My husband has just released his 5th book, the Wall Street Journal: Guide to Investing in the Apocalypse
and I began to think about how the premise can pretty much be applied to yoga too.
In the book he talks about how the media is always scaring us: Oh! there is pandemics!, then there is no more water, then global warming, and then nuclear terrorism. If we give in to the collective first chakra tendency to fight or fly we can get to be very off center, so instead he uses the "perceived apocalypse" created through panic as an opportunity, and gives three pointers:
What I found really cute about the book is that it is dedicated to me, or rather, to the energy that lives through me, so I want to honor her too:
and I began to think about how the premise can pretty much be applied to yoga too.In the book he talks about how the media is always scaring us: Oh! there is pandemics!, then there is no more water, then global warming, and then nuclear terrorism. If we give in to the collective first chakra tendency to fight or fly we can get to be very off center, so instead he uses the "perceived apocalypse" created through panic as an opportunity, and gives three pointers:
- Remove the fear
- Front door approach
- Back door approach.
Although the book is for investors, I thought that it could also be utilized in our yoga world, take for example back-bending!
As I attempt the deeper realms of back bending and intend to drop back removing fear is the biggest and most challenging step. Then the front door I suppose could be the conventional ways of going about it, like going to class, keeping the practice, listening to the teacher etc. The back door approach could be anything unconventional, like, for example in my case: praying, learning about anatomy, getting a massage.
I realize I have already survived any apocalyptic chapter that might come because I have stepped into the path of yoga which leads to immortality, and I am blessed to be in it with a partner. So, I guess his wish has already come true!
Thank you James.
The book is in amazon:
Congratulations to James, a book dedicated just to you, how cool is that : )
ReplyDeletePreying on people's fears for financial gain? Is that in keeping with yogic philosophy?
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to James on publishing the book.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I am a little uneasy about putting the fear associated with global warming in the same category as the fear associated with backbends and dropbacks. To me, the fear associated with global warming is very justified and well-founded (unlike some people, I do believe that global warming is a real threat); but the fear associated with backbending and dropping-back, while perfectly understandable, is not justified in the same way as the fear associated with global warming. If one does not try to drop back, nothing bad will happen. But if one does nothing about global warming, the consequences are really bad (unless, of course, you think that global warming is a hoax: Then I have nothing more to say).
Setting aside all this, I have to say that the front-door-back-door analogy is interesting in its own right. Here's my take on it. In dropping-back, going in the front door is when you transcend the fear and just drop back. The back door would be maybe learning about anatomy, psyching yourself, praying, etc.
But then again, none of the things in the "backdoor" approach actually gets you through the door in and of themselves. Hmm... I wonder if this means there is no "backdoor" in backbending? I don't know the answer; I'm just thinking aloud.
@Grimmly thank you
ReplyDelete@ Mysantropic ,that is exactly the point, the media preys on people's fears, so the book suggest not to panic, rather see opportunity, I think that does indeed keep up with yoga philosophy, not panic, do your practice, whatever that might be.
@Nobel, I feel fear is fear. But I understand your point of view. and I agree with your take on the front/back door :-) as per your last question... I think both appraoches, one day at the time, eventually do take us there...
re: Fear. As Sharath said to almost every question involving fear in the conference I observed: "Do Yoga". or "Do your practice". The thing with global warming, as with backbending, is to focus on the moment, not panic, but breathe deeply and focus on what is real and what is not. If you don't, then you land on your head. Or you lose a trillion dollars, or whatever.
ReplyDeleteThe key with all of these panic situations (pandemics, global warming, a failed back bend, etc) is to be present in the moment and make sure you are breathing and really putting your attention where it is needed.
And yes, this is the opposite of preying upon fear. This book is about those who do prey on that fear - those who try to scare you, me, and everyone who pays attention to media so they can get more pageviews, more viewers, etc. Being present and being aware of what's happening avoids the consequences that are being thrust on us.
I guess I'm having trouble with the concept in relation to investment, but of course, that's not at all my realm of expertise. Didn't mean to pick you, Claudia. Just confused.
ReplyDeleteDidn't mean to pick *ON* you, that is.
ReplyDelete@James, thanks for that eloquent description, you are the author after all! :-)
ReplyDelete@Misantropic Yogini, no offense taken at all, I know you did not mean to pick on me :-) The way I understand it is pretty much what James says above, it is about remaining present and seeing what is real, rather than buying into the media attempts to scare everyone...
Yoga as awareness is an interesting response to fear mongering, to face personal, local and global situations with equanimity, to be present with the evidence and mindfully reflect on the options and as James so rightly says opportunities presented to us. getting through our day as practice, always liked that idea. The frustrating thing is that the fear is so self perpetuating, try writing a thesis or getting funding without including some reference to whatever fear is being pandered in your field ( or even completely unrelated to your field, please tell me nobody is writing their Phd on Environmental Dimension in Hemingway).
ReplyDeleteRead about what was written in the book on your 4th date with James : )
Glad to hear you read the story of the 4th date, that is my favorite story ;-)
ReplyDeleteAnd I agree with you, the fear is self perpetuating, in my view it starts with awareness on me, in stopping it where I have control with is only as per me... and pray that others may realize too... and hence be able to more clearly see opportunity for better choices