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Will Doran Yoga Newsletter - August, 2007 "The Yoga Coach" ~ Helping people find their place and direction in life.________________ <<< ☼ >>> ________________ Dear friends, Love and light to you all. This month I focus on healing and finding our connection to divine consciousness. Healing is explored as being more than a physical concept, but rather a sense of feeling connected to reality as it shows up. I hope there is something of value within my words for who among us doesn’t have a sense that a healing would bring us more joy and freedom. In this issue: Yoga Philosophy: Focus on Healing Applied Yoga: Nowhere to Go, Nothing to Do Notices:
____________________________________ Yoga Philosophy: Focus on Healing On my path of studying many philosophies I have found that there are invariably differing world views that cause me to ponder how to apply them to my life, which concepts to keep and which to look for something more meaningful, if not practically helpful. One of these is the Buddhist tenet that all life is suffering. I see it as a contrast to the mystical Tantric view – the philosophical underpinnings of Hatha Yoga – that all life is an unbroken thread of pure consciousness manifesting divine love. Although I can understand the concept that until we master our mind and its desires and grasping for attachments, we will suffer. Yet, I believe this emphasis on suffering and its root causes places the focus on the wrong aspect of living. I ask the question, do we want to focus on what we want to get rid of – pain and suffering – or would it be more beneficial to emphasize joy, freedom of mind and spirit, a movement towards a spontaneous and creative healthy healed life? Wouldn’t life be more enjoyable if our attention was placed on what we want more of and focus our intention towards the process of how to achieve it? Granted these questions may be a philosophical splitting of hairs, after all, the elimination of suffering would lead to a more heart-felt life. However, I find that an emphasis on the goal of living in peace and joy is more effective in healing the wounds that cause us suffering; it is more proactive and nurtures more hope than dwelling on the sensation of suffering. This being said, I propose that we look at the types of wounds that we bear within our mind, body, and spirit and how much the act of a separation consciousness is the cause of our pain. The Tantric world view holds that there is a profound healing that comes from deepening our awareness of the divine consciousness that pulsates through all existence. It takes the form of a sacred tremor, or spanda, the sacred and spontaneous dance of Shiva (masculine energy of consciousness) and Shakti (the feminine force of creative energy). . This ancient Sanskrit term refers to the wave of creative energy that emanates out of the absolute and can be felt as a healing, unifying force. It is the pulsation that forms the threads of life in their limitless forms of expression. The act of integrating an awareness of the divine pulse that moves through us serves to strengthen our sense of belonging to the whole, that we are not living a disconnect. For the divine is found in the profane as well as the profound and the play of Shiva/Shakti is sacred in all its forms of manifestation. The more we are aware of this sacred dance the more consciousness is integrated into our perceptions of reality and the presence of the divine. Integrating consciousness into our way of being may be perceived as rather esoteric for many. In its simplest terms catching this wave of consciousness means moving into stillness to deepen the mind and body’s capacities to feel. A feeling being is one that is centered in the heart and understands the depth and power of love. The Tantric approach holds that we should stop our "seeking" of the way and simply move deeper into "being and feeling" as the way. Mystic Tantric scholar Daniel Odier writes in his introduction to Yoga Spandakarika, The Sacred Texts of the Origins of Tantra that to be in harmony with the cosmos there are certain preliminaries to follow, of which I paraphrase: rid yourself of all beliefs and suspend the romantic dream of realization; play with your own limits while confronting reality directly; confront life without the bric-a-brac of the religious and the spiritual, and yet don’t become narrow minded in rationalism; dare to be alone; do not oppose Essence against reality; give yourself over to the pleasures of pure subjectivity; understand that everything is real; and finally, one day, know exhilarating silence. This all-inclusive belief system would have you embrace the chaos and confusion of life as part of the total experience package. It encourages a presence of mind that would have you look at what is showing up in each moment and make your decisions based on what you want for yourself on the highest level. Opening to the moment also implies having an open mind that does not limit itself with assumptions, nor ingrained patterns of perceptions that restrict new understanding and growth and blocks spontaneity making life stagnant, repetitious and routine. It is a beginner’s mind that is open to experience things in a fresh way, no matter how common they are. A touch, a sunset, a kind word or a gentle breeze can all be impetus for ecstatic bliss! The Tantric approach says embrace it all and feel the wave of divinity ripple through you and the experience. Odier adds that the more we accentuate the movement of Spanda, Shakti’s creative divine force tremoring through all that is, the more it coincides with the true expansive and spherical nature of the mind. He states, "This brings us that profound joy, that sensation of bliss, for suddenly everything can come forward, reveal itself, and disappear in a vast, unending movement. … We discover that all limits are arbitrary. We discover that there is a physical and mental expansion, absolutely limitless, into which we can enter, and which we can taste at every single moment." ____________________________________ Applied Yoga: Nowhere to Go, Nothing to Do Having turned fifty this year I have had my share of pain and suffering. I found that no matter how good my intentions and diligent my efforts I still have not been able to abide in unbroken bliss. Go figure.... Who has? are we meant to? The lesson I have learned is the distinction between pain and suffering: the former simply happens, the latter is optional. Healing a tweaked back and recovering from recent eye surgery are only examples of a handful of physical afflictions five decades of human existence have dished out to me. I have learned through experience and observation that this human form is a fragile thing that has great potential for both getting out of whack, as well as experiencing great pleasure. When things do turn for the worse and pain is abundant we are faced with the opportunity to look deep into our belief systems and choose our responses. Attitude is everything. Peace comes from releasing the attachment to being a certain way, from self imposing restrictions to our mind based on the condition of our physical and emotional bodies. In Anusara Yoga its founder, John Friend, teaches that there is an "optimal blueprint" for the body and there are Universal Principles of Alignment that have us consider the importance of attitude, alignment, and action. These concepts are as pertinent off the mat as well as on for they address the state of mind, our degree and commitment to effort, and how we walk the talk. If we are to create the healthiest physical form we desire for ourselves we have to align with our way of being, as well as our mental attitude. Alignment means eating healthy, exercise and holding our self dear while appreciating our gift of physical existence. This requires knowing ourselves on many levels and being brave enough to take action that is in harmony with our deepest desires. All too often we can see individuals who are in a big disconnect with their bodies because their mind doesn’t grasp the connection between their thoughts and the outcomes they produce. Healing this disconnect will heal many of the physical as well as emotional pains they suffer. Gaining knowledge of the mind will empower them through the process of understanding what has moved them out of alignment in the first place. Taking a serious look at what is showing up while consciously acting in alignment with your highest intention will foster a compassionate and accepting attitude. Healing on the physical level often requires healing on the emotional/mental level first. It may also require understanding that a pain-free dream body is actually a mental illusion that can cause suffering itself. We may find that although we desire a perfect pain-free body we are in fact not living as such. Suffering can result from this if our perception of our self is one of being less-than-perfect, damaged goods, aligning more with our aches and pains than with the blessing of being alive. Freedom from suffering is loving our wonderfully vulnerable physical form and maintaining a mental construct that understands that the body is only a temporary housing for spirit; it is a gift designed to take us through the myriad of experiences that life offers from birth to death. Freedom comes from knowing the life-affirming presence of the divine in those experiences, with or without pain. This human existence is no mistake we are living. Our humanity is part of a divine pattern established since the beginning of time. Why fight what is? Why not simply embrace what is and focus on harmonizing with the sacred tremor that creates all things? The optimal blueprint may actually change with time and an attitude that holds everything as sacred moves us beyond judgment and suffering into appreciation and wonder. Steps that lead to this awareness of the sacred tremor, the divine consciousness manifest in the every essence of being, by first moving into silence and opening our mental doors of perception. Seek to explore the barriers we place before ourselves that separate us from the reality in which we live. Strive to understand that because we ultimately seek love and happiness why then not cultivate a life that promotes it at every turn? There is no difference between love and pure consciousness so if we are to experience the bliss that comes from living a life of love we must first train ourselves to perceive love as an expression of the absolute. We must expand our awareness that there is no place that the absolute does not exist, including within ourselves. Daniel Odier adds to this:
We are not separate from the absolute, everything is sacred; the only transcendence is moving beyond our judgments and self-imposed separation from this blessed world. Attitude is everything. Embrace all aspects of reality and see if deepening your connection to it opens the way for new joys and experiences. ____________________________________ Notices:
Interested in more yoga with Will? New Thursday evening class series Starting Thursday September 6th from 7:30 to 9:00 PM I will be teaching an evening yoga class. The class will be taught out of my home in a series format running for six weeks with a bonus seventh class. Students can register by paying $60, the price for six classes, and will have an extra week included for making up any missed class. There will be a one week break between each series. By committing to the series we will be able to work in a more connected way with specific themes and concepts. Limited space will keep class sizes to no more than eight so register early. Drop-in attendance will require calling in advance to see if space is available. Drop in fee is $12. Call me at 206 789-1058 to register or if you have questions. Your $60 will hold your spot. Mail checks to Will Doran, 9537 1st Ave. NW, Seattle, WA 98117. Expand your understanding - recommended resources (book and DVD) Book: Yoga Spandakarika, The Sacred Texts of the Origins of Tantra, by Daniel Odier This book is full of insight and guidance for the serious student of Yoga philosophy. It is comprised of Daniel Odier’s translation of the ancient text and he contributes commentaries on the meaning and application of pursuing the "sacred tremor." I find it to be one of the most straight forward and enlightening philosophical sources I own. I found it used at Amazon.com for around $7. DVD: God and Buddha, A Dialogue This is a fascinating conversation between writer and physician Deepak Chopra And religion professor Robert Thurman about the connections and differences between two of India's most important philosophical beliefs: Vedanta and Buddhism. Viewing it is a great way to learn more about the common thread of thought behind Eastern Philosophy. This DVD is readily available at www.netflix.com.
My teaching schedule: Monday: 12:00 noon to 1:15 pm at Olympic Athletic Club in Ballard Friday: 12:00 noon to 1:15 pm at Olympic Athletic Club Saturday: 10:00 – 11:15 am at Phinney Center on <<Phinney>> and 65th Sunday: 11:15 – 12:30 pm at Olympic Athletic Club in Ballard Starting in September Thursday 7:30 to 9:00 pm 6-weeks (plus one) series
May your days be filled with peace, joy and light. Namaste, Will PS. Please feel free to pass this newsletter on to your friends. ____________________________________________
If you wish to be removed from this list send a blank message with the word "REMOVE" in the subject line to wjddoran@comcast.net .
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