Inspiration | Yoga Flavored Life

Who am I?

Oct6

Photo by: Sean Rogders

I’m willing to admit it; I’ve been procrastinating on this wonderful website’s kind and thoughtful owner when it comes to her request for me to post a profile or “about me” page. In fact, it has been nearly two months if I remember correctly. The reason why it is happening now as opposed to then lies in the weather we’ve been having in our little town here in the British Columbia foothills – it is a balmy twenty six degrees Celsius again today as it has been for the last three days and will be until the weekend at least.

For the beginning of October, the lake is surprisingly warm (cool and refreshing as opposed to mid-summer soup), and I find myself drawn to the beach to take in this final blessing of warmth and sunshine. In my laziness, I have decided to write my profile and this Wednesday’s article into one story. With the weather the way it has been, soaking up the sun and spending my days on the beach is all I can think of; I confess I am also fresh out of ideas…too much sun!

Xing Li

Who am I? I am Sean Rogders…according to my birth certificate, driver’s license, and all the other ‘forms of identification’ we typically carry around or have safely snuggled away somewhere. Then again, I have also been given the name Xing Li; which means “awake” in Mandarin…Am I either of these two names? It is interesting to me that we use such terms as “form of identification” without taking the time to realize what it really means.

“God” is a form or way of identifying that infinite something we cannot possibly understand on an intellectual level. So are “Allah,” “Jehovah,” “Linda,” “George,” “Sean…” Do you get the point? You can say I am Sean, but Sean doesn’t stay the same from moment to moment, mood to mood. The very cellular structure of Sean will be different a day from now, as will Sean’s ideas, emotional state, and physical appearance. We remain hung up on names and descriptions instead of the deeper understanding that names and descriptions are meaningless and limiting, if not downright dangerous.

Sorry, I died…

Who am I? I am a poet, a writer, a monk, a yogi, a friend…I’ve been a soldier, an enemy, a Buddhist, a Daoist, a Christian, and an Atheist. Are any of these descriptions or “forms of identification” really me? Nope, can’t be. They all change too – from time to time, day to day, and moment to moment. To satisfy the basic needs of most to classify, identify, label and box all things into neat little packages, I offer the following before we return to who I really am. Please keep in mind that everything I mention here is by someone else who died immediately after…not me.

To label is to…

My education includes more degrees than a typical thermometer, but I struggle constantly to forget everything I was ever taught.

You can tell me your name if you want, but I am going to forget it within less than five seconds (again, on purpose) so please do not be offended. What was your name again? It doesn’t matter.

I’ve studied every major (and most minor) religion and spiritual philosophies, plumbed the depths of the Kabbalah, Crowley, Alchemy and Occultism, always looking for common threads. When I found them, I spun myself a shirt of knowledge and gave it to the first person who was dumb enough to take it.

When I shower, I am thinking about time travel, null space, Quantum Physics applied to Spirituality, reincarnation and multiple dimensions…I was once asked why I always shower with freezing cold water – obviously to keep my brain from cooking itself!

In my good fortune, I have studied with great masters in too many temples, ashrams, synagogues, monasteries, and caves to keep track. Thankfully, I have managed to throw most of that out too.

I practice or have practiced many forms of peaceful martial art, but currently seem devoted to two styles of Yoga.

All of nature’s creatures appear to know me. I have never been bitten, scratched, or harmed by any animal. I attract birds, butterfly’s, cats, dogs, deer, and smaller furry creatures such as raccoons. There are days when a wild animal will look at me with such knowing that every fibre of my being feels it, and I rejoice in the knowledge that I am on a good path.

People naturally look to me as a leader and counsellor, yet I try to avoid both at all costs.

I have been reasonably wealthy, but live now as what I call “a reasonable ascetic.”

Fifty-one countries on this wonderful little world bear my footprints, as I bear theirs.

I am at home in nature, and walk, hike, or bike daily to remind myself of this.

Oops! Died again…

Of course, this is a very short list, but it doesn’t really matter because that guy is long dead. Even the Sean that started this article went and died off a short time ago and left me to finish it, except I’m going to be gone right away too and someone else will have to carry on. The point is this: Nothing I could tell you of who I am will really tell you who I am. I am you, and you are me. I am the universe itself, and also the tiniest mote of dust floating on a soft breeze…

I AM

I AM. Nothing more, nothing less…I will never die, never grow old, and never feel pain. My nature is to play, to dance to the music ears do not hear, revel in the majesty of Creation that the eyes cannot see, and feel the constant presence that is both me and all around me at the same time. I AM.

Peace to you, my family. I hold all of you in my hands as I am held in yours. See past names, descriptions, and labels – come to see the Divine Essence in all things; then you will truly understand not only who I am, but who you are too – who we all are…

This is who I am.

Namaste.

Filed Under: Inspiration

Hot Yogini, Cold Yogi

Sep22

Enough. These few words are enough.
If not these words, this breath.
If not this breath, this sitting here.

This opening to the life
we have refused
again and again
until now.

Until now.

Enough by David Whyte

Modern distractions

You wake up in the morning, and no matter how hard you try, the concept of getting out of bed and starting your Yoga practice is something you can’t quite wrap your head around…Or maybe it is after work, but the load of laundry and other chores waiting for you at home make you drive right by your normal class; guilty, but also feeling trapped by the constraints of everyday life.

Yes, the modern world has added a plethora of distractions, but we are not alone in our struggles against this resistance to our practice. As a matter of history, this strange opposition has always been an issue and therefore we cannot blame our modern world on it entirely. This also means that when we do experience resistance to our practice or other facets of our lives we consider to take discipline, we should refrain from carrying guilt about it. Do not misunderstand; there is a monumental difference between guilt and being open and honest with ourselves.

Patanjali was aware of the importance of working through resistance to our practice and how to bring the mind back under our control. There is only one way, according to Patanjali – steadfast, wilful effort in our practice, and nonattachment. Abhyasa (steadfast, wilful effort) and Vairagya (dispassion or nonattachment) are far more than the pathway to a still and focused mind – they are the pathway to Yoga and life itself. How is this possible, especially in light of Abhyasa and Vairagya appearing to be near opposites at first glance?

Abhyasa

Abhyasa – steadfast and wilful effort – need not be confused with discipline, and as a matter of fact I’d prefer we thought of discipline as no more than an “end appearance” than anything a Yogini or Yogi need think about or practice. Abhyasa arises naturally once our intention or ‘reason’ for Yoga (or anything else for that matter) becomes clearly focused in our minds and we become committed to it. In order to set our intention clearly in our minds we must take time out of our busy schedules to contemplate our reasons for doing Yoga.

My first intention or reason for starting Yoga was a desire to deepen my spirituality and connectedness with all things. I had hit a wall in my meditation, and felt a more active style of meditation may suit me better. As with all reasons, however, they are subject to change – and change is okay. Take the time to really understand why you do Yoga, and don’t be afraid to change it on a daily basis if necessary, or add to the list.

Make a list!

As a matter of fact, putting a well thought out list with a big bold title on the fridge is a great way to remind yourself of the reasons you practice Yoga, and room to add reasons as you move along. Yesterday and today are fine examples in my own practice: I woke depressed and feeling very ‘heavy’ on both days and had no desire to practice Yoga. In contemplating the reasons I have added to my original reason – that of a deeper connection with Creation – I found I had once written “uplifting myself emotionally and mentally” on my “Why I do Yoga” sheet. I did my Yoga…both days.

Commitment

What is commitment? When we look at the word ‘commitment’ a little closely, we see it comes from the Latin word meaning to bind together. What do we bind together? We bind our intent with faith. As with almost all of life, we ultimately do the things we have intent to do through faith in our results. We have faith that if we educate ourselves that more opportunities will become available, we have faith the sun will rise tomorrow, and we have faith that our decision to practice Yoga is going to be very good for us. Our intent coupled with faith in the outcome results in the outward appearance of discipline. To the Yogi or Yogini, it is not discipline at all, just a natural result of our intent coupled with faith or belief in what we do.

Vairagya

Vairagya – dispassion or nonattachment – does not seem to be such an opposite now in light of how we have defined Abhyasa. Patanjali describes Vairagya as the state of being where we have no desire for earthly attainment or spiritual accomplishments. This does not mean that we drop everything and run to the nearest cave to spend our lives in an ascetic practice – although to some it may. I myself have spent too many years to count doing exactly that, and achieved great benefits in the process, but still find my return to the Western World a difficult transition.

The true art of Vairagya lies in our ability to acknowledge day to day issues and concerns, to acknowledge our own failures and shortcomings, and to acknowledge life exactly as it is. Let me give you an example from my own life to clarify this important point: I spent roughly twenty years in monasteries, Ashrams, and holy places in fifty countries. In that time, I unwittingly began to refuse to acknowledge the reality of the world we live in and instead developed a Utopian view of what our world should be by now in our human development. I had somehow confused acknowledgement of things exactly as they were for blind acceptance.

Acknowledge the way things are

Vairagya does not mean accepting everything around us, but we do have to acknowledge it exactly as it is. As relates to our practice and our commitment; we do not need to beat ourselves up for a missed day, or a missed week. In the process of acknowledging our failings and weaknesses, we need not accept them. Instead of guilt and harsh thoughts towards ourselves, we can instead acknowledge these failings and from a state of compassion harness the power of both Abhyasa and Vairagya to review our practice, focus our intention on the reason or reasons we practice, and grow more resolute towards it.

As Patanjali indicates in the Yoga Sutras, we need to let go of the fruits of our labours both in the physical and in the spiritual. We acknowledge or face the failings of ourselves and the world around us – not accept it. Blind acceptance of everything leads to a dangerous complacency of spirit a state of denial. I tried to deny my own failings, failed to acknowledge the world as it is and was when I was ‘looking through rose-colored windows’ at the world around me – it doesn’t work.

Compassion for yourself and others

Allow yourself to acknowledge everything – from your own lack of clear intention to life around you and its impact on your practice. You need not accept it; you can change it for yourself, work on making a difference to those around you, or acknowledge it and let it go if it is something that really has no impact on you and causes no harm. Proceed with compassion in your practice and in your life, do not harm yourself by guilt or negative thoughts towards yourself, and you will find that over time your nonattachment and steadfastness will yield true results.

In my personal opinion, I believe that this was a crucial point Patanjali and many other Yogis’ and Yogini’s have tried to make for generations: Our expectation of the results we are looking for often limit us in the results available to us or worse yet – cause us to lose momentum when we do not see the results we had anticipated. Approach all of life through the concepts of Abhyasa and Vairagya, and the true gifts of Yoga and this world will manifest themselves onto you, exceeding any expectation you may have had to start with.

Have faith…Be clear on your reasons for your practice…Namaste.

Photo courtesy of aussiegall

Filed Under: Inspiration, Philosophy

Floating on the River of Life

Aug27

Yoga Warrior Pose photo credit: swan-t

I was struggling for an idea for this week’s article when Charlotte (this beautiful web site’s owner and creator – for those who have not been introduced) wrote something in an email that set off my article warning bells…Charlotte had written that she felt Yoga could help anyone work through so much in their life – true words without a doubt to be sure. Upon deeper reflection on this short comment, I began to realize that our culture has accepted Yoga as an avenue to greater physical and mental health, but…

How do you demonstrate the impact Yoga has on our every day existence? In the East from whence Yoga originated, there is a long and documented history of Yoga and its benefits spanning thousands of years – it is ingrained in the culture and in the individual equally, with no need to find acceptable reasons why Yoga should be practiced. In the West, we tend to shy away from the less physical aspects of Yoga, which may appear to be a stereotypical comment, but I find it to be true in the majority of Yoga studios I have polled both recently and the past.

Fair warning!

We could talk about the physical aspects, the emotional aspects, the spiritual or less tangible rewards or benefits from practice…but how can we speak of these benefits in a way that we here in the West can relate to and more importantly absorb? Today, God help you all – I thought poetry may be a suitable guide. Poetry can defy common conventions in language and meaning – often ‘short-circuiting’ our rational mind and allowing new windows into ourselves. It is my hope you find those windows, and come to know the wonder and value of who you really are

Balance begins from deep within, it is not about physical prowess…
In peace, at the center of your being, no stress can reach you
The morning commute becomes a time for mindful reflection
As if by magic, you begin to flow with Life, even as you cease to move

The mad rush of breakfast and bundling family off to school and work
You have your part, but something is not the same
Today, your sun salutation left you in breathless wonder as you greeted the dawn
A smiling island of peace and clear mind in the midst of a new day’s chaos…

The customer who unfairly takes his frustrations out on you
Who once would leave you shaking in angry response
Now you see glimpses of the light within him, shining past Ego’s childish rages
Compassion wins a new friend

The company laptop that squeals its last breath
Just as you complete the final word of your presentation…changes nothing
You begin again, knowing there is reason for everything
Seeing past the lost and realizing what could be found in the still buzzing wreckage

A higher awareness begins to pervade your existence, an infinite you
Speaks quietly in your heart…
No longer of this world realized, the wonder of this journey makes
Joyful, childlike, the beginner’s mind…empty and yet full.

The myriad tasks you face each day accomplish themselves it seems
You stretch and bend in the wind of modern life
No longer buffeted to and fro in what was once a storm
You walk your own path in tranquil abiding, feeling the breeze caress your skin.

Through Yoga and the gift of remembering it brings
You find relationship with all of humanity and all of creation
Body healing now, energy and health abound
A smiling face radiating peaceful love greets you in the mirror.

Night falls…a gentle curtain as you finish your last asana
Unaware, you bring blessings to those around you
Aware, you learn to free yourself of all misconceptions
No worrying over unknown tomorrows, the flower of Life begins to blossom within.

My friends, may you find peace and balance through your own practice as you travel the pathway of your own existence.

Namaste…

Filed Under: Inspiration

Groundwork

Jul6

Welcome to a new series of articles dedicated to the spiritual side of our existence! It is my hope through these articles which Charlotte has so graciously agreed to that I may share some of my journey with you.

I would ask an open mind of you, our valued and respected reader, as well as communication and dialogue should my meagre writing skills leave understanding lacking. In any picture we are trying to convey to others, whether through words or any other art, we must begin first with the foundation…

Truth

When we use words as we are using them now, TRUTH slips through the cracks. The written and spoken words we use trap experience into solid blocks which we try to paste together with logic and reason. Despite our efforts, the blocks fit poorly and the true meaning of a situation escapes us. Becoming confused, we demand more words which only increase our perplexity, obscuring the simple and direct truths of not only our existence, but also of our interactions with others around us. Humans are creatures of emotion, always struggling to express these feelings as interpreted by our conscious minds – rarely aware that language is subjective and open to interpretation.

Symbols

SYMBOLS, on the other hand, stimulate us on both a conscious and unconscious level; affecting our emotions with greater speed and truth and on a much deeper level than the spoken or written word can provide. Symbols contain information that cannot be read or spoken of directly; instead it is absorbed by our unconscious mind, activating distant race memories embedded within our genetic makeup. Symbols allow us to access ancient wisdom on a pure level, unencumbered by subjective interpretation and conscious thought.

The Greek word SYMBALLEIN is depicted as a boat, a vessel of the sacred that acts as a mediatory vehicle between our so-called physical reality and our inner intuition. Through symbols we are awakened and transported to our roots in the spiritual realm of true reality where everything is as it should be. It is no accident that within a church or cathedral the passageway to the altar is called a boat, navis, or nave.

While words are capable of containing genuine meanings which reflect certain absolute truths in the Universe, most of modern society has lost contact with these truths and uses language to suit their own convenience. Not only do the definitions and meaning of words change, they are especially vulnerable to poor translation from one language to another. The written and spoken word is only an approximation of reality – the form of a symbol is a direct expression of its function, leaving words as a poor second when compared to the vast amount of information a symbol can convey.

Spiritual Nature

The more disconnected our society becomes from the Universal Order, the more dysfunctional we become as individuals. The longer we remain separate from our true spiritual nature, the more we rely on logic and rationalism to explain our reason for being and we stray even further again from our own spirituality. This vicious circle is compounded further by the English language which is a separatist language. There is a subject and an object, a separation between us and the object in question.

We teach our children this separation as our parents taught us and their parents taught them, breeding a society whose words and very thoughts are separatist in nature. We have no linguistic forms with which to quantify a process or activity which has no object unto which it is impressed. In most Eastern languages, subject and object are one. Japanese couples, in example, do not say “I love you,” they say “aishiteru,” or “loving.” Subject and object do not exist alone; they are merged into one whole where separation cannot possibly exist.

That is quite a bit to absorb for the first day, so I think I will end it here for now. Perhaps you will find time this week to notice how we are not as separate from things as we thought and what symbols in your own life inspire an emotion or intuitive reaction…next week we will cover a few of the more common symbols we all react to either consciously or unconsciously, as well as their accepted meanings.

Namaste, my friends

Photo courtesy of las – initially

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Symbiation (A 6-Part Series)

Filed Under: Everyday Spirit, Inspiration, Meditation

Happy Canada Day

Jul1

photo credit: bernardoh

Well, Canada has arrived! Another year gone by since the last, full of days that seemed to last forever, weekends that seemed too short…yet here we are again, all too soon. The long days of summer have arrived, flowers bloom and fruit already lays heavy on trees.

What binds us to this piece of land on planet Earth we call Canada? Is this chunk of land what Canada is? Is it the people, the places, the varied culture? What do we celebrate?

Composed by Eric Robertson and Steve Hyde, I had always hoped this would become our national anthem – Canada Is, sung by Roger Whittaker

Canada Is…

Canada is the Rocky Mountains, Canada is Prince Edward Island
Canada is a country made for love. Canada is La Belle Provence
Canada is the Yukon Mine, Canada is a country full of love.

We have love for our neighbour, Of whatever creed or colour
We have love for our cities, And our valleys and our plains
We have a voice that is calling, Telling all the world we’re willing
To welcome them to this great land, For that’s what Canada is.

Canada is the Rocky Mountains, Canada is Prince Edward Island
Canada is a country made for love, Canada is La Belle Provence
Canada is the Yukon Mine, Canada is a country full of faith.

We have faith in our future, We’re ready for tomorrow
We have faith in our children, For our future’s in their hands
We have a voice that is calling, Telling us to keep on hoping
For time will make this wild land great, And that’s what Canada is.

Canada is the Rocky Mountains, Canada is Prince Edward Island
Canada is a country made for love, Canada is La Belle Provence
Canada is the Yukon Mine, Canada is a country loving peace.

We have peace in our valleys, We’re happy and contented
We have peace in our cities, And our boundaries have no chains
We have a voice that is calling, Telling all free men we’re willing
To show them how to live in peace, For that’s what Canada is.

Canada is the Rocky Mountains, Canada is Prince Edward Island
Canada is a country made for love. Canada is La Belle Provence
Canada is the Yukon Mine, Canada is a country full of love.

Let us celebrate our achievements together in working to make our world a better place this Canada day, but also take time to remind ourselves of the work ahead. Do we have love for our neighbour, of whatever creed or color? Do we all live in peace, happy and contented?

As we make plans to go to fireworks displays, special events, carnivals, parades…celebrate Canada day by inviting along someone you know cannot afford it, buy a “Canada day meal” for one of the over one million homeless who live on the streets in Canada. Perhaps you know a single mother who cannot take her child or children out for a day of fun…

On a personal note – Canada is a concept, an ideal if you will that we all hold in our heads – each as real for every one of us. When our viewpoint relies on a concept or idea, especially one heavily supported by media and government, we tend to stay blind to the deeper truths behind the concept. Ask yourself what it is about Canada day that you relate to, and then find out if it is truth or concept.

I have found that in habitually celebrating “days” set aside during the year, whether birthdays, Christmas, etc…I missed the point. Over the last few years, I instead celebrate the smiles and laughter, the camaraderie amongst people and the playing of children. I see the best of us coming to the surface – and refuse to ‘revert’ once the day is over. Perhaps whatever you relate to on Canada day doesn’t have to end at dusk with the holiday…

Namaste – and happy Canada Day!

Filed Under: In The News, Inspiration

Who am I?

Hot Yogini, Cold Yogi

Floating on the River of Life

Groundwork

Symbiation (A 6-Part Series)

Happy Canada Day

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