 |
|
WINTER 2008Enquiry and Answering "Bhaskar, what is yoga? What is mindfulness? What is this sound 'OM'? What is the practice of 'Mind Like Sky'? What are chakras?" Typically, I will proceed to provide an answer that I may have learnt from study, discussions and personal experience. It would be useful to think of this, not as an answer but rather a tool to facilitate further enquiry. In fact, the response itself is a deeper enquiry, structured in the form of a statement. As sincere students of yoga, our duty is to deepen the subtlety of our enquiry. When asked, we take the responsibility to offer a clear description of the next step in the direction to where the answer rests. It is a description that is offered, not a prescription. For example, 'Mind like sky' is the practice of developing the ability to witness passing thoughts and emotions without dwelling on them, much like the sky may experience passing clouds. Most likely you understood that. I can then describe these practices (please refer to 'Practical Tips' section) and how they might feel. Did I answer your question? The answer lies in the domain of experience. I cannot reach the answer with words. My response has simply described it, much like a sign post pointing towards New York. It is not New York. Also, as teachers, there is the danger of sitting on signposts and claiming to live in New York! The journey towards these answers has to be fueled by the student's deeper enquiry. There are said to be true yoga masters who have deepened their enquiry to such an extent that by merely being in their presence you can experience such answers. The disadvantage here is that it is a temporary experience totally dependent on the presence of such masters, who are extremely rare and precious. Perhaps amongst a million yoga teachers, you will be fortunate to find one. The true answer is yours to discover. May this season of serenity deepen your enquiry. Namaste Bhaskar, Founder of Bodhi
Bodhi NewsBODHI Like a child old enough to leave home for the first time, Bodhi has moved into a new office! Whether to discuss projects, brain-storm ‘yogic’ themed events, for private consultation or to give us the pleasure of your company, please come by. Bodhi is honored to welcome new Bodhi Executive Committee Member, Mr. Louis Delisle who will be in charge of Business Development initiatives. A fellow engineer-turned- dedicated yoga teacher and fluently tri-lingual, he is an ideal compliment to the Bodhi team. His calm presence and clarity of thought and intention are a gift to Bodhi’s purpose. Bodhi is also pleased to officially welcome Ms. Carole Morency as our most experienced speaker and yoga teacher. She became an avid student and practitioner of this ancient science when she discovered its benefits at the age of 13. Since then she has attained various certifications internationally. In 2006, she was awarded the prestigious title of Yoga Acharya, Master of Yoga. A graduate of Université de Montréal and a natural communicator, her career path led to her becoming the Director of Communications in a major company. Her in-depth knowledge of both the business and yoga world make her another honored addition to our growing community. BODHI – New Products Please contact us for details on all of these items.
Practical TipPointing-out instruction for ‘Mind Like Sky’ Great mindfulness practitioners are like gemologists. A stone expert can point to different rocks and speak of its attributes. “This is an amethyst. It has a pinkish violet hue and when this is an intense violet with red flashes, it is most valued”. Similarly, mind experts can point to different states of the mind and speak of its qualities. The following is one instruction to experience the state referred to as ‘Mind Like Sky’. Its qualities include a state of limitless freedom regardless of the mental ‘clouds’ that may be drifting by. Sit or lie down in a comfortable position. Allow the body to support itself. Take a minute or two of silent deep breaths. Experience the following instruction:
Word of the SeasonShanti – Peace (in the entirety of one’s being: body, speech and mind), tranquility; absence of suffering; state in which one experiences inner contentment regardless of external circumstance.
Quote of the Season"The question of real, lasting world peace concerns human beings, so basic human feelings are also at its roots. Through inner peace, genuine world peace can be achieved. In this the importance of individual responsibility is quite clear; an atmosphere of peace must first be created within ourselves, then gradually expanded to include our families, our communities, and ultimately the whole planet” - Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama
Story of the SeasonTwo Twigs Two little straws were drifting in a flooded river. One straw that happens to be lying diagonally across the current, is trying to hold back the flood. It is screaming that it will not let the river go forward. Although the river is moving ahead and the straw is unable to control it, yet it goes on shouting that the river will be stopped: it is boasting aloud that whether it lives or dies, it will stop the river. But the straw is still drifting. The river neither listens to its voice nor knows that the straw is struggling against it. It is a tiny straw; the river is completely unaware of it, and it makes no difference to the river. But for the straw it is a matter of great consequence. Its life is in great difficulty. It is drifting, but fighting. It will ultimately reach the same destination as it would have reached if it had not been fighting. However, as it is fighting, this moment in between, this period in between, will become one of pain, sorrow, conflict and anxiety for it. The straw next to it has let go of itself. It is not lying across the river; it is lying straight, in the direction that the river is flowing - and it thinks that it is helping the river to flow. The river is completely oblivious to this straw too. The straw thinks that it is taking the river along with it to the ocean. And the river is totally unaware of its help. All this makes no difference to the river but for both the straws it is a matter of great consequence. The one who is taking the river along with it is feeling great joy; it is dancing in delight. The one who is fighting against the river is in great pain. Its dance is not a dance at all: it is a nightmare. It is nothing but a twisting of its limbs, it is in trouble, it is being defeated; while the one who is flowing with the river is winning.”
Recipe of the Season (from ‘Sivananda Recipes’)Gingerbread
Book RecommendationYoga: Inner War and Peace -Timeless solutions to conflict from the Bhagavad Gita, Osho Namaste
|
