems occur from the sudden energy shifts. Supposing you are depressed (tamasic) and you do a whole lot of pranayama, your increased energy can suddenly shoot you into a whole new reality. This of course can be more than a little disturbing to the untrained mind. For example, one minute you are low down and the next you are lifted high. It's great to be up and you feel great. But just as suddenly the effect of the exercise wears off and you are dropped deeply back into the murky depressive/tamasic energy once more. This can feel like hell, because now you have a reference point in the upward direction and something to compare this low tamasic energy with.
But! like I said before, if you have the tenacity you will slowly integrate these feelings of up and down movement of your energy. You will become the master controller of your own energy levels.
To some of you this may appear over simplified. This blog is really for my students. Students that come to me for regular classes. Much of what I have said on here can be verified with a little research. If you can be bothered you can also leave comments, but I don't usually encourage this.
Om
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Every second of every minute of every day.
Think about that for a minute - we are responsible for everything we do all day long. There is never a time when we are not responsible for what we do!
A bit of a load to carry that is, isn't it?
Some of you may already know this fact, but some of us are slower in taking up the mantle of self responsibility.
Teachers are there to teach. Once you have learned what is to be taught it is time to move on, unless you have formed a friendship with said teacher. The deification of teacher/guru's I just don't get. We are all surely doing what we love. Why should I expect to be worshiped and praised for doing what I love to do. To be alive and living is a gift that you either appreciate or you do not. If you are not happy there is a reason for it. If you can harness that capacity for self honesty you are more than halfway to solving your own problems. Some of us it seems are 'constitutionally incapable of self honesty, self regulation and self control. In which case the only criteria for existence is a self centered indulgent one, which ultimately will make you sick and kill you.
Me, myself and I have got sick from and recovered from, so far in this life, drugs (60's - 70's) booze (80's) and Cancer (90's). In 98 I started looking for solutions and I was led to yoga.
A bit of a load to carry that is, isn't it?
Some of you may already know this fact, but some of us are slower in taking up the mantle of self responsibility.
Teachers are there to teach. Once you have learned what is to be taught it is time to move on, unless you have formed a friendship with said teacher. The deification of teacher/guru's I just don't get. We are all surely doing what we love. Why should I expect to be worshiped and praised for doing what I love to do. To be alive and living is a gift that you either appreciate or you do not. If you are not happy there is a reason for it. If you can harness that capacity for self honesty you are more than halfway to solving your own problems. Some of us it seems are 'constitutionally incapable of self honesty, self regulation and self control. In which case the only criteria for existence is a self centered indulgent one, which ultimately will make you sick and kill you.
Me, myself and I have got sick from and recovered from, so far in this life, drugs (60's - 70's) booze (80's) and Cancer (90's). In 98 I started looking for solutions and I was led to yoga.
Friday, September 16, 2011
work it out for your - own self
When 'you' look at what has been written about yoga, the amount of different people that have written about yoga. You will see, if you are really looking, that all of these writings are different. Some will tell you one thing and some will tell you another thing. Who is right?
In the grand scheme of sorting the real from the unreal, who do you think you are?
There is no escaping the fact that 'you' are totally responsible for that decision, that decision of sorting the real from the unreal. If you don't know what I mean by that you are not really ready for this information, if you do, then you know exactly what I mean, and 'you' like 'me' are lumbered with it!
Once you have finished with the world and the games of it then you are left a little confused for a while. What are you gonna do now?
Carl Jung apparently said that all problems after the age of forty are spiritual one's. Today I think it could also be true if you are thirty or less. The world is changing very fast now and it would behove 'us' that have a sense of this fact, to get on with doing something about 'our' situation. Surely starting with ourselves we can start to take care of our own little part of the garden. Looking within we soon begin to see where the problems lie.
Asana grounds the body/mind.
Pranayama brings in light, energy and clarity.
Meditation helps us sort the real from the unreal.
In the grand scheme of sorting the real from the unreal, who do you think you are?
There is no escaping the fact that 'you' are totally responsible for that decision, that decision of sorting the real from the unreal. If you don't know what I mean by that you are not really ready for this information, if you do, then you know exactly what I mean, and 'you' like 'me' are lumbered with it!
Once you have finished with the world and the games of it then you are left a little confused for a while. What are you gonna do now?
Carl Jung apparently said that all problems after the age of forty are spiritual one's. Today I think it could also be true if you are thirty or less. The world is changing very fast now and it would behove 'us' that have a sense of this fact, to get on with doing something about 'our' situation. Surely starting with ourselves we can start to take care of our own little part of the garden. Looking within we soon begin to see where the problems lie.
Asana grounds the body/mind.
Pranayama brings in light, energy and clarity.
Meditation helps us sort the real from the unreal.
Brain box of tricks
I always knew the brain was in two halves, the right and left lobes. But watching a TV prog the other night made me realise just how significant this fact is. The left and right hemispheres of the brain are connected via a relatively thin strip of nerve fibers called the 'corpus collosum'. This strip of fibres is the communication link between the two hemispheres of the brain.
The two halves of the brain, according to science, have very different functions. The left side of the brain is for rational/logical data processing, we use this for planning, thinking rationally etc.
The right side is more intuitive and abstract, this side, apparently, is more active in creative/artistic processes, is more active in creative types of people.
We can clearly be in one or the other frames of mind or brain function at any given time and using the above criteria, i.e, are we in the rational or intuitive modes of thinking, we can know which side of our brain is more active, at any given time.
Using Yogic technologies we can start to be more aware of and experimental with our consciousness. We can learn to consciously switch from one function of brain use to another.
By, for example, listening to some empowering music and completely relaxing for half an hour, then getting up and without wasting time going out to do the weekly shopping. Or doing some drawing, then calling the electricity board to enquire about cheaper fuel prices, ;-)) hehe.
Anyway it will prevent you from getting too bored and deranged by staying stuck in one mode of brain operating.
The point to all this was to say that according to the latest breakthrough's in this work it has been discovered that using yoga/meditation enables the two halves of the brain to integrate. Once this happens we are using both sides of the brain at the same time.
Could this be the reason for that unique feeling we have at the end of our practice?
Amazing!
To get the best results of yoga try doing some. OM
The two halves of the brain, according to science, have very different functions. The left side of the brain is for rational/logical data processing, we use this for planning, thinking rationally etc.
The right side is more intuitive and abstract, this side, apparently, is more active in creative/artistic processes, is more active in creative types of people.
We can clearly be in one or the other frames of mind or brain function at any given time and using the above criteria, i.e, are we in the rational or intuitive modes of thinking, we can know which side of our brain is more active, at any given time.
Using Yogic technologies we can start to be more aware of and experimental with our consciousness. We can learn to consciously switch from one function of brain use to another.
By, for example, listening to some empowering music and completely relaxing for half an hour, then getting up and without wasting time going out to do the weekly shopping. Or doing some drawing, then calling the electricity board to enquire about cheaper fuel prices, ;-)) hehe.
Anyway it will prevent you from getting too bored and deranged by staying stuck in one mode of brain operating.
The point to all this was to say that according to the latest breakthrough's in this work it has been discovered that using yoga/meditation enables the two halves of the brain to integrate. Once this happens we are using both sides of the brain at the same time.
Could this be the reason for that unique feeling we have at the end of our practice?
Amazing!
To get the best results of yoga try doing some. OM
Thursday, September 15, 2011
The Brain
The brain is an amazing piece of equipment. It needs oxygen and sugar for fuel. Doesn't it make sense that if we breathe more we will be giving our brain what it loves?
Breathing more, what is that?
Indeed, how can you breathe more if you don't know how too?
The brain is working under your orders, whatever you tell it to do it will do. What you think about is processed through the brain - 'I am hungry' - is a statement of 'reality' to the brain and it will make your mouth water and your belly gurgle. 'I am ------' - is a statement of reality to the brain.
"The brain responds to fear, whether real or imagined".
Anxiety inducing thoughts leads to feelings of anxiety, this is obvious, so why do we do it?
Because there are real things to fear? Well of course there are in some respects some things to fear. But why ponder on them?
When we sit to meditate, what are we doing? Whatever technique you use for the purpose, the goal is the same - an harmonising of the brain - mind - heart and breath.
This unifying process makes us feel more whole and relaxed - usually ;-)
Asana - Pranayama - Meditation -what r u doing now?
Om
Breathing more, what is that?
Indeed, how can you breathe more if you don't know how too?
The brain is working under your orders, whatever you tell it to do it will do. What you think about is processed through the brain - 'I am hungry' - is a statement of 'reality' to the brain and it will make your mouth water and your belly gurgle. 'I am ------' - is a statement of reality to the brain.
"The brain responds to fear, whether real or imagined".
Anxiety inducing thoughts leads to feelings of anxiety, this is obvious, so why do we do it?
Because there are real things to fear? Well of course there are in some respects some things to fear. But why ponder on them?
When we sit to meditate, what are we doing? Whatever technique you use for the purpose, the goal is the same - an harmonising of the brain - mind - heart and breath.
This unifying process makes us feel more whole and relaxed - usually ;-)
Asana - Pranayama - Meditation -what r u doing now?
Om
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
small mind to big mind
The ancient art of Yoga definitely works!
But you have to do it for it to work.
There are many critics of Yoga - that don't do yoga.
There are many people that gave up yoga that didn't wait long enough.
Whatever it's all good - you do what you do and it will take you somewhere or it won't.
The question is - Are we doing what we 'want' to do? Or are we doing what we 'think' we 'should' be doing because of some promise of some reward.
We are all conditioned to an extent, so aren't we just working within the confines of our conditioning?
Well we have to start somewhere don't we. In the beginning there has to be a 'want or a 'need' to get something or to get somewhere from whatever it is we choose to do. The reward is there for those of us that work hard enough or are committed enough etc. This is the carrot that dangles before us, this is the promise of hidden treasures and rewards. What we generally find out, if we can stick with 'it' for a while is that there are NO rewards. The practise is the goal. We realise over and over through continuing struggles and disappointments that there is nothing to gain at all the; THE PRACTISE IS THE GOAL!!
What?!?!?!?
Om ;-)
But you have to do it for it to work.
There are many critics of Yoga - that don't do yoga.
There are many people that gave up yoga that didn't wait long enough.
Whatever it's all good - you do what you do and it will take you somewhere or it won't.
The question is - Are we doing what we 'want' to do? Or are we doing what we 'think' we 'should' be doing because of some promise of some reward.
We are all conditioned to an extent, so aren't we just working within the confines of our conditioning?
Well we have to start somewhere don't we. In the beginning there has to be a 'want or a 'need' to get something or to get somewhere from whatever it is we choose to do. The reward is there for those of us that work hard enough or are committed enough etc. This is the carrot that dangles before us, this is the promise of hidden treasures and rewards. What we generally find out, if we can stick with 'it' for a while is that there are NO rewards. The practise is the goal. We realise over and over through continuing struggles and disappointments that there is nothing to gain at all the; THE PRACTISE IS THE GOAL!!
What?!?!?!?
Om ;-)
Monday, September 12, 2011
What? Why?
Once you get rolling with a deeper practise you really start to see that it is an illusion.
Every now and again in so called 'normal' life we get a glimpse into the ridiculousness of it all. We ask ourselves, 'what's it all about, what am I doing this for?' Then usually whenever the crisis is over we get stuck in again and 'get back to normal'. In other words we go back to sleep.
But with Yoga to support us through the 'slings and arrows of outrageous fortune' we can become free of the 'stuff' that blocks out vision.
It makes me laugh when people bang on about it not being a spiritual practise, or they only want to do the physical part of yoga. If you do this stuff, whether you think it is 'just the physical part' or not, you are heading for trouble. Yes trouble is what you are going to get when you start to mess with yoga. It acts like a super software virus, chasing out the 'old bollox' that you hold so dear.
Of course you can still be a physical jerk and continue on well your old age, but yoga will be working away on the preciousness of your conditioned reality. You may even have a nervous breakdown, hereafter known as a nervous breakthrough if you don't watch out!
Seriously though, if you look with clear eyes at some of the older books on yoga you have to accept the fact that there is no soft easy way - is there? Have you had a soft easy time with or without yoga?
What do you think is going to happen to you if you get up at 6 am and start to breathe deeply for an hour, before you do another hour of asana practise? At times like this the 'softer route' looks good, but as we now know it don't get us anywhere does it? Does it?
Om
Every now and again in so called 'normal' life we get a glimpse into the ridiculousness of it all. We ask ourselves, 'what's it all about, what am I doing this for?' Then usually whenever the crisis is over we get stuck in again and 'get back to normal'. In other words we go back to sleep.
But with Yoga to support us through the 'slings and arrows of outrageous fortune' we can become free of the 'stuff' that blocks out vision.
It makes me laugh when people bang on about it not being a spiritual practise, or they only want to do the physical part of yoga. If you do this stuff, whether you think it is 'just the physical part' or not, you are heading for trouble. Yes trouble is what you are going to get when you start to mess with yoga. It acts like a super software virus, chasing out the 'old bollox' that you hold so dear.
Of course you can still be a physical jerk and continue on well your old age, but yoga will be working away on the preciousness of your conditioned reality. You may even have a nervous breakdown, hereafter known as a nervous breakthrough if you don't watch out!
Seriously though, if you look with clear eyes at some of the older books on yoga you have to accept the fact that there is no soft easy way - is there? Have you had a soft easy time with or without yoga?
What do you think is going to happen to you if you get up at 6 am and start to breathe deeply for an hour, before you do another hour of asana practise? At times like this the 'softer route' looks good, but as we now know it don't get us anywhere does it? Does it?
Om
Sunday, September 11, 2011
I don't care if you can do super advanced Asana practice or breathe through your anal sphincter to be honest - If you cannot find peace in your mind and heart when you want it what's the point?
Whats use is it if you can quote the baghvad gita backwards if you can't speak to your next door neighbour?
Om Namo Narayanaya
Shanti.
Om
Whats use is it if you can quote the baghvad gita backwards if you can't speak to your next door neighbour?
Om Namo Narayanaya
Shanti.
Om
Friday, September 9, 2011
Disappearing Ego
When I was 14 at school being a kid I messed about. Someone said that if you breathed deeply in and out for ten breaths and held your breath on the last one, you could make yourself pass out.
Having and enquiring mind I tried it, and I passed out on my feet with my eyes open! For a moment I didn't know who I was, or where I was. My personality for that moment had dissolved.
Now of course I am old and have been doing Pranayama for a few years I can see exactly what happened way back then.
The ongoing practise of Pranayama is like this. It is like the story of the man in the cave who is standing looking at shadows on the wall thinking that is reality. Until one day he is released from his cave and discovers the world outside the cave. That is Pranayama!
If you are very attached to your Ego and being happy the way you are then you probably should not do Pranayama. It may upset you, and we can't have you getting upset or anything can we?
"Comfort the disturbed. Disturb the comfortable." Quote.
Having and enquiring mind I tried it, and I passed out on my feet with my eyes open! For a moment I didn't know who I was, or where I was. My personality for that moment had dissolved.
Now of course I am old and have been doing Pranayama for a few years I can see exactly what happened way back then.
The ongoing practise of Pranayama is like this. It is like the story of the man in the cave who is standing looking at shadows on the wall thinking that is reality. Until one day he is released from his cave and discovers the world outside the cave. That is Pranayama!
If you are very attached to your Ego and being happy the way you are then you probably should not do Pranayama. It may upset you, and we can't have you getting upset or anything can we?
"Comfort the disturbed. Disturb the comfortable." Quote.
The practise is the goal.
As far as I can tell 'doing' the practise is all that is required. The practise is the goal. Everything else is what happens between the practises.
You get high - for various reasons.
You get low for various reasons
This happens to you if you do yoga or not!
So what is it we are doing?
Waking up?
Becoming aware?
Of?
In a sense nothing changes does it. It is all the same. If I leave a cup on the table and go out, it is still there when I come back. If I never move the cup it will stay where it is forever. Hmmm, how profound it that?
Unless you do practise you can never know the benefits of it, you can only project mental images into what you call reality and act them out. You project your reality from the mind. What condition your mind is in will have to shape your reality surely?
Ramble on.
You get high - for various reasons.
You get low for various reasons
This happens to you if you do yoga or not!
So what is it we are doing?
Waking up?
Becoming aware?
Of?
In a sense nothing changes does it. It is all the same. If I leave a cup on the table and go out, it is still there when I come back. If I never move the cup it will stay where it is forever. Hmmm, how profound it that?
Unless you do practise you can never know the benefits of it, you can only project mental images into what you call reality and act them out. You project your reality from the mind. What condition your mind is in will have to shape your reality surely?
Ramble on.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Why Do Yoga?
Why do Yoga?
Yoga is not easy, in my opinion. I'm not even sure if it works sometimes, but yet I still do it.
Why?
Because I love it!
Why do you do it?
When I say I'm not sure if it works sometimes what I mean by that more precisely is that I still wonder why I need to do anything at all. How come some people can live a so-called normal life and not need to do anything to keep them grounded or sane or whatever other word you want to choose?
I have accepted the fact that I do 'need' it. I need it in so much as I need to eat and drink. To be more precise, if I want to maintain the consciousness that I now have I 'need' to do something and the something I do is Yoga.
Do you need it yet?
This is a yoga website so I assume if you are on here you are interested or even involved in some way with yoga.
Om
Yoga is not easy, in my opinion. I'm not even sure if it works sometimes, but yet I still do it.
Why?
Because I love it!
Why do you do it?
When I say I'm not sure if it works sometimes what I mean by that more precisely is that I still wonder why I need to do anything at all. How come some people can live a so-called normal life and not need to do anything to keep them grounded or sane or whatever other word you want to choose?
I have accepted the fact that I do 'need' it. I need it in so much as I need to eat and drink. To be more precise, if I want to maintain the consciousness that I now have I 'need' to do something and the something I do is Yoga.
Do you need it yet?
This is a yoga website so I assume if you are on here you are interested or even involved in some way with yoga.
Om
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
you have to either laugh or cry!
'What is it all about?' I find myself asking.
Yoga! For God's sake, get over it!
It is a tool for the purpose of going beyond what we may refer to as 'normal consciousness' and finding something called Samadhi or Enlightenment.
As far as I can tell this requires the seeker to work hard using the tools of Yoga to achieve so called higher levels of consciousness.
The tools of yoga are laid out in the eight limbs - look it up if you don't know what they are.
Three of these tools are Asana - Pranayam and meditation.
And that is it!!
Humans it seems to me have grand predilection for making the simple complicated.
Shut up and get on with it!!
Yoga! For God's sake, get over it!
It is a tool for the purpose of going beyond what we may refer to as 'normal consciousness' and finding something called Samadhi or Enlightenment.
As far as I can tell this requires the seeker to work hard using the tools of Yoga to achieve so called higher levels of consciousness.
The tools of yoga are laid out in the eight limbs - look it up if you don't know what they are.
Three of these tools are Asana - Pranayam and meditation.
And that is it!!
Humans it seems to me have grand predilection for making the simple complicated.
Shut up and get on with it!!
Monday, September 5, 2011
avoidance is a choice
This idea of seeking and searching is a real problem for many people - what is it you lack?
The searching is another way of avoiding what is here and now!
Pain is a big thing to avoid. Pain is something we do not like. But isn't pain all just part of living in this world. Has there ever been a time when there was not pain and distress?
Stress is nothing new is it? Come on! What must it have been like (and still is like for many) trying to eke an existence from the Earth. Growing crops, relying on the elements etc.
In a strange kind of way maybe we have been fooled by various cunning devices, the media/advertising being one of the most important, to believe that there 'should' be no stress now?
Well there is, isn't there?
The pain of going deep into the body armour through our Asana practise, is a lifeline to grounded, feeling reality.
Spending all of your time locked into your head is one way to live.
Taking some time to get back into your body, feeling, is another.
Yoga is the technology par excellence to speed the process of awakening.
It is challenging.
It is rewarding.
It's all there is. :))
The searching is another way of avoiding what is here and now!
Pain is a big thing to avoid. Pain is something we do not like. But isn't pain all just part of living in this world. Has there ever been a time when there was not pain and distress?
Stress is nothing new is it? Come on! What must it have been like (and still is like for many) trying to eke an existence from the Earth. Growing crops, relying on the elements etc.
In a strange kind of way maybe we have been fooled by various cunning devices, the media/advertising being one of the most important, to believe that there 'should' be no stress now?
Well there is, isn't there?
The pain of going deep into the body armour through our Asana practise, is a lifeline to grounded, feeling reality.
Spending all of your time locked into your head is one way to live.
Taking some time to get back into your body, feeling, is another.
Yoga is the technology par excellence to speed the process of awakening.
It is challenging.
It is rewarding.
It's all there is. :))
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Neeeeeedy!
Here we are, as we are . We are as we are, always, we can never be anything else - can we?
All we now have to do is own and take responsibility for how we are now. Once we do that, then we will have a solid platform to work from.
Until we accept how we are, whatever that may be - warts and all - we can never really be anything other than pretending to be something that we want to be - can we?
If we sort the 'real' from the 'unreal', what are we left with?
If we accept or question the idea that 'all is Maya' (illusion) what are we left with?
Unless you raise yourself above the dreaded thought programmes that are running your life, you may just as well accept the fact that you are asleep most of the time, hypnotised by your version of reality.
And there we have another dilemma, what is reality? You can 'probably' get a different version of reality from almost everyone you talk to.
Have a problem? Ask ten different people what they think could be the solution to your problem and you will probably get ten different answers.
So what do we rely on?
Nothing!
We breathe - We feel - We think - We eat - We drink - and we go to the toilet!
How not if, we do all of these things, creates the reality that we now inhabit.
There is no magic formula.
The bookshops are full of books by people that know the answer.
There are zillions of answers.
Bur there is only one question.
WHO AM I ?
All we now have to do is own and take responsibility for how we are now. Once we do that, then we will have a solid platform to work from.
Until we accept how we are, whatever that may be - warts and all - we can never really be anything other than pretending to be something that we want to be - can we?
If we sort the 'real' from the 'unreal', what are we left with?
If we accept or question the idea that 'all is Maya' (illusion) what are we left with?
Unless you raise yourself above the dreaded thought programmes that are running your life, you may just as well accept the fact that you are asleep most of the time, hypnotised by your version of reality.
And there we have another dilemma, what is reality? You can 'probably' get a different version of reality from almost everyone you talk to.
Have a problem? Ask ten different people what they think could be the solution to your problem and you will probably get ten different answers.
So what do we rely on?
Nothing!
We breathe - We feel - We think - We eat - We drink - and we go to the toilet!
How not if, we do all of these things, creates the reality that we now inhabit.
There is no magic formula.
The bookshops are full of books by people that know the answer.
There are zillions of answers.
Bur there is only one question.
WHO AM I ?
Thursday, September 1, 2011
what a mess!
The current state of the world can easily be seen in microcosm when we look at the state of the way yoga is being exploited now.
I find it quite difficult not to be affected by this phenomenon.
Yet who am I?
'I am nothing' :-)
This is what my ex yoga teacher said to me one day when I told him I was thinking of leaving his tutelage. "You are nothing without me." He said. "Hmm," I thought as I smiled benignly knowing he could not possibly be serious.
I saw he was being personal of course but could not allow myself to accept this fact. If I did my projections would collapse and that would not be good for me, my 'illusion' would be shattered. As time went by I re owned some of my projections and saw that this man was no better (or worse?) than me. He was a human after all.
So what do we make of the claims of some of these 'big' yoga teachers? Do we make them who they are? Don't they need us as much as we need them? When we 'fall in love' don't we project a positive image onto the 'victim' of our love. It's the same with a yoga teacher or in fact anyone that we think can show us the way out of the mess we think we are in, we need to believe in them, don't we?
As we continue to practise with said teacher/ healer etc we see more and we begin to reclaim our power. The teacher or healer (should) encourage us to become self- empowered surely.
There is a big difference between teaching to 'get better' as opposed to teaching to 'feel better' temporarily in order to create another addiction.
It goes like this:
Got to a class - Discharge tension - Create energy - Go back out into the world - Dissipate energy - Go back to the class for another fix - on and on - until one day you may wake up.
I don't suppose we can blame people for becoming addicted to making money, it is the way of the world after all, isn't it?
I find it quite difficult not to be affected by this phenomenon.
Yet who am I?
'I am nothing' :-)
This is what my ex yoga teacher said to me one day when I told him I was thinking of leaving his tutelage. "You are nothing without me." He said. "Hmm," I thought as I smiled benignly knowing he could not possibly be serious.
I saw he was being personal of course but could not allow myself to accept this fact. If I did my projections would collapse and that would not be good for me, my 'illusion' would be shattered. As time went by I re owned some of my projections and saw that this man was no better (or worse?) than me. He was a human after all.
So what do we make of the claims of some of these 'big' yoga teachers? Do we make them who they are? Don't they need us as much as we need them? When we 'fall in love' don't we project a positive image onto the 'victim' of our love. It's the same with a yoga teacher or in fact anyone that we think can show us the way out of the mess we think we are in, we need to believe in them, don't we?
As we continue to practise with said teacher/ healer etc we see more and we begin to reclaim our power. The teacher or healer (should) encourage us to become self- empowered surely.
There is a big difference between teaching to 'get better' as opposed to teaching to 'feel better' temporarily in order to create another addiction.
It goes like this:
Got to a class - Discharge tension - Create energy - Go back out into the world - Dissipate energy - Go back to the class for another fix - on and on - until one day you may wake up.
I don't suppose we can blame people for becoming addicted to making money, it is the way of the world after all, isn't it?
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