When Shiva Das and I had a Satsang with Ram Dass over 10 years ago (via Skype),we expressed our concerns as being a small yoga studio big on ETHICS and in teaching the REAL practices of yoga - we felt we were, even back then, going against the "norm" of the more popular yoga studios.
Ram Dass assured us that we ARE going against the grain, but we must uphold the integrity of the practices and the teachings.
He told us, "Although you are in the role of a Yoga Teacher, you are bringing souls to God, this is what you do."
It is a big job!
So much to get through.
The layers of fear, of ego, of judgement.....and on and on.
So we are not very popular.
Why?
Because when you tell us, I love your studio,
but today's class was too crowded for me,
so I have found a new place to practice,
we respond with a teaching about preferences,
about selflessness, and about Ahimsa!
So what you love, and believe in,
you no longer support because of your mood today?
How is that the practice of a yogi?
These scenarios are never ending for us.
It is too hot in the studio, it is too cold in the studio,
I like morning classes, I only like evening classes.....
I wish it was like, or like that, I like what you said, I didn't like what you said.
When we are stuck in our likes and dislikes we are trapped.
We are in prison.
We can not experience Yoga,
which is a state of loving compassion
and UNION with divine presence with in us and around us.
External desires and preferences need to be recognized.
If a teacher cares enough, they will shine the light there for you,
to see it in yourself.
Only when YOU see it, can YOU change it.
But usually you don't like it.
So you leave.
And the lesson is not learned,
and no change occurs, so the wheels keep turning
and you don't understand why you are unhappy.
We keep going.
We have learned great patience.
I never knew I was capable of such spaciousness.
We keep shining, keep loving all,
even those who leave,
we love you.
And we really hope you get it,
that you get to experience what is real.
That one day there is an awakening
and you experience real love, real bliss from within.
The external world will NEVER satisfy us.
It is the internal world that holds the key to
unwavering contentment
and peace.
If we want to be free,
We need to be open to being uncomfortable.
Only through this friction can we grow and break
free from the cocoon that we are so comfortable in
and become the butterfly, beautiful and free, bringing joy
to all.
We need to look, where we would rather not - inside.
Face our mind, our ego, our preferences, our fears....
and realize-
THESE ARE NOT REAL.
"Only God is Real." - Bhagavan Das
Only a few will get to this place. This realization.
We know it is hard.
But the true reality is we will all go somewhere else eventually.
And when it is your time to go, to leave your home, your body,
that which is comfortable....
how will you be?
Will you be at peace?
Will your heart be open and loving?
Or will you be saying "No, this isn't what I want."
The inevitable is death of the body.
We should live our lives with great passion and compassion,
strive to know our TRUE SELF,
to find peace within,
then our lives will be a blessing to our SELF
and also to OTHERS.
Sarva Mangalam
Durga Devi,
ReplyDeleteI cannot find the right words to tell you how much this blog post has moved me. So much so that it brings me tears rolling down my cheeks. I recently expressed my excitement to my therapist about your yoga studio and the way I feel when I am there.i have been trying to make it in there a few times a week now. I am pretty new to House of Yoga. It had been calling to me for over a year. It started when I would discuss with a friend at work who was a dedicated yogi at another studio. I, at the time, had been wanting to try Kundalini yoga on Monday night with Valerie as I had heard her teachings were wonderful. But the terror in me kept me away. My friend at work knew me well and said I would enjoy that type of Yoga and to just go try it already. That I had nothing to loose. And so finally after all this time, a few months back I came in terrified and took the class. While I enjoyed it so much, I started to feel like I wanted to start going to some other yoga classes that you offer in hopes of creating a regular practice. The most interesting part of this whole story is that I knew energetically, intuitively without ever visiting your studio that it would become home to me and that scared me. Terrified me. And I was so right. Because I have never felt so at home anywhere else before. I am so very grateful for your kindness and your authenticity with your teachings. I wanted "different" and I am willing to be uncomfortable in order to grow. I have not ever found what you have at another studio and that is why I appreciate House of Yoga so very much. I truly feel like I am home.
With love and gratitude _/|\_