From Tias Little: The always new is not simply an inspiring spiritual concept. It is actually the way things are. The Buddha achieved insight into the always new during his vision quest towards enlightenment, sitting from sunrise to midnight. He saw that all undergoes constant change, all is [arising and] vanishing, and nothing is static. Every breath, every moment is [appearing and ] vanishing and thus always new. In the wake of this insight follows the teaching of nonclinging. How can [we] cling when everything is in the process of change? Nonclinging or nonattachment, lies at the heart of all yoga practice.
One of the things that can lead to our suffering is holding on - to what was or wasn't, to what should or should not be, what we had or what we want.... This is distinct from being in the flow of life, and intentionally and mindfully responding to what is (yoga as we practice it is not a passive path, and social justice is critical). Two concepts are helpful here Vairagya [vai-raa-gya] is the freedom that comes from non-clinging, and aparigraha [up-a-ree-gruh-huh] is non-hoarding and greedlessness. This releasing of clinging and opening into the flow of life is key to an intelligent practice
From Tias Little: The always new is not simply an inspiring spiritual concept. It is actually the way things are. The Buddha achieved insight into the always new during his vision quest towards enlightenment, sitting from sunrise to midnight. He saw that all undergoes constant change, all is [arising and] vanishing, and nothing is static. Every breath, every moment is [appearing and ] vanishing and thus always new. In the wake of this insight follows the teaching of nonclinging. How can [we] cling when everything is in the process of change? Nonclinging or nonattachment, lies at the heart of all yoga practice. This week's theme is stillness...and resting in the vibrant stillness of Awareness
From Tias Little: One of the primary ways to be on the cusp of change and to experience the always new is to decelerate, slow down, and bear witness to moments passing. Meditation [and yoga] require[s] an exquisite settling into stillness. In an interesting coincidence, today's reading is about weather...hope you are all warm and dry. Hopefully we will still have power when the time comes for class this evening
Because the pose is constantly changing, dynamic. To an outside observer, a three minute pose may appear static. Nothing seems to be happening. Yet in the atmosphere of the inner pose, there is constant change. Like a meteorologist, I track the shifts in weather, including high and low pressures, humidity levels, wind variability, and temperature changes. In this sense, the atmosphere within me is changing all the time. Without moving an inch, I travel miles and miles Happy exploring! For the next few weeks, we'll be exploring all that which is moving (sensation, thought, emotion, feeling, experience...) in that which is not moving (Awareness), and the juxtaposition of movement or vibration and stillness.
From Tias Little: A yoga posture is a perfect vehicle by which to observe the flow of the river of time. If I am in downward facing dog pose (adho mukha svanasana), I listen to the current of my breath: sometimes rapid, sometimes shallow, sometimes still. I observe the expansion and contraction of my connective tissues. I sense the way that pressure continuously shifts as I bear weight in my shoulders. I observe the nuance of sensation that travels through my fascia, skin, organs and joints. Different sensations arise as I stay in position... This week take a moment of stillness to prepare for each posture, and linger for while - sensing, embodying and exploring - before completing and allowing another pause to be aware before moving on |
AuthorMisha Butot RCSW, ERYT 500 is a longtime clinical social worker and senior yoga teacher living in Victoria, BC Archives
April 2024
Categories |