Yoga gives us a chance to start seeing our reactions: our aversion to suffering, and our clinging and attachment to pleasure and joy. It gives us a breath, a pause, a chance to ALLOW for the world and our lives to play themselves out, even if it is uncomfortable or awkward or even painful sometimes. We can take lesson, as usual, from nature, of which we're a part...
The Buddha teaches his servant Rahula:
"Develop a state of mind like the EARTH, Rahula, for on the earth all manner of things are thrown, clean and unclean, dung and urine, spittle, pus and blood, and the earth is not troubled or repelled or disgusted...
"Develop a state of mind like WATER, for in the water many things are thrown, clean and unclean, and the water is not troubled or repelled or disgusted. And so too with FIRE, which burns all things, clean and unclean, and with AIR, which blows upon them all, and with SPACE, which is nowhere established."
(From "The Glass Palace," by Amitav Ghosh)
May we see the beautiful world we live in. May we breathe and move, and practice less attachment and aversion this week. I hope see you in class (but I’m not attached!).
The following is an ancient mantra that my teacher Erin Geesaman Rabke taught me:
May we and all beings have happiness and the causes of happiness.
May we and all beings be from sorrow and any causes of sorrow.
May we and all beings never be separated from the sacred happiness which is beyond sorrow.
And may we and all beings live in equanimity, without too much attachment or aversion.
And may we live recognizing and honoring the equality of all that lives
Sarva mangalam. (May the greatest goodness unfold)
Scott