You do not have a soul, you are a soul

You do not have a soul you are a soul that is a circumscribed zone of the infinite life-force that manifests through all living things. The feeling power that was and is from before time began, has evolved uniquely through the myriad of life forms that we see around us, many forgetting their origins as they evolve through time and the Supreme Artist that designed them and brought them into being. Many life-forms have been destroyed and crowded out by the developing world or destroyed through Personal greed, and yet there are a few who endeavour to transcend personal ambition and seek to align themselves with the wisdom and love that guides each toward their true destiny. These few are called yogis as they seek to achieve union with the divine source that brought them into being.

These few transcend the limitations of their finite existence and can be rightly referred to as messengers or angels and on completion of their journey avatars; Yoga not unlike the pyramid has a broad base with many versions of its popular art and can therefore be subject to regulation. The yogi at best feared by no-one is creative and aims for health and well-being at all levels, transcending any limitations that may have been imposed for personal gain.

Self-transcendence is the aim of the yogi. This is not the limited ego self of the ambitious but the Self of the visionary who seeks to play their part in the harmonious development of themselves and the planet. This requires a level of development in which consciousness becomes the guide rather than a trained response taken from a health or training manual. This does not mean that we ignore the historical development and do as much as we can about our interest. But also learn to clear the mind and develop an intuitional response that transcends lower sense organ activity and which is associated with the higher mind.

The higher or conscious mind does not dissipate with the death of the physical body and the loss of the outer senses but once established becomes your diamond body of light or spirit body. This process starts with the first yoga class and requires a high degree of knowledge and expertise on behalf of the teacher, something rarely possible unless you have had the good fortune to have sat at the feet of a master.

When the pupil is ready, the master will appear, is an old yet true saying as guidance will come in many forms from the field of life, either from meditation or meeting the right person on the next stage of your journey; something not possible if imprisoned by the cage of regulation or self-prejudice.          

Gordon Smith

Sunlight

Sunlight contains the secret of life, the Suns illuminating light carries cosmic message from deep space, to be absorbed and developed by planet earth. Lack of light is heralded by lack of energy, wilting and becoming pale and insignificant. We also receive light in a form modified by the foods we eat. Therefore foods that receive as close to direct sunlight as possible are the most beneficial. To regenerate and refresh your life force, meditate each day by sitting in natural sunlight. During the winter months this is best done indoors by sitting close to a window that receives natural sunlight. During cloudy days in the northern hemisphere this may not always be possible, so take advantage when the Sun shines thru! When meditating, sit with a still mind and partially lowered eyelids, aware of the Sun’s energising warmth, accept the light completely and absorb its healing energy. Avoiding the glare of direct sunlight, internalise the light and feel that its healing presence energises and heals both mind and body

As above so below

As above so below is the hermetic phrase that captures the spirit of yoga;

The intelligence that manifests and expresses itself in every aspect of life is not limited by the forms through which it manifests, but has its origins in a boundless and inter-functioning power that determines the final outcome of all within it. Just as the wave forms that pattern the ocean are not essentially different from the ocean itself, so do we all share the same universal nature?

Within the mind of the supreme artist exists not only the mechanics of inter-function, but also the whole picture or vision that arises from out of perfect inter-function? The universal or cosmic vision needed to gain the height of perfection and a happy and long life, is not attained through tunnel vision and limited perspectives but by conscious evaluation of both mind and heart,

Mind and Heart work together, the mind giving form to the intuition that arises within the heart. This level of perception that we refer to, reaches beyond the limitations of the five senses into the heart and intelligence that guides and patterns life. This requires that the yogi in his/her practical application of their yoga practice develops life-field or (bio-field) consciousness. Bio-field consciousness extends the boundaries of normal sense perception into the realms of the higher-mind.  We are all modifications of power that is not a blind and irrational force but a field of intelligent power that expresses itself through each individual. We are all self-limiting and often fall short of our full potential. Hence the yogi works to develop his powers of ‘Self’ recognition and attune himself to the Cosmic or perfecting mind.

This starts with simple asana, by observing the body warts and all and not responding to a mechanical approach to posture, but first making a feeling assessment before consciously guiding the body, little by little over time toward its desired aim. Gradually with increased sensitivity this approach can be applied in every aspect of life, with the aim of willing what God wills for you rather than following a mechanical approach as dictated by others.

We can during our lifetime structure ourselves with mechanical habitual responses that serve our own limited self-interest, often increasing our karmic debt and condemning ourselves to lower re-births in order to learn valuable lessons.  Or we can adopt the yoga way and follow the path of integration and union with the intelligence that guides each of us along an ascending path from the earth bound, to the vegetable, animal, man and human to the angelic and eternal life.

The Greatest Yogi

For the Christian who practises yoga, Jesus of Nazareth represents the highest level of attainment, as he came to fulfil the law. Not the law of mortal beings, but the law and will of God. This condemned him to crucifixion, as he exhibited a level of free will with aims contrary to the establishment of the day. He spoke with authority, not the authority backed by man made laws, but with the authority of someone who spoke as one of the elect. Christ saw through and beyond the web of this world, with its trials and tribulations, and could with a glance or touch, relieve suffering and heal the sick. This was not an extra-ordinary gift for someone who was at one with the creator of all life, as he was at one with the truth that underlies and defines mortal existence; it is fallen man that distorts the catalytic power of Christ’s vision.

Self recognition is the goal of the Yogi, there are two aspects to the Self, like a two way mirror, one looks outward to the world, guided by the senses five. The other is looking inward into the pristine stillness, from which the soul was formed.

The outward and worldly looking can so easily captivate us and influence our self-development, we call this the exoteric and because it is so often self-limiting, it is usually spelt with a small ‘s’. The reflexive techniques of yoga and inward looking, the esoteric, releases us from self-limitation  and awakens the soul to a more Conscious and visionary way of life, and here we  refer to the Self by writing with a large ‘S’.

The highest form of Yoga exhibited by Christ is the most difficult; as we have invested so much energy in outward looking that it has become the habitual way of responding to stimulus. These energy patterns have become so habitual that they not only condition human behaviour, but also influence the energy patterns of the life fields of which we are a part.

Every thought in the human mind has an emotional charge, even hidden thoughts, thoughts we would like to ignore and suppress, which when given the opportunity, still seek to find self-expression.

In this context, the words of Jesus “I and my Father are One”, have a tremendous significance, as the Will of God, the Will of the eternal unchanging Self, is not the will of mortal beings with their limited perspectives, but arises from a spiritual vision  that encompasses all worlds from the smallest to the greatest.

When you know yourself as Will, in the highest sense of this word, you can in accord with Jesus of Nazareth repeat the words “I and my Father are One”. All true Yogis work toward achieving this highest ideal of Yoga, Union with the Absolute Good, or Will of God, made understandable and possible by the recorded life of Christ.

Yoga for Back Pain

Yoga for Back Pain

When we use the word Yoga it implies an intelligent and Conscious approach to whatever is being done. Whenever back pain is present there can be diverse reasons as to its cause, from serious trauma requiring immediate medical intervention, to the less serious, whether physical or psychological. At some point decision has to be made whether any form of exercise is appropriate and this is when the realistic approach of Yoga may prove helpful.

It is likely that if the cause of the pain is recent that the injury is at the acute stage, when inflammation, torn tissue and pressure due to swelling affecting nerve endings produces continuous discomfort and the best course of action is rest. It is when healing takes place and when musculature tightens that we enter the chronic phase, when there is undue stiffness and a lack of flexibility. Yoga exercise then becomes part of a Conscious and evolving process in which the spine and associated musculature is allowed to start to express itself through a range of movement, which is extremely gentle at first, as forced movement can be counter-productive. Some basic exercise is described as follows:-

Flexing the Spine as with the forward bending postures, particularly with disc related problems, has to be approached with caution. Paschimottanasana is a seated posture with the legs extended to the front, in which the posterior muscles of the body are given a stretch by bending forward and bringing the body toward the legs. The posture is then held for several seconds without pulling or jerking, but simply allowing the upper weight of the body to contribute toward the stretch. It takes time and patience to stretch tightened muscles; helps are directing the energy and the warmth of the out flowing breath toward the whole of the back.

Hyperextension is the counter pose posture which after spinal flexion is taken up from a lying face down position. Ideally it should be possible to first raise the head and shoulders without assistance from the arms. However, a realistic approach after suffering back trauma is to adopt a Sphinx like pose by resting on the forearms and then raising head and shoulders and holding position for several seconds. With improved flexibility the body can be raised further by adopting the Cobra or Bhujangasana pose with the hands palms down at shoulder level.

Lateral Flexion allows the spine to bend first to one side and then the other. There are a variety of Yoga postures to encourage this, usually from a stable seated position while sitting with the legs crossed or knees bent and at one side and then the other. The arms are then raised and clasped above the head and stability maintained as the body is stretched first to one side and then the other.

Spinal Rotation can be from either standing or sitting and the body rotated first one way and then the other, and holding the twist for several seconds at each turn.

This is a small example of the type of Yoga exercise then can help alleviate back pain. It is important to remember that the body is best supported by a well toned musculature and that there has to be achieved a balance between too relaxed and flaccid, called the hypotonic condition, and the too tense, the hypertonic. The ideal is when muscle tone is such that it is ready for immediate action and referred to as a balanced or tonic condition.

Yoga is very much bringing control back to the individual and assisting in the healing process through an intelligent awareness of the body, whether or not medical intervention has been necessary. The aim of Yogi throughout the ages has been to know one’self at all levels whether physically, mentally or spiritually.