how much of this is necessary?

[earthsoul8]

I don't remember exactly where I read a few words that said something like this, so I am not quoting, but my recollection always makes me smile. On the inside. Not for anyone else but me. I hope my rendition makes you smile as well. My words, my interpretation as I attempt to pass it along to anyone who reads it here is this: If one wants to learn to meditate, or to experience an awakening and thinks a meditation practice may be of help, (ok I'm going to meditate 3 x's a week, or on Sunday when I pray at church, or every morning when I first get up, or I'll work harder at the meditation component of my yoga class) to achieve the "awakening" goal, more then likely it will not work, if one is not already awakened. And if one has already had the experience of an awakening then they don't really need the practice... To be awake, or aware can be likened to a lightbulb on a dimmer switch. Can we turn our levels awarenness off or down?

Sometimes when I write my thought patterns switch from one topic to another so bear with me if you'd like. Honestly at times I feel like it's not my mind doing the thinking but is channeled to me when I need the information... Strange but interesting and I am thankful for my opinions, my truth in the everchanging moments of transformational bliss and AWE.

I enjoy my practices. That is why I keep at them. No matter what my physical or emotional state I get joyous results from my effort(s). My practices vary. I love the books. I love to travel to different parts and participate with previously unknown people and feel their energy in an asana class. I love a great Kirtan. I have an enthusiastic Bhakti community about 1 1/2 hours north of me in the city of LOVE, Philadelphia and a few times a year I make the drive just for chant and conversation. I play mantra on the stereo, even sometimes when I am at work at a local recreation department. and most people just ask oh, who is singing, or who is playing the drums. Every morning before I really wake up, I love the morning like I love the rain, and I am so slow to move in my sleeping space and do my early morning checking in I'm breathing and think, this must be just like the first breath I ever took. I like the simplicity I like the complicated. I get ready for a day of service... It serves me to serve others... MY GOD... there are so many ways of examining stuff. It's nice to share.

When I am working in an instructor/mentor capacity I've seen people meditating (they think, I think) with there faces so scrunched up and such a look of perplexion on their face(s) as if they are waiting and waiting for something to happen. I'm not sure, and I've asked, what it is they expect is going to happen. What exactly will an a'HA moment bring. Sometimes I just want to bop them and say, in a kind way, "yo, it's already happening... don't sit and wait...just be with what is happening, cuz it already is.", and I can't say that this conceptually, will make sense to any one of the readers on yoga forums but certainly it is interesting.

This chakra and nadi system... The masculine and the feminine, Ida and Pingala... and the vortexes that are the illuminated body in this modern age are there whether we place our focus on them or not. One can shift awareness to them and shift gears between them as means to identifying and coping with challenges they may have to face. Stay rooted and hold your ground if dealing with one thing. Follow your heart if faced with another. Listen to the thoughts, the voices, that scream hey don't do that! Feel the ache in your belly if an unfairness happens to someone you really care about... And process and move and sit under your tree... And experience the gifts... that you are about to receive... are already receiving.... and have received in the past....

Ok... I have to leave to go coach 8 and unders in competitive swimming. Wish I could stay home and meditate and feel what already is happening. And unscrunch my face a bit! It does feel a little tense right now. Friday evening and 3 hours on a noisy pool deck with brominated air...

[Nichole]

Dear Earthsoul8,
I was reading your post and saying, "Me too!" and "Amen!" all along the way.
Also had the lovely experience of real friendship with you and the others in our spiritual community here . I feeling really grateful for it all.

Dear Ones:
What I have come to realize in my journey to the heart of my heart is that all of these tools of practice are only helpful in this journey if they are also respected and integrated into myself on all of the koshas. All of these tools, lessons, scriptures, etc. have all helped me on the path as long as I remained in a sattvic relationship within myself and with these tools. If I tipped just the slightest, those same holy things became stones tied around my neck. For me, it became the difference of "doing Yoga" and "being Yoga." I have watched this situation happen with everything in my life and have also watched myself trying to use my mind to stop the tipping over the edge. LOL...This has proven (repeatedly) to be the wrong tool for this job! My heart knows how though, so I try (repeatedly) to rest there.

With great respect and love,

[Pandara]

Hi Earthsoul8,

Your post is beautiful, the essence is from the heart. While reading your post and especially what you said about meditation, it reminded me about what my own yoga teacher (Sri Durga) said to me years ago when I started with her: "Meditation is not something you do, meditation is something which happens to you."

Well, after letting go of the attitude and mind concept and will that I do meditation and just allowing meditation to happen, I had ever since the most amazing, beautiful and enlightening moments while in meditation. For some people it might not be that special, but for me every moment is always blissful, no matter what.

Until recently I never really read any books about how to meditate and what meditation is etc. Meditation has always been just a natural outflow of who I AM for me. So recently I started to read this book on meditation and after completing it, I came to the following conclusion for myself: We inherently know everything, theory, books, information etc. are placed on our paths to remind us of that inherent knowledge/wisdom, and seen in that light I read books and digest information with an attitude of I AM reminded by Spirit of that which I already know, but have forgotten.

[justwannabe]

pandara,
I know what you just said but I have forgotten it, can you send me a PM to remind me?
thanks
Neil

[smstout19]

Because the regular practice of Hatha yoga improves your flexibility, strength and circulation, this leads to an overall improvement in the function of your organs and immune system. The improved flexibility not only creates a more open pathway for your circulation, but also your thoughts and emotions since everything is CONNECTED. Over-analyzing becomes unnecessary as you begin to feel more relaxed and peaceful overall.

[Nichole]

Originally Posted by smstout19

Because the regular practice of Hatha yoga improves your flexibility, strength and circulation, this leads to an overall improvement in the function of your organs and immune system. The improved flexibility not only creates a more open pathway for your circulation, but also your thoughts and emotions since everything is CONNECTED. Over-analyzing becomes unnecessary as you begin to feel more relaxed and peaceful overall.

I have to say that I have also seen Hatha Yoga practice not improve flexibility and strength in many people, as well as cause dis-ease issues with other aspects of the emotional and physical bodies. Pitta and vatta provocations and a highly rajastic state were some of the dis-ease that presented. Some of these were due to wrong practice and some because they were Bhakti and Karma Yogis who had wrongly committed to Hatha yogasana practice as their path.

I mean no offense to you or your personal experience, it is lovely to share ones experiences here. And I also want to take this opportunity to acknowledge the often mistaken (and mostly unchallenged) belief that Hatha Yoga practice, specifically yogasana, is a panacea for all people.

With my respect,

[smstout19]

I am very sorry to hear this Nichole. Unfortunately, those people were likely performing the asanas improperly - or they had pre-existing conditions which were exacerbated by their practice of Hatha yoga.

[Nichole]

Originally Posted by smstout19

I am very sorry to hear this Nichole. Unfortunately, those people were likely performing the asanas improperly - or they had pre-existing conditions which were exacerbated by their practice of Hatha yoga.

No reason to be sorry; we are all learning how to care for these lovely bodies of ours. That is part of the gift we've been given.
Wrong practice yes, mistakenly following an inappropriate path of Yoga practice for them yes, but no to pre-existing conditions, other than being a human being, for these particular folks. The doshas are like this, nothing needs to be pre-existing, as they are always in a state of flux. And except for a few on this planet, the gunas are like this too.

Blessings,