January 12, 2010
You will lose every yoga pose you master – except one. So, work on your Savasana.
- Leslie Kaminoff
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I agree 100%, that we would all benefit more from just BEING, but how many of us are actually doing that? If you are always just BEING then you need to teach me how cuz i’m not there all the time!
We could philosophize all day long but when it comes to acting, do our actions support our intentions and thoughts? from my understanding, acting is also being, because it is driven and motivated from a deeper place of truth. REacting is driven and motivated from a place of ego, desire and selfishness. As human BEINGS, we seek happiness and peace, but most of us dont know how to get or feel those things – we live in constant struggle and suffering. Therefore, in order to start BEING, there is a process that our souls must endeavor. And, this is the process that i have understood and learned to be YOGA! 
OK, I have to say that I have no good response to the above, after some thinking and reading. I found out that Patanjali was the father of yoga and
in his attempts to escape from daily life and see
the “reality”, he was not moving at all! It is very hard for me to imagine a life doing meditation all the time (munks.com); isn’t thin very much like hiding from things? Even if we do that, life has a way of grabbing us from where ever we are hiding and putting us back into the game. So, maybe instead of just “being”, one can try to think of actions that do not emit negative perturbations, and ideally contribute only positive energy into the system…? But what would be a general approach
to this? Life is so complex, things change all the time, and it is difficult to find a stable point of view…
I don’t know who said it, but I’ve heard that the mark of a truly great mind is one that can hold two contradictory ideas and see them both as truths, simultaneously. Yes, life is complex, but stable povs are possible if you hold what I said in mind and not get stuck trying to boil things down in nice neat black and white, either/or, essentialist packages maybe. You know?
OK, first of all, I am happy that our little discussion group is extending on the minute question of the right approach to dealing with complexities our (short) life.
One can have not only two, but many contradictory views. We usually hold on to some of them strongly, until evidence creeps up
(either our own, or observed) that they are not complete. Many of our directions are set by our parents and societal rules, but these change from place to place and also time to time (all those supreme court struggles). Some are quite universal (do not hurt anybody, treat others like you want to be treated etc), but as you say, many are in the gray zone, leading to benefits for some and disadvantages for others, or even more frustratingly, the anticipated effects change over time; we mean well but cause chaos sometimes. Almost all actions maybe in this category, and as such, I understand that the Patanjali guy was sitting still
(maybe in anticipation that his motions can kill some insects?). Certainly we are not going to sit like that, and engage in and experience life, with all the consequences,
and probably die without knowing what this was all about… At least, this is what happened to many… Maybe it is better to acknowledge this a-priori and do not worry about anything…?
well, unless one is very skinny, this seems like a tall task…
Yes, i understand your opinion and your words. It is very hard for our society to just sit like Patanjali did, and of course, that is not what is asked of us in the society right now. Patanjali’s first sutra states that “NOW, Atha!, the exposition of yoga is being made.” – Atha Yoganusasanam. He is not saying THEN, or in the date he sat for a long time. He is saying NOW, which means it is universal. anyone who reads the sutras is reading it NOW. so he purposefully does it like that so that is it relevant to all times.
I have to say that the book I read on Patanjali’s sayings
depressed me a bit. It is not possible for me to differentiate
between “conciousness” (thinking, perceptions) and “awareness”
(understanding without thinking). I guess that he was getting
there by sitting still, and I certainly relax and feel great after yoga with you, but life demands attention and involvement,
maybe it is something like mud wrestling, but nevertheless,
it is here and undeniable (despite the dream/game comments). I guess that we all need some time to regroup after many bouts
in life, and think about what to make of our experience, but
I am not sure that I resonated with his concepts all that much, yet…
Well, Tamay, I can understand your depression because patanjali’s sutras are all about taking responsibility for your life and your actions. And it gets very heavy sometimes. but my understanding of consciousness and awareness might be a bit different. I believe there are different levels of consciousness and awareness. some people have no consciousness which in turn have no awareness at all – complete ignorance and sleep-walking through life. Then there are sparks in our life that start to make us more conscious. that make us pause and think about what exactly is this life, who are we are what are we doing? how are our actions affecting others? etc. etc. etc. This would start to generate a higher level of consciousness. but one doesn’t start to become AWARE, in my opinion, until one starts to experience this consciousness and absolute truth. what is the difference between knowledge and wisdom? wisdom is the experience behind the knowledge, correct? so, a lot of information and facts and concepts are great, but they don’t mean a darn thing until you can actually start practicing and experiencing what you have learned on a conceptual level. if not, then we are just walking empty parrots with no validity or integrity to our truth. So, please remember when you read these yoga philosophical books, that there are different kinds of terminology for the same concept. the concept is the important part at first, not the actual words. then the experience behind the concept is the best and most yummy part. that is what we are all looking for. i can ask you if you know what chocolate- covered dried pineapple tastes like. and if you have never eaten a chocolate-covered dried pineapple i could try to explain it to you in 100 different ways but it would never truly be the same until you actually tasted it for yourself. and then you might try to explain it to someone else, but it is very difficult to put into words without references. like love! please bring the copy of that translation to class so i can see which one it is. thanks! be happy.
Hi Rina,
Thanks for your email, which is impressive at many levels. I also liked the what you said at the end of the class yesterday, something like “we are all here as students, our teachers depend on what lessons we need to learn etc”.
I have been thinking about why I did not have a better reaction to this book. Possibilities include:
1) I tried to read too much too fast, being impatient by nature. Heidi told me to read one sutra per day (too late, no more sutras for a while!)
2) Not ready for many of the teachings; in analogy with your chocolate pineapple, which may taste great after a nice dinner, but may not be for everybody first thing in the morning. Alternatively, maybe I was expecting strawberry inside the chocolate and was shocked with the strange pineapple taste?
3) I cannot disconnect from my training as a scientist, where “hard proof” is the name of the game and one is taught to question every little aspect of every statement, and still maintain doubt and assume that everything can be done differently or improved. Of course, there is the little secret that nobody probably ever made any real progress by just following a methodical way;
good ideas always appear to “come”…
4) Maybe it is a period to “experience” and not to “ponder” too much for me; as everybody else, I oscillate back and forth every few years or so…
The quote for June 26 is great; I can’t agree more!
* This is so true. Of course, a more efficient way of learning is by listening to those with experience and good judgment (mothers), but that does not work out so well somehow.
* Nobody else but me is making any comments
* So please feel free to cleanse my comments, at least once in a while.
* Thank you for maintaining this section; it makes me think a lot!
Best wishes,
Tamay
I am glad that it makes you think. Why would i cleanse your comments, they are invigorating and it is wonderful to have a conversation. No worries.
Kristin usually updates the daily quote. She is wonderful at doing that. Please feel free to provide your own quotes too.
Blessings,
Rina
To be or not to be, that is the question?” – Shakespeare
” – Rina Jakubowicz
“I think it is all quite simple……. TO BE!!!!
You are a very positive person Rina; first the deal about lifting up from the floor (which is not easy when doing yoga… at least for me), and now the momentum TO BE.
How/where do you find all this energy?
Do you have a secret?
(It is not a comment, but a question, if that is OK?).
Best
Tamay
Hey Tamay, I appreciate your comment and question. And, one philosophy on life that i have chosen to adopt, is simply…. why create more drama in your life unnecessarily. there is plenty of drama and negativity out there. But i choose to not feed that aspect. INstead i focus on the positive, on the beautiful, on the possibilities, because they are limitless! we only limit ourselves. i, myself, have accomplished things i never thought i could, so why not everyone else? i am no different.
it goes something like this… i believe in what i say and in my word. if i believe you can lift off the ground and send you those positive nurturing vibes, then you will empower yourself and believe in yourself just that bit more. The answer lies in seeing that this world isn’t black and white. i believe you CAN lift your hips off the floor, even if you have to use blocks or assistance. you ARE doing it. i could focus on the negative meaning i am in a box thinking “oh, you aren’t doing THE way that it’s SUPPOSED to be done like the yoga masters do it” but then i would only be putting you in a box of I CAN”T and putting a box around myself too. Besides, there is no such thing as SUPPOSED TO BE!
I have lived in the box before and i don’t choose my life to go that way anymore. I highly recommend you try seeing the gray in life because it’s all grey. it is a lot more relaxing and stress-free!
( by the way, have you noticed that you can sometimes achieve certain poses when the teacher is there watching you then when you are trying it on your own?)
By the way Tamay, would you like to be our featured student for our August newsletter? all i would need is a picture of you and a short bio or description of how yoga has affected your life. What’do you say?
Thanks Rina. As always, a lot of food for thought.
I knew that you really are following certain ideas
being well aware of their impact on yourself and overall…
Thanks for the offer for newsletter, but I have to
run away from that. Not because yoga has not affected my life; it has been a great positive development, and it is really remarkable how it works. I also like very much “Rina Yoga” (as you know) which is run very nicely and my kind of place. I am not into publicity things. I enjoy this “blog” because it makes me think.
See you later,
Tamay
“The answer lies in seeing that this world isn’t black and white. i believe you CAN lift your hips off the floor, even if you have to use blocks or assistance. you ARE doing it. i could focus on the negative meaning i am in a box thinking “oh, you aren’t doing THE way that it’s SUPPOSED to be done like the yoga masters do it” but then i would only be putting you in a box of I CAN”T and putting a box around myself too. Besides, there is no such thing as SUPPOSED TO BE!”
This is very interesting as an approach. Unfortunately, both our educational and professional systems are based on “grading and performance evaluation” and mainly on filtering upfront who is naturally talented and who is not to do something. But is it true that anyone can do everything, and any time? Are there any other barriers than mental? Is it efficient to say that one will achieve their limits no matter what it takes? Some practical issues that come to mind…
“The poor long for riches, the rich long for heaven, but the wise long for a state of tranquility.”
Don’t we all long for something?
Fame and fortune, mental/physical health, long life, beauty/intelligence, being attractive, respect, wisdom/knowledge being typical hot items.
Isn’t desire of one of dilemmas of our existence?
Id we long for something, we suffer. If we get it, we long for something else. If we do not desire anything, what is the point of living?
Tamay
Righteoh! I think the quote is meant to make you think in the way that if you have found tranquility, there is no more longing – you just are. so therefore, we might be on our way to being wise by at least longing for tranquility, and once we get it, there it is… no more longing. but you are correct in that comment. that is one of the dilemmas of life. but in that desire, if we achieve a level of nonattachment, then we are happy regardless if we achieve what we are desiring. is that confusing enough or does it make sense…. who knows by now. lol!!!!
I suspect that almost everybody in this planet suffers from some type of desire. If you somehow manage to shed it off, there is nothing left here for you to know. Luckily,
if at all, this tends to happen so late in life, we do not have to worry about it for too long. If anything, happiness is in not taking life too seriously… but I am not sure…
“Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, the mind can achieve.” Dr. Napoleon Hill
For a pessimist like me, this also means that our worst fears will come true, as well (not really an achievement). Again, this is kind of the same as “be careful
what you think, control your mind, which becomes your character, destiny etc etc”
arguments that started this whole story of long exchanges…
So let’s assume that we buy all this (secret is what ever we want happens), then the more interesting question is who/what controls our thoughts? How much control do we really have given our initial DNA, family, place and time of birth, and environmental inputs and changes. Does the nature of thought overcome all that?
(sorry…)
Tamay
“The problem in Western society is that you don’t look at life and death as a whole. You isolate death. That’s why there’s so much fear.”
Himmmm……..???
* This is certainly not “THE” problem, even “A” problem, or even a “problem”…
* It is also probably a universal view, not confined to western societies.
* The origin of all fear is not only death. There are many types of fear. It is
rather abundant in our world.
* Since our fears lead to suffering, they can be instructive, if we can find out how to deal with them. As such, they help highlight our weakest points.
Isn’t this useful information?
Once we isolate our fears, the next step is to try to neutralize them.
Is this statement made as a means to counteract the fear of death?
To what extent are people driven by their fears?
Why is no one else blogging in this interesting section?
What are they afraid of?
Tamay