To be or not to be that is the question.

To be or not to be that is the question. To be is to exist and learn the lessons of time. In reality few of us are alive to the present moment and tend to drift, and dream along within a self made euphoria. Stress without relief can distort the natural order of things, causing strain and a breakdown in health. One coping method is to wear a cloak of invisibility.  Children, who have not been allowed to express themselves, due to an over strict up-bringing, can carry their cloak of invisibility even into adulthood.

We are all spiritual beings enjoying an earthly experience and unless we live each moment, cannot gain the full benefit of the incarnation. This means keeping both feet firmly on the ground and not living in a world of fantasy.

Having a human birth is good fortune indeed and provides the resistance the soul needs in order to develop to its full potential.  The earth bound experience helps us to test the reality of inmost spirit which is eternal and ever free, with freedom of choice; that is if we can avoid getting caught by the hook and line of the worlds predators; a quote from Shakespeare’s hamlet provides food for thought, “I could be bounded in a nutshell and count myself the king of infinite space, were it not that I had bad dreams”

We are all modifications of power and essential parts of the functioning of the whole, whether it is the distant stars, the planet earth and all living things on land and sea. Affirming this relationship is a way of restoring inner harmony, whether with a single tree or the distant horizon.

Man often works against the natural order of things and at times threatens to destroy life on the planet. Stress and personal ambition creates waves which we all have to live through, unless we can say stop and work in harmony with the natural intelligence that is invested in all life. To live in the present moment means re-connecting to the subtle life pulse that flows from the Cosmos, energises the Sun and gives life to the earth. This means letting go self-imposed stress and experiencing the timelessness that gives meaning to life.

Experiencing timeless moment’s, means living in the ‘Here and Now’ and using the words ‘Here Now’ to step away from the illusions of time. Similarly the words ‘Now Here’ are of equal importance as it provides the opportunity to attune to the many levels of intelligence, applicable to each level in time. Finally conjoining the words ‘Now Here’ gives us ‘Nowhere’, and the eternal and the timeless origins from which all life and experience arise.

Practise being aware of each step you take, of being in contact with the earth and the pulse of life with the changing seasons; let go of stress as you re-balance and harmonise with nature.  This is the way to ‘Self’ healing.

Peace

Peace arises from a balance of power both within and without. Each individual is unique and expresses itself according to its own nature, it is the difference that adds value, trying to force sameness causes boredom and possible rebellion against the status quo. Without uniqueness there would be no art to bring colour, and compliment the spirit of life that underlies nature.

An orchestra is composed of many instruments each with its own unique sound and not unlike the body with its many parts, when allowed to flow in harmony experiences a sense wholeness and beauty. Stress and strain can cause disruption to the natural harmony of the whole. Within the human heart resides a listening ear, that when turned inward can sense the sound forms beneficial to the well being of the whole body.

This relationship can be invaluable when practising relaxation techniques or simply allowing the body to move to music so that mind and feeling flow together in harmony. This is helpful when creating an oasis of inner peace which can be a refuge from the stress and turmoil of the outside world.

When experiencing pain or illness it is possible to ‘Let Go’ and find light and peace at the centre of your being; as the centre is essentially positive and has no negativity in it whatsoever. No matter how great the discomfort, make small adjustments and find a position of relative ease, both within and without. It is from this position that we can start to move forward, guided by the oasis of peace within. Pain is instructive, a pinning and saying no to unprofitable action; so be guided by the peace within, which can act as a healing balm, and by gradually extending the healing boundary wholeness and well being can return.

Try not to be bound by time which is eternity expressing itself sequentially; nothing can be rushed, as the karmic bonds of time may take time to unravel. Love the moment as love is not bound by time and embraces all that is, including Truth which is the word of God.

Prajna is the Cosmic Wisdom which over time expresses itself perfectly in the manifest Universe. Let this Truth manifest in your life by discovering the Yoga techniques which enable you to discover your own oasis of peace and eternal refuge,that soothes, heals, and guides the way forward.       

Two Paths

There are two paths that we can follow in life; one is called the path of the Moon, and the other the path of the Sun. The path of the Moon is the path of the ancestors and follows tradition; it offers stability, with very little change; it follows repetitive patterns of behaviour, with very little initiative. The path of the Sun can be likened to the path of the Yogi, as those on the path of the Sun bring light to the world, and are creative and free willed. From the moment we are born, we are caught in a net of human behaviour, recorded in our protoplasm that reaches back into the dawn of human history. Not surprising, decision making is based on what has gone before, by responding to impulses locked in the memory of our cells.

The path of the Sun/Son brings light and clarity to the world, which in ancient times could be a dangerous path to follow and lead to crucifixion. Not everyone appreciates those who think freely and outside of the box, even if the message is a peaceful one.

We are all a part of a vast stream of life that has its origins in the cosmos; we have all made our decisions, and developed in different ways according to our nature. None of us are that different, and have our origins in the sound geometry of the universe. The intelligence that first precipitated life is still with us today and so-called death is simply a withdrawal from the body, and what withdraws, persists at other levels of being. Those who follow the path of the Moon are locked in to the path of the ancestors and the inertias of the past. The Yogi breaks this inertia and is guided by the pure light of consciousness and little by little discovers him/herself as Will; that is a conscious being, initiating change in accordance with the light of the moment.

A Yogi stepping onto the path of the Sun without the guidance of a Guru is best guided by the Eight Limbs of Raja, Yoga as outlined by Patanjali. First steps may be faltering as there is much to learn and to put into practice. It is a case of, off with the old and on with the new; changing the inertia of century’s takes time, as each one of us is a leading edge of a particular line of development, with historical strengths and weaknesses that still try to influence today.

The essence of Yoga, and the path of the Sun, is discovering one’s Self as Will; which does not mean inclination or desire, but living in the light of the moment, and not influenced by engrammatic or memory traces from the past. Hence the necessity to understand and re-structure, guided by the Eight Limbs of Yoga. Any success attained in overcoming private purpose, or ego motivated action, is a victory not only for ourselves, but for the whole of the family line, as none of us live in isolation from the rest.

Yoga correctly understood will ultimately affect the whole of the human race, as no one is isolated from the resonance, or vibes, from each other’s actions. Each time we switch on the TV; there is very little about Peace and Harmony in the world; every time you are reminded of the worlds suffering, touch that inner space, where you found Peace during your Yoga practice, and send it into to the world.

The Way of the Yogi

Yoga represents the ideal that is a calm disposition in the face of adversity, flexibility and good health with the ability to calmly adjust when things go wrong. A Yogi is generally optimistic, cheery and a good companion to have at your side. To look up the popular definitions of Yoga, we find that it has its roots in the Sanskrit language and means Union that is to join or yoke with God. This somewhat intangible statement hints at the highest level of relationship between the whole of nature and man himself. The Yogi does not live in isolation from all that is around him, but enjoys the refreshing stillness of the mountain top, the life giving vitality of nature and the energy of sunlight. God speaks to him in the silent space within, as well as in bird song and the sighing of the wind. His truth is a measure of reality, in clearly structured and measured thought. There is nothing to prove, and whether he is here or there he is always at the Centre of his Universe, his truth arises from an inner clarity that transcends the time oppressed world. There is intelligence in nature that unfolds in every living thing, wherein nothing is rushed or forced, and truth as embodied love expresses its beauty and form according to its inmost nature. The Yogi clear in heart and mind is attuned to the natural rhythms of life, with nothing to prove, his watchword is ahimsa (non injury), and his guidance is directed toward developing the uniqueness that lies within each. He does not force or strain beyond his natural limits, encourages harmonious relationship between every living thing, his teaching directed toward health and wholeness of being in one and all.                     

Happiness as a Way of Life

Happiness as a way of life is a question of choice; we can choose to walk in the shadows or the light. The shadows represent the hidden desires and thoughts that lie below the conscious mind and influence our day to day choices. The light is the conscious mind that sees and senses clearly that which is appropriate in any given situation; happiness can be fleeting and transitory or become a joyful sub-stratum that underpins the whole of life; while pleasure can be something of a two edged sword as constant stimulation is no stimulation and can dull the senses, and become addictive as we abandon any sense of self-direction.

We can live our lives in a manner that adds nothing to the total sum of wellbeing on the planet and become nothing more than a little manure to be re-cycled back into the life process;, or we can become self-positing and beings of light, not subject to the laws of decomposition and decay. The essence of being lies in the will itself, and by will we do not refer to the urges and inclinations experienced by the body, but the level at which consciousness initiates change, and becomes the guide that gives direction.

Happiness lies essentially in the will; that is the will to be happy. There are many thoughts and feelings that come drifting by; some are barbed like the fisherman’s bait which can catch us out if we are not wary. We are not unlike swimmers in the ocean of life trying to avoid much of the flotsam and jetsam that comes drifting by. Nothing persists forever and we have to change and adapt, adjusting to changing circumstances. The body that we have fashioned for ourselves is often a reflection of all we have put into it, not only food, but also impressions and the emotional tensions that we have accumulated along the way.

Simplicity is the key as purity of heart is to Will one thing, and that which we all can subscribe to is freedom; freedom from tension, freedom from pain and freedom of choice. To remove clutter from one’s life will help us to see clearly, and discover the clarity of mind and consciousness that does not give rise to doubt, this when heartfelt, unifies Mind, Feeling and Will.

An untroubled calm helps us to enjoy life and this comes from practising meditational stillness while in the midst of conditions. This starts in the quiet of the meditation room and then continues and is reinforced in the hustle and bustle of daily life. This is the quiet still centre that we have carried with us from the beginning of time; it is the seat of wisdom and understanding against which we can pattern our lives, sometimes the pieces of the jigsaw fit and sometimes they don’t, and this is when the law of karma becomes operative.

There is only one person to make you happy and change your life, And That Is You. Your inmost and highest Self (Atman), does not suffer the limitations of the lower self or ego. Stilling the mind is the key, so that mind and emotions are as tranquil as the waters in a Zen Garden, then with a clear and untroubled mind each step you take will be as if under a clear limitless sky.

To be happy is to be ‘Self’ positing, with consciousness as your guide; a skill that requires continual ‘Self’ remembrance as the lower mind, like the naughty child will keep knocking on the door and demanding attention. Yoga is the path to happiness, as with Self realisation, we open the door to Light, Intelligence and Wisdom.

Hatha Yoga

Hatha Yoga is a journey of self-discovery that improves the health of the body both physically and psychologically. From the moment we place our yoga mat upon the ground, we start to wake up, bring control back to ourselves, and discover the link factors that constitute the whole being. This is an evolving process; the yoga mat representing a sacred space, where we discover that our guru is on the inside and not on the outside. Whether young or old we all have different capabilities and best grow and blossom when being true to ourselves, by guiding our life process from centre. From the moment we take our place on the yoga-mat we step back from the illusory world of time, still the mind and learn to guide ourselves forward, free from the urgency of time filled space.

Such is the nature of the mind, that it can be easily impressed by images of the gymnast and acrobat. Yoga is about realism, therefore any posture we envisage has to be consciously assessed and within the range of our capability. Once the form is set, the heart is brought to bear, so that body and muscle groups are energised efficiently. Finally when Mind and Feeling are synchronised, we can consciously initiate the action that mobilises the whole body.  When the Mind, Feeling and Will oppose each other, we create a sense of discord and bad chemistry which disturbs the whole being.

Hatha Yoga can represent two paths, the path of the Sun and the path of the Moon. The path of the Moon is for those on automatic pilot and devoid of any spiritual aspirations; the path of the Sun is for the creative, and consciously evolved, who bring light into every aspect of yoga. They understand the nature of yoga as union with the Divine intelligence that links and embraces all. This intelligence becomes closer and clearer each time we take our place on the yoga mat, let go of the distractions of the outer world, and let consciousness which is both transcendent and immanent become the guide.

 Hatha Yoga is transformative and not unlike the ‘Rising Sun’; the light of consciousness can bring clarity, overcoming inertia and dispelling the darkness of miss-guided ideas and teaching. To many it is the modern way of turning base metal into gold and of returning control back to ourselves.