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"Our way of practice is looking closely at things and making them clear. We're persistent and constant, yet not rushed or hurried. neither are we too slow. It's a matter of gradually feeling our way and bringing it together." Ajahn Chah
Chapter 6 of the Bhagavad Gita gives an accounting of faithful Arjuna in regard to persistent and constant practice. It is a beautiful account of the "feeling" into our way, of moving through our hearts and its inclinations to find our way to union, or yoga, in essence becoming a yogi. In bringing "it together" we are faced with the journey of union of finding our soulfulness and divine connection while still living liberated and free in the world. In spiritual terms, the togetherness is not just the soul of ourselves but the oversoul that connects us to the joys and sorrows of all beings (stanza 32), in essence it is the deep compassionate study of finding the liberation of our own hearts while feeling for the hearts of others who are connected to us. Arjuna is overcome by this task of calming the mind and being able to find tranquility is likened to "restraining the wind" (stanza 34). Krishna, answers by encouraging Arjuna that it is possible. That through study, through practice, through inquiry, through faith, it is possible for Arjuna to have control over his mind so that he is neither self-absorbed nor so overcome by the challenges of living that he loses his joy. Arjuna, a heartfelt devotee, answers by saying he has tried and is still struggling to find this equanimity that is promised. He asks, what is to become of him and begs that his doubt be dispelled (stanza 39) Krishna assures Arjuna that if one "strives" to subdue the mind they will find success. Other translations render this account "those who struggle," "those who practice," "those who learn to let go of attachment" to barriers, beliefs, actions that prevent love and faith from manifesting fully, that these ones will prevail. There is assurance of success that is promised to those willing to meditate with their heart's intentions, to adjust their mental attitude and "transcend" or "become self-realized" by seeking the spiritual, that these ones would successfully know profound truth and experience ultimate faith. In turn, they would experience the tranquility of one in union with God, experience yoga, in essence, become a yogi. While I reviewed this account, I could not help but recall to mind the account of another faithful man, recorded in a different spiritual ancient text. The account is one of a man born second in a family, to whom the first born would be blessed and whose lineage would prosper for all time. This man, Jacob, not only transcended his birth and received the birthright, but also devoted his life to receiving more blessings for his lineage. His heartfelt desire to live in a blessed state is evident in an account recorded about his old age and an occasion when he "grappled" with an angel. The account is recorded in Genesis 32: 24-29 where it describes him" grappling until the dawn ascended." At this time, when the angel asks what it is he wants, Jacobs says, "I am not going to let go until you first bless me." A cross reference to the account at Hosea 12: 3, 4 describes this "grappling, this fight, this struggle, this wrestling" as having taken place with his "dynamic energy. He contended." and "he wept that he might implore favor." The accounting of him "facing, taking on, asserting, affirming, begging and beseeching" the angel was once a story that moved me because of the heart condition of this man to find his light, to receive grace, to bless not only himself but his whole lineage. At times I could imagine this account describing him wrestling, as him grabbing hold of various addictions, thought patterns, and self-doubts and wrestling them to the ground, looking them in the face and blessing them, transforming them into light, and surrendering them instead to a life of blessings. This man named Jacob came to be known as the nation of Israel and became a symbol of spiritual Israel, or those who live in and enjoy a deep spiritual relationship as blessed children of God. This accounting of him is powerfully connected to the heart condition and mental attitude that is required to have a deep relationship with the light that dwells inside of ourselves. It is the removing of all barriers and obstacles to our truest purest highest natures that are governed by our God selves, rather than our selfish desire and pursuits. It is Yogananda's Eternal Quest; It is Jesus' transifiguration; it is Arjuna's victory; It is the Native American's steady flame in a sheltered place. It is an irresistible draw to spirituality and the force of good in the world, regardless of backgrounds or belief systems. It is the finding of the true essence of being, the willingness to be purified, to unify our thought patterns and desires with a higher consciousness form and a moving towards Divinity in order to know from a place of love and devotion, from a place of joy and liberation, from a place of celebration and awakening that a higher state of being in the world with more fulfilling purpose than our own alone is possible. We can free ourselves and those who come after us from suffering by elevating life itself. By letting go of attachments to lower forms of consciousness that create patterns that influence choices that lead to suffering, although perhaps temporary bliss. It is the revealing of sacred things in devoted practice and mindful life as meditation experience that leads to realization, that liberates the heart from the past and sinks us into the perfection of the present with all faith, all heart, all confidence that we are love and that we are loved. That if we will devote ourselves to study, to inquiry, to meditation, so we can see the ways we can get out of our own way, we will be blessed, liberated from the causes of our perceived limitations, and elevated into a perfect manifestation of the divine working through us and in us everyday, in simple moments, with people deserving of the highest form of reflection: We are inherently valuable and have within us the means with which to change, not only ourselves and our own life, but the lives of those around us, i.e. the whole world, but we have to want it with our whole hearts and be willing to devote our minds and bodies to the practice of it and know, the struggle, is worth it.
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Our body is a vehicle of prayer. The metaphysical properties and expressions of every part of it, from breath to heart to hand is a communication with the Divine about our intentions for life and our willingness to give ourselves over to our soul purpose.
The slower we breathe, the quieter we get, the better we are able to listen. What we hear will be a reflection of the day's beginning and the desire to know by experience the beauty of the Nature that exists within us. During today's meditation, I sat under a giant tree that I have watched leafless transition into the green of splendor and life. A rejuvenation after winter's cold into the blossoming forth under the rays of sun. So still was I that a squirrel, not realizing I was there, stood upon my knee. Tree, grass, squirrel and I merged into one. The moment consciousness came to me, however, he bounced away and all life gave way to the chorus of the cardinals. Joy arose in me and my chin dropped forward, my tongue flicked the roof of my mouth and my whole body curled down into what I know by name is maha bandha. As I allowed my body to express the wonder of this moment, I felt a realignment in my spirit and the spiritual implications of the posture unfolded for me to share. It is widely known and understood that bowing forward is the greatest act of devotion. Maha bandha is not just a posture of surrender, however, it is a conscious breath effort to contract deeply into our spinal column and compress the energy along the spine. It is like a rinse to all the organs and the energy that flushes when we release is like a golden shower that rises from the inside out. Even more so, is the segment by segment internalization of our external quest. As we bow the crown forward, we move from an expansion expression of our divinity towards contracting into towards our humanity and the divine nature that exists in our cellular structure. The eyes close and the tongue touches the roof the mouth in jiva bandha, stimulating the pituitary and awakening the thrid eye. With our spiritual eye open we drop the chin into jalandhara activating the visshuda chakra and expressing silently a desire to know truth. Contracting further, beginning to activate uddiyana,, we compress the diaphragm. As the rib cage moves downward and the shoulders round forward, our heart is compressed and contracts into the 5th chamber, our high heart. Pulling in at the diaphragm we are brought into our gut, our body-mind. And, finally with a squeeze with contract muladhara bandha, the gate that holds the totality of our existence from lineage, to conception, gestation, birth, and through into the experiences of our life. Maha bandha, then, is as willingness to offer the wholeness of our experience in gratitude for our lives, we return to our soul and realign ourselves with Divine Order as an embodied being filled with the wisdom of experience. We learn how to compassionately view our life and take a moment to integrate our experiences as set forth by ancient records in order that we may find strength to trust the intuitive, gut impulses of our being as it guides us with our heart's intentions to be a light of truth in the world and accept our responsibility to be a part of realizing the dream of humanity on this planet. Life, even in trials, understood during moments of presence and extreme gratitude that whatever choices brought us to this infinite moment are perfect. This is the royal responsibility of the indigos and crystal seeds in this time. We are being asked to consecrate the fruits of our actions in order to be mobilized by our Mother Earth to the places inside ourselves that house the potential for the greatest amount of healing necessary on this planet at this time. What are our inner resources and how do we give them over to the planet for use? For that reason our prayers are greater when we remember, not only to pray for our own needs and those of our family, but that we begin to truly understand our interconnectedness and the need for us to pray for all humanity, Especially those who are being tried by mass consciousness that surrounds them and the Earth movements as she accommodates our unwillingness as humans to change. If we will not, she must. At this time I am praying for the Pacific Rim and the shifting of plates in the ocean. Asking that we all take a moment today to give thought and feeling to the beings who are surrounded by destruction and who are affected by the unforeseen circumstances that at one time or another affect us all. May we remember in our bliss the feeling of loss that has overcome each one of us. Pausing for a moment to send love to those affected by circumstances. That, though we be divine and eternal, we are sentient beings, highly feeling creatures of attachment at the heart level. And, as maha bandha releases the energy from the Kundalini, or Earth Mother, and makes its ascent towards the crown of eternity, bonding with Father Sky, may we allow the prayer seed for peace and compassion to release upon the web that overlays our planet and grow a consciousness of prayer in action and service. May we find ways to lend the powers we receive through practice to those who are not as free as we are to express soulfully due to circumstance or oppression. May our freedom find its way, even if only in moving body prayer meditation and breath, to comfort and fly its way to those most in need. Self-inquiry is a subtle art, especially amid the "noise and haste," but Max Ehrman encourages people to "remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible surrender , be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others...they too have their story."
No doubt Emerson, living amid the drastic change brought on during Industrialization agreed. He too sought to find his story and speak his truth clearly. He urged people to trust themselves and the "iron string" that resonated within them. He encouraged conviction and fearless questions that would prevent the foolish consistency that would lead to "little minds." Instead, he urged people to "speak what you think now in hard words, and tomorrow speak what tomorrow thinks in hard words again though it contradict everything you said today. 'Ah so you shall be sure to be misunderstood--Is it so bad then to be misunderstood?'....To be great is to be misunderstood." Emerson, a philosopher, philanthropist, spiritualist, and naturalist is one of the greatest Transcendentalist writers. This group of people believed in the inherent goodness of people as they observed nature, they saw the purity of our True Natures. They believed in freedom, independence and thinking. They formed Day at the Lyceum and encouraged community to form based on questions regarding conscience, beliefs and the experience of transcendence from their connection to Nature and their Divine Soul. This group has reached through the pages of books and been some of my greatest teachers. It is also this group I was most passionate about sharing with my students. As of late I have returned to them and with a sober mind begun to engage my mind in observing my feelings and experiences. Does one need to reject a path in order to embrace another? No. In order to embrace the totality of our life we must be willing to question occurrences and observation. It is a process of evaluating what is true for you. It is the critical thinking process and deeper mind known by some as Socratic thinking. If we are lucky we have dialogue with others without emotionality. We ask questions about questions, examine assumptions, observe implications and the affects of belief systems on society and ourselves. We are able to view ourselves and our lives from an alternate viewpoint and look into the nature of things. It asks about the meaning of things and is a means of remaining open minded. Free. Moving from place to place, I have found only one constant companion, my journal and my pen. Through writing and conscious journaling I have found a reflection as I move from one life to another or integrate and branch out from various ideals and beliefs. It keeps me growing and makes it easy to observe mental loops, recycled thoughts, and jargon that is particular to one set or group of people. It is this process of self-inquiry that asks me to expand and grow in understanding. It has been my intention to not become myopic, to ever retain the freedom in my mind, observing even my own seeds planted, intentions, watching how the consciousness blooms and observing the effect it has on my life and on those I love. It is impossible to please all people, but at least I make sure I am more than one aspect of myself., and it is this desire for wholeness and union with the totality of my experience that has fueled my passion for writing. It helps me observe, be the observer and change my direction. As Walt Whitman put it: "The past and present wilt-I have fill'd them, emptied them. And proceed to fill my next fold of the future... Do I contradict myself? Very well then I contradict myself, (I am large, I contain multitudes.) What I love most about the Transcendentalists is that they were not only individualists, they were committed to wholeness and justice, meaning that they sought ways to use their power to make the experience of life equal for all. Thoreau was one of such people and went through his own transformation. He moved from Civil Disobedience to the isolation of Walden--withdrawing form society--and then finally re-entering society. His main platform simplicity and non-government, but only when the people were ready. When will they be ready? Ghandi and Marin Luther King quoted Thoreau and expanded on his views stating that people would be ready when they became non-violent and resisted injustice, or inequality. How? The Transcendentalists resisted through reform. First reform of themselves, then meeting together in community to ask heartfelt question that resulted in massive shifts of consciousness. The result led to women's suffrage, equality, child labor laws, and contributed to the abolishment of slavery. They also resisted through the way they lived their lives free, a freedom they sought in their minds. As Thoreau put it, they were no only willing to question what they saw, but were willing to see--not only reality but within the reality they perceived a way to dream--to transcend--to go beyond limitations and expand concepts--divisions--differences and, as a group, become unlimited in what they could accomplish. Within the established system they gathered together asked questions and surpassed the limitations of their minds by expanding their viewpoints. They did this with the purpose of helping the people who needed it the most: women, the weak, the children. In other words--they put their freedom to work not only evaluating their own minds bu the lives of those around them. How could it be better? This is the process of human evolution. Thoreau writing that through conscious endeaver it is possible to elevate ones own life and then having the willingness to ask really important questions could elevate the lives of other. The questions were followed by application of experiential knowledge we call wisdom and courage was then used in building a life around the answer. In this exists Emerson's greatness in Self-Reliance, Whitman's Song of Myself and Thoreau living deliberately fronting the facts of life to "see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. I did not wish to...practise resignation...I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life,...and if it proved to be mean,...get the whole and genuine meanness of it...; or if it were sublime, to know it by experience, and be able to give a true account" of life, of himself, of the world that he both retreated from and ultimately a world to which he returned. When he left the woods, Thoreau wrote, "I left the woods for as a good a reason as I went there. Perhaps it seemed to me that I have several more lives to live." With this idea of the lives we live, the experiences that shape us and the self-inquiry that takes us there, we return to Max Ehrman finding true peace in a time when life moves so fast. He comforts his reader with the admonishment that beyond "a wholesome disipline, be gentle with yourself." He then continues: "You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you may conceive him to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul. With all it's sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world." In the stillness of observation my thoughts simplified.
Breath. Exhalation. Inhalation. Spinal Movements. Effort. Surrender. During practice today, I continuously breathed through full expansion ustrasana (camel) and full contraction sasangasana (rabbit). After several rounds of breath and asana, lost in the rhythm, they released in me a poem.... DIVINELY HUMAN From the still center of breathing fire I have moved from limb to limb to touch the extremities of Universe residing deeply inside of me. If medicine ways are the journey through humanity, a study in interdependence, an understanding of our fragility in life cycles and the human will to survive to summon the sacred elements a metaphor in action of our deepest sufferings and most organic, orgasmic pleasure the inherent duality warring for peace in the underbelly and rising with the morning sun the softening the breakdown of the heart forgiving forgetting in momentary lapses of passion and lust rising and falling strength in our hearts to sing, celebrate when we should be on our knees making treaties that life may move on falling in love with even the creepy crawlies loosen the soil to birth the seeds that bursts forth as flower-- fragrant rose in all its grandeur-- ever proud of and made more beautiful by the contrast of thorn. Then, yoga is a living breathing experience a divine inheritance as children of the sun to shine and light the way back to hope on the backs of angels flying through sacred geometric skies exploring freedom and sensory explosion soul choices, dreaming, manifesting abundance lifting up hearts reborn again in every breath able to let go of and let go into without looking back--- without streaming forward patiently and exuberantly present as children accepting this lesson is the exchange for the requests we silently utter in our hearts intentions do not manifest for free but in karmic exchange we sit in the still center as the wheel of destiny and fate moves us limbs hand and foot transformation through breath and body moving as one. If medicine ways are a journey back to the beginning righting relations a life lived in gratitude to the ancestors a life lived for the grandchildren focused in the direction of persevering and preserving Then yoga is the experience of every perfect now grateful for authenticity expression absolute faith in the harmony of soul contracts agreements soul mates are here for connection and connection is expression of love that transcends time and space to be Somewhere in the middle between Star Child and Earth Seed We begin today from there-- where the heart teaches us how to love ourselves and all our composites in this perfect moment we do give ourselves opportunity to expand travel know freedom our grandparents could ever have dreamed and we become the children we may or may never have laughing playing celebrating becoming all we are potentialed to be bringing Mother Joy and when cycles pass and time contracts us to nothing, grey hair streaks may we may our Father Proud of our foresight to co-create a system that cares for the young, sick and elderly until dreams do rise and materialize and the eternal present is our heaven we transcend the realities present on the planet, revolving around the sun a day-star shining in our heart compassion for all beings praying not for self alone in the quietest places where we practice in sanctuary observing our true hearts the art and nature of being divinely human In the stillness of observation my thoughts simplified. Breath. Exhalation. Inhalation. Spinal Movements. Effort. Surrender. During practice today, I continuously breathed through full expansion ustrasana (camel) and full contraction sasangasana (rabbit). After several rounds of breath and asana, lost in the rhythm, they released in me a poem.... DIVINELY HUMAN
From the still center of breathing fire I have moved from limb to limb to touch the extremities of Universe residing deeply inside of me. If medicine ways are the journey through humanity, a study in interdependence, an understanding of our fragility in life cycles and the human will to survive to summon the sacred elements a metaphor in action of our deepest sufferings and most organic, orgasmic pleasure the inherent duality warring for peace in the underbelly and rising with the morning sun the softening the breakdown of the heart forgiving forgetting in momentary lapses of passion and lust rising and falling strength in our hearts to sing, celebrate when we should be on our knees making treaties that life may move on falling in love with even the creepy crawlies loosen the soil to birth the seeds that bursts forth as flower-- fragrant rose in all its grandeur-- ever proud of and made more beautiful by the contrast of thorn. Then, yoga is a living breathing experience a divine inheritance as children of the sun to shine and light the way back to hope on the backs of angels flying through sacred geometric skies exploring freedom and sensory explosion soul choices, dreaming, manifesting abundance lifting up hearts reborn again in every breath able to let go of and let go into without looking back--- without streaming forward patiently and exuberantly present as children accepting this lesson is the exchange for the requests we silently utter in our hearts intentions do not manifest for free but in karmic exchange we sit in the still center as the wheel of destiny and fate moves us limbs hand and foot transformation through breath and body moving as one. If medicine ways are a journey back to the beginning righting relations a life lived in gratitude to the ancestors a life lived for the grandchildren focused in the direction of persevering and preserving Then yoga is the experience of every perfect now grateful for authenticity expression absolute faith in the harmony of soul contracts agreements soul mates are here for connection and connection is expression of love that transcends time and space to be somewhere in the middle between Star Child and Earth Seed We begin today from there-- where the heart teaches us how to love ourselves and all our composites in this perfect moment we do give ourselves opportunity to expand travel know freedom our grandparents could ever have dreamed and we become the children we may or may never have laughing playing celebrating becoming all we are potentialed to be bringing Mother Joy and when cycles pass and time contracts us to nothing, grey hair streaks may we may our Father Proud of our foresight to co-create a system that cares for the young, sick and elderly until dreams do rise and materialize and the eternal present is our heaven we transcend the realities present on the planet, revolving around the sun a day-star shining in our heart compassion for all beings praying not for self alone in the quietest places where we practice in sanctuary observing our true hearts the art and nature of being divinely human |
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