Uh Oh, There May Not Be A God

There comes a time in the life of an adult where one questions what it is that we think about the "God" business.

I used to think God was this beneficial energy that looked after me, protected me, guided me.  I guess I was projecting a paternal/maternal vision into it.

But I thought...

Then I noticed how the yogis of old times, the sages and rishis, went about trying different things to find the bliss of liberation, the extasis that is more than you could ever imagine, the type that makes someone like Ramana Maharshi sit outdoors among snakes, be bitten, and not even notice, only these masters went about trying to find this trasncendental (for lack of a better word) experience, leaving any idea of God out of the equation.

Rishis trying their things to find bliss

Take for example Mr. Sinha, who in the book "The Gita as It Was", says that Patanjali never mentioned anything about Ishvara (God) in the Yoga Sutras.  He says the concept was not even around at that time! and concludes it was "interpolated" (loving that new word) centuries after in order to what? Suit the temperament of the devotion-ally inclined?

Of the authors that think that Patanjali did mentioned Ishvara, one of them, Mircea Eliade (Yoga Immortality and Freedom) gives me a more reassuring way of looking at it. Reassuring that is as I step into the territory of not-knowing and letting go of my own, childish perhaps, ideas of what God was:

"God does not submit to being summoned by rituals of devotion or faith in his mercy, but his essence instinctively "collaborates" as it were, with the Self that seeks emancipation through Yoga." [my bold]

Aha! so maybe there is a energy that is protective, perhaps I don't quite have to let go of that cozy feeling after all. I want to believe there is an energetic pattern that collaborates in helping us yogis find our way towards eternal peace and discrimination, to be Ramana Maharshis, Patanjalis, Buddhas.

Ramana Maharshi

Swamiji (commenting on Yoga Sutra 2.45) says that God has been personified and put on a pedestal due to our lack of direct experience [my bold again]. But all it takes is for us to expand our consciousness to realize the universal self.  What I used to think of as God.

So we just projected into this God idea whatever we may have out of not being able to directly experience the bliss that is already within us. Hm.

I first had this terrifying glimpse that God was just like Santa Clause while reading Goenka's 1992 very long speech (which was pointed to me by Tom, thank you). [Goenka is the man behind free meditation Vipassana retreats around the world today]

It took place at the Kayvalya institute out of all places, and I say out of all places because in the speech he refutes and criticizes yoga systems for turning Patanjali into a "clown" and making people do asanas and breathing retention that he [Patnajali] never talked about. He said this while at the institute that probably has the most research on pranayama in the globe and a world authority in residency, O.P. Tiwariji. But I digress.

He also makes fun of any God inclusion in the Yoga Sutras and emphasizes how the system of Patanjali, which in his eyes is exactly what Vipassana is, there is none of it!  Just sitting, just watching. Nothing else.

Just sit!

He is right.   Patanjali and Vipassana (which means seeing things as they are) do propose the exact same thing.

I have my theory about it, as usual, I do not think one can shockingly just go ahead and sit 10 hours expecting the mind to be quiet if one is sick. I have been to retreats and seen the people in the back unable to sit straight, propped with so many pillows, sometimes with two chairs, you can barely see them.  When it comes to sited meditation, if there is not proper preparation things can get ugly.

And so I prefer Patanjali's approach as developed by lineages coming after him (Krishnamacharya Kuvalyananda and all the rest of them) which do include asana and pranayama. Although I confess that I love the quiet and focused time of Vipassana retreats, but that is because I go prepared, with a body that actually CAN sit steady and comfortably and breathe relatively well. At least some of the time.

Anyways.  All of this had me thinking about the no-God business.  Just practice.

Strange note to end 2011 on.  Or, maybe that is what the Mayans meant? Finally realizing that Santa isn't Santa, it was ourselves all along, all we have to do is inquire within.

We must just focus and keep trying to focus (six limb) till we fall into meditation (seventh limb) and our attention flows into just one object like oil pouring from a pipe, intensely and steadily.

Then bliss. (Eight limb)

Wish you bliss for 2012


RELATED:
Shocking! The Gita Is Not What We Thought It Was!

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32 BEST ASHTANGA YOGA BLOG-POSTS OF 2011

I wanted this post to be special and to include only those entries I read throughout the year that added value for all, and of course, relate to Ashtanga Yoga in the tradition of Bramacharia, Krishnamacharya, Jois, Ramaswami et all.

I am SURE there are other valuable posts I may have missed. Feel free to share links in the comments if you found something that taught you, left you thinking, helped you along the path and relates to ashtanga.  As long as it adds value it belongs on the list.  Together with the link let us know why it is relevant, what it taught you and how it relates to the practice.

Here is my 32 best posts of 2011 pertaining to Ashtanga Yoga. You know me and my 32 thing!  Perhaps there is a few more than 32, but who is counting? And the more value the better, right?

Student and Teacher

Sharath, during an early December conference, says that if someone asks him his occupation he says yoga student because there is still too much to learn. (In the questions and answers portion) 

I am a student and always will be, says Paul Dallaghan in his article: The Path of The Student. He is not only a certified Ashtanga yoga teacher and student but also a senior teacher/student of pranayama under O.P. Tiwariji.

How to get started with Ashtanga Yoga 32 suggestions. Now you know who wrote that one.

Sharath Jois

Asana

Fear in Back-bend -by Kino MacGregor- is what I a going through, the post hit home for me, especially the part of not rushing at the expense of technique. 

On another front I also appreciated the ten tips for dropbacks of Ashtangi Angel as she finally got to doing it.

Also from Kino, this post explaining how to jump back (with video and in five stages) has been the most useful thing I saw in 2011.  The holding of the legs together mid-flight is something I attempt daily these days thanks to it, and it is helping me build stamina and sometimes, sort-of, jump back.

This is the best explanation I have found on pasasana (the first pose of the intermediate series).  Just listening to David Garrigues made me aware of things I did not even fathom before. A post to savor.

Pasasana

Richard Freeman explores the impact that smoking marihuana has on practice, and it is not that productive.

Nobel considers how useful are DVDs for learning a yoga asana practice? I have to say for me they are very much so, that is how I started!

How does one go about doing a headstand?  Grimmly was posed the question early this year and came up with these suggestions.

Practicing while injured is always an inspiration to non-injured practitioners watching.  the sorting of the obstacles makes us grateful for what we have.

Taking Care of Our Bodies

Kiki Flynn made my day, or rather, my fourth quarter, with her explanation of how daily dry brushing helps the skin detoxify, shed the old, open pores, and glow.  I now do it every day.

On that note I had a very popular post on how to do a castor oil bath, or the Ashtanga Yoga Saturday Practice, and I have gotten e-mails from people that started going for it after reading.  

Don't squander life force. Remember what Iyengar says, for every 30 minutes of asana practice, 5 of savasana (rest) are indicated to let the nervous system have a chance to come back to neutral.

Anatomy

Early this year I asked out loud what does "nutation" mean? (which I now understand as tilting the pelvis backwards and forward).  I never expected that Senior Ashtanga Yoga Student/Teacher David Keil himself would take the time to answer, and his answer became the 3rd most read post of all times at the blog.

Mysore

James came with me to Mysore for the first time in his life in January, a place where he never dreamed he would go and of course he practiced at AYRI.  In his own words, which are very funny, he was completely humiliated by yoga. 

James coming out of the shala in Mysore last January.
"Brutal" is all he could say

[If you cannot see pictures go to ClaudiaYoga.com]

A few months later he came with me to Sharath's tour of  NYC in April, where he was humiliated again.  He cannot use that line on his next trip on January.

What does it mean to be authorized to teach by the Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute? Here is a post that explores the question in a balanced and interesting way and by someone who is authorized.

Sharath's conferences are always interesting to me.  Two that stand out are one from January where students asked about all kinds of 'problems' and how to deal with them, and he kept coming back with one and only one answer.

The second conference to stand out is one that Suzzy recounted from a few weeks ago where Sharath goes over how the transformation happens, what the goal of asana is and answers very interesting questions.

Picture from a recent conference taken by Kino

MysorePedia is one of my most read posts and it has lots of information on how to get around, where to go, where to eat etc while visiting Ashtanga Central.  If you want to add a place or wrote a post about a place let me know, I will link!

Teaching

If you find yourself ready to teach, here is an eye-opening post on how to start a Mysore program. It's in two parts, here is the second one.  It takes quite a bit of energy to go ahead with this endeavour and it  does not always work as Nobel explains. But it is worth pursuing if the calling strikes.

Philosophy

Ashtanga is guaranteed transformation, if you want it, says David Robson.

What is the point of putting your ankle behind your head?

Bramacharya is more than sex energy. Great read on the way to harness energy for all of us, also from Paul Dallaghan.

Is there such a thing as quality vs. quantity in Mysore practice? wonders the un-ashtangi

Richard Freeman on how to save the world

Money

There was that article in Bloomberg Business Week that made many of us cringe because of the lack of frugality and, may I say, common sense. I was prompted to post how much I spend on yoga (coming from real experience rather than fantasy) and a bunch of other ashtangis did the same thing, like, for example: SereneFlavour and Kai, among others, many others.

New in 2011

This year Grimmly put together a practice book on Vinyasa Krama sequences, which is something many ashtangis use.  It is a work in progress and a very useful resrouce because of the detail that is going into it.  He is offering it for free as well.

A new (old) student of Krishnamacharya was found this year, in NYC. And he has a notebook!

OK, this may not be news to you but it was to me, I am still a bit shocked that the Bagavad Gita is NOT really what we thought it was

Rose compiled an Ashtanga Social Network page. 

Workshop Recounts

Wonder what it is like to take a few days of practice with Lino Miele? here is a taste.

Flying Floating and Handstanding, a story from a David Swenson workshop

Ashtanga Yoga WOW Video

Watching this is  surreal, you hear her talk as if she is discussing if you want milk with your coffee? or maybe just black?  You feel you can totally do it.  It just, I don't know, feels easy. She is a wonder.

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Ashtanga Yoga And Becoming Super Efficient

Anyone who submits him or herself to 1.5 to 2 hours of the rigorous routine of any of the series of Ashtanga knows a thing or two about efficiency.  It comes with the territory.  It is very practical.

Not only do habits change, but also our own awareness of how far reaching our energy is. As we save energy we have more of it available for important pursues, like that of finding what is real and what is not.

The Yoga Sutras advise we work towards a more peaceful mind and environment, we become happy for those who are successful, friendly towards the good people in our lives, compassionate for those who suffer and indifferent towards the wicked [1.33].

A path to mental peace must be forged first

Becoming indifferent towards the wicked is another way of saying that we need to learn how to deal with crappy people, or,  those people in our lives who steal our energy and good disposition, that is of course, if we let them.

Not long ago James and I sat down to answer a burst of questions that came up for him at his blog when he brought up the subject of Patanjali's sutra 1.33. The questions asked how to deal with specific situations, where energy-stealing-people may pop into our lives, here is the Q&A.

The most interesting question I have seen most people ask at James' talks, even after reading the Q&A is: What if the crappy person is your boss, co-worker, mom, dad, brother, cousin? You know? Someone close.  The answer is that it is always one of these people, for it is those closest to you that probably know very well where your "dormant seeds of psychosis," "samskaras", or "buttons" are. And they push them alright.  Unless trained that doing so yields no results.  See the post for more.

Warning, saying that may result in even more
button pushing. Indifference works better
Panajali knew his stuff!

[If you cannot see pictures go to ClaudiaYoga.com]

The tightening of the anus (engaging mula bandha) in every practice has deep repercussions as we go throughout our business during the day.

We notice that perhaps it is not so important to fight with that co-worker, that it is OK to let him or her think they are right, at least in this or that occasion, we pick our battles, sharpen our intuition and dedicate our time and precious energy only on that which is of value.

And so we fight less and focus more. We get more done.  For example it is impressive to me that these days all I have to do is put in writing what I need to do.  Then the list gets done. No matter how full the day, how little time.

Intending and detaching gets things done!  One way in which this was proven to me was when at the end of 2010 (and knowing well by now that new year resolutions do not work)  I set the intention to go deeper into the Yoga Sutras, and alas! It happened in 2011, in spite of many odds being against me.

I trust now that intentions when released, combined with energy used in a focused way will bring fruits.  Then is just a matter of being present and open to opportunities as they arise.

It is the message of the Gita as I understand it now: First INTEND for things that benefit the overall well being of all, and Patanjali knows me being in a good mood -applying the knowledge from the Yoga Sutras- benefits at least those close to me, then DETACH from the results, be present and trust that the opportunities will arise, take advantage of them when they do!

Maybe nowhere is this energy saving more important than in the sexual area.  Sex is the most important energy for our species as it carries with it the promise of reproduction and evolution, but with so many distractions like, for example, shows putting an emphasis on the thrill of cheating (Mad Men, Episodes, Californication et all), we may have run a bit off course.  The thrill of sex sometimes compensates for emptiness inside. The rush of the adventure accounting for countless relationships ruined.  Perhaps relationships that were not right to begin with, granted.  It is an area that needs exploring.

Reading Pattabhi Jois' Yoga Mala recently I was reminded of how the lineage of Ashtanga thinks of Bramacharya (one of the five observances on the first limb of yoga), or efficient use of sexual energy.  He, just like Krishnamacharya observed and respected married life.  And it is in this, in finding a relationship if we so desire, that is real and committing to it that we save this powerful energy.  Or, if single, by using it intelligently and not dispersing it around.

"By the strength gained through the practice, we can come to know a method for bringing the mind and sense organs under control" says Pattabji Jois in Yoga Mala.

We gain strength by using energy in a controlled, focused way indeed. And for the lesson in efficiency I am grateful.

REASONS WHY I AM GRATEFUL FOR ASHTANGA YOGA:

1-  Eye-Focus, Breath and Bandha in Every Practice
2-  Generating Our Own Internal Heat

3-  A Very Personal Practice

4-  Commitment

5-  A Real and Clear Way to Happiness

6-  A Real, Clear Way to Happiness

7-  Becoming Super Efficient

8.- Gunas

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The Uggly, Bad, Good and Great of 2011, And What They Taught Me About Yoga

The UGGLY was Being Sick

Definitely unexpected, and with a malady that is so mischievous in its workings as Lyme disease is. I was lucky to meet a Chinese Doctor that helped me with the most important thing of all which was  knowing, trusting that I could heal.  Hearing him go "don't tell me about bacteria, there is bacteria everywhere!" was  just what I needed to hear at that moment of despair.

He healed me by restoring all organs to health, and taught me a very important lesson that applies to yoga, a strong immune system will be resistant to any bacteria.  We must keep our bodies in balance and treat them well!

A Chinese medicine practitioner (not Dr H) at work

Another lesson came when I really thought I was dying (before I met Dr H). It  put me in touch with that feeling, with letting go of everything, surrendering, and praying, preparing for passing.  I was scared, but in the midst of drugs and spurs of clarity here and there it showed me that the moment of passing will come, at some point it will, and what is important then is to be clear about passing peacefully.

I started practicing the Divine Light invocation, something that would only work for aspiring yogis who are inclined towards devotion rather than only rational thought (90% of the people say many books).  Swami Radha, a direct disciple of Sivananda promises that 40 days of reciting the prayer will bring about a miracle.  For me it brought peace, and considering the circumstances that was pretty timely.

I also remembered the work I had started way back in 2003 with dreams, and to see them as subconscious messages (and potential samskaras?) that are better brought into the light. Here are the five steps I used to interpret them.

The BAD was Trying to Return from Lyme With NO SuccessThe biggest lesson was gratitude.  Nothing like being sick to appreciate in full the love of James, of my family, of my readers, of all the people who wanted to help.  To see how much good there is. It humbled me and taught me about compassion.
I tried once while still in antibiotics and it did not work, then again while on Chinese medicine, and it did not stick.  Then after somewhat recovery only one thing worked, taking it very slowly, as slow as 20 minutes only.

This taught me patience and surrendering in a brand new way. I did NOT want to practice for only 20 minutes, I hated it.  But, I knew -on third try- that it might be the only thing that would work, and it did.
I credit James for sticking to a plan and asking me every day "how long today?" and then making sure it was no more than 5 or 10 more minutes than the day before, or asking me to wait until I had a week of no symptoms to move forward. He was a strong pillar in focusing my weak energy towards strength. That was pure love. Thank you James!

The GOOD Was Rediscovering the Practice, When It Came Back
Finally, on November 2nd I started on a journey of returning on which I am still working.  Little by little I recovered primary series.  20 minutes at the time at first, then 25 and so on. It took a while but it did come back.  So much so that John suggested I continue onto intermediate, but then thought it was wise that I would only practice primary for a while -what I am still doing- until I feel strong and completely healthy again.

What this taught me was surprising. I was getting lazy!  Had forgotten all about going a little beyond the physicial limits (within reason), I was just paying lip service to it!  Great notice because it now has me working hard at those back bends (where I am currently AT) and even using a block to engage those psoas, as well as working very hard at the jump backs and troughs.  I am determined to clean up primary now.
The GREAT Was Learning more about the Yoga Sutras, Going to Mysore and Publishing my First Book
The good and the great are easy to remember, the happy memories tend to stick!

Going to Mysore in early January/February was a highlight (See here for posts from the second trip early this year). I find that the journey to command central (as is known) focused the practice, as it always does. It is difficult not to try harder at everything while surrounded with practitioners who are very dedicated, focused on their breath, chanting a unique melody with their ujjaji breath.  There is a special power in that full room, in the humidity of the sweat of what? at least 80 practitioners going at it at once, making the effort.

Learning about the Yoga Sutras directly from Ramaswami in a 20 hour course opened a door somewhere in the basement and towards a deeper understanding of yoga. Yoga for what it really is, sitting straight with a healthy body that breathes well to concentrate and aim for samadhi! I am eternally grateful to him and hope to study further under his tutelage in 2012. What a teacher!  All in all I do understand, the more I read, that practice is what makes yoga yoga, no amount of reading would ever teach us anything, it will just direct us.

Here is Ramaswami Schedule for 2012

Finally, publishing my book in May was a work of love. Ever since 2008 on my first trip to Mysore I felt I wanted to share what I gathered along the path, I wished I had a book exactly like the one I wrote.  That is what they say, if you know there is a book you want to read then you must write it, so I did.  It is a highlight of my day when I hear that someone got a bit that helped, a tip, an opening or a desire to go deeper or start the practice. What a blessing to be able to share!

The best parts of the year had me learning about giving, thinking about what it means to teach, and understanding how it is vital to have a personal and deep practice of our own in order to be able to help. 
---
So all in all in 2011 I re-learned:

1. Letting Go and Surrendering
2. The importance of a strong Immune System
3. Chinese Medicine works!
4. Preparations for passing
5. Gratitude
6. Devotion
7. Dream Work
8. Patience
9. Love
10. Trying harder at the practice
11. Specifically jump-back and through and drop-back/back-bending
12. Enjoying the practice among deeply invested practitioners
13. Writing a book and self-publishing
14. Sharing
15. Giving and Receiving
16. Noticing blessings
17. The Yoga Sutras and the importance of practice

And so, for 2012 I am looking forward to cleaning up primary series, practicing practicing practicing and for every experience that may pop up, try to come from center, wisdom and peace.

I wonder what did you learn? And what do you wish for 2012?

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A Real, Clear Way To Happiness

I knew so little when I started on the path of yoga, I really thought yoga was just about getting into poses and feeling good. Come to think of it, it IS actually about that. I was not wrong, the direction was correct, it is the depth of the journey, and how far that simple act of stepping on the mat would reach, that I had, well,  a bit "off".

Last year, knowing full well that new year resolutions don't work I set an 'intention' instead: that of learning about the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. I had been introduced to them years ago but I wanted to get deeper into them. Intentions have a funny way of working.

This year brought me in contact with Ramaswami's 20-hour course on them -which I highly recommend, although it does not seem to be available for 2012- However, do not despair there is this book which is a great substitute as it is notes taken from a student and revised by Ramaswami. [If you cannot see pictures go to ClaudiaYoga.com]

You could say that by setting that intention I fell deeper down the rabbit hole!

Aaaandd.. as intentions have a way of working themselves up, only last week I also read the Gita as It Was (Thanks Grimmly), and through it I became even more convinced that sandwiched between the system of Smakhya (oldest compilation of yoga philosophy),  Buddhism -which work but do not put emphasis on the body- and the yoga system as portraid by the Gita, which has been highly 'adapted'? 'manipulated'?, right in the middle of them, The Yoga Sutras are it.

What I mean by "IT" is that they are the most sophisticated material, written in exquisitely chosen words, describing not just the science of yoga and clear way to happiness but also a whole system of psychoanalysis in 196 sutras.   Where the shrink fails to help the sutras have an answer.

Patanjali noted in his 9 Ways to Fail at Yoga (my title) that an un-healthy body is indeed an obstacle.  I should know. My practice of meditation is only vaguely now coming back.

Practice becomes impossible when sick or with a body
that cannot sit straight

I find that Patanjali saw something, perhaps in his time, that has been magnified a million times with the advent of I-tunes, 3d movies with toilette size Cokes and popcorn, Internet surfing, 9-5 sedentary jobs.  If we neglect the body there is little hope for the mind to be clear, to reach freedom, to be happy.

Chapter one presumes we have tried all forms of existence and got disillusioned by it, so we are now ready to hear Patanjali define the goal of yoga and how to attain it. Chapter one is pretty advanced.

Patanjali

For those of us committed to the practice of yoga but not ready to attain liberation just from chapter one there is chapter two, and portions of three on the eight limbs, the clear way to happiness, the "ashtanga" yoga (ashto = eight anga=limb)  that leads to freedom, to liberation.

More and more these days what I want is more practice, more silence, more of the science of yoga. And by that I mean more of Patanjali's sutras.  It seems that once we fall into the rabbit hole, once we study with someone who helps us sort through the Yoga Sutras, at least once, there is no turning back.

I am grateful that more and more scholars keep on discovering what is real about Patanjali and pass it along. More interpretations come along. Here is an excellent reading recommendation, the chapter on Patanjali. I felt as if I was listening to Ramaswami again.

   

I am also reading this version called The Four Chapters of Freedom from Swamy Satyananda, who comes more from the point of view of a hard-core practitioner (under the watch of no less than Sivananda himself), instead of a scholar.  a great read.

And so I am grateful for Patanjali's Yoga Sutras!

REASONS WHY I AM GRATEFUL FOR ASHTANGA YOGA:

1-  Eye-Focus, Breath and Bandha in Every Practice
2-  Generating Our Own Internal Heat

3-  A Very Personal Practice

4-  Commitment

5-  A Real and Clear Way to Happiness

6-  A Real, Clear Way to Happiness

7-  Becoming Super Efficient

8.- Gunas

Follow me on Twitter or subscribe at: ClaudiaYoga.com

SUNDAY YOGA BLOG TIMES: NO CHRISTMAS JUST PRACTICE!

Yeap! He is on Twitter

Sharath asks students if they want a day off for Christmas -while practicing in Mysore-.  The answer?  People want more practice!

We keep tearing pages out of Yoga Mala, there will be nothing left!

Turns out JESUS is on Twitter. Funny!

The True Purpose of Asana and a 3 hour Headstand! Great notes from Sharath's conference of Dec 4th by Suzy.

Videos of 'floaty' exits from utkatasana and warrior II as well as jump backs and through.

Visiting David Garrigues at Ashtanga Yoga Philadelphia anytime soon? Here are 20 things to do while in that city

"I am strong enough to jump back not because it was easy for me, but because I worked tirelessly for it every day for five years". Says Kino. Note to self: Try harder. With love, but harder.

VIDEO OF THE WEEK

Thank you C.K. for posting on how Dharma Mitra comes alive in the YouTube pose collages! (It's the post of Dec 20)  you can see all of them at C.K.'s

Isn't that beautiful! Click play for a sec and you will be hooked

Following up on the conversation from the shocking truth revealed about the Gita in the book: "The Gita As It Was"...

Would like some more?  Here is LAST SUNDAY YOGA BLOG TIMES: MATTHEW SWEENEY's APP FOR THE IPAD?

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Shocking: The Gita is NOT What We Thought It Was

Why is it that India, having such vast resources of land and intelligence, still sinks into poverty and lack of education? I must do something to help it! -

Imagine saying that out loud?

Author Phulgenda Sinha did, and he is not just affecting those people of Indian nationality that may be reading his book, he is affecting ME.

Sinha assumes that a people come to be and act in a way that is in accordance to the brightest thinkers of its time and radius of influence.  And of those India has had a few.  For example in Kapila (author/compiler of the Samkhya philosophy), Patanjali (compiler of the Yoga Sutras) and Vyasa (the writer of the Gita).

The brightest people define the thinking mechanism and the people follow.  The most influential book in India is, the Gita.  But what if the Gita was not what we thought it was?

In his search for truth, the author does an extraordinary work at weaving the thoughts of these influential thinkers (and others like Buddha, and Mahavira).

He notes how because of their particular circumstances,  they were truly free-thinkers,  how their philosophies were conceived without any restriction by religious inclinations and in their more pure and rational form while pursuing the biggest quest of all.

Kapila, the mind behind Samkhya

What is the biggest quest of all? That of coming out of suffering and being happy, of course, The eternal golden grail we all want, but in a rational way, in a thoughtful yet free of touchy-feel connotations, in a real way.

We hear how in the system of Kapila (Samkhya) God played no part. And in the system of Patanjali, well, perhaps you heard all the controversy around the sutras that include isvara (God), well, the book refutes it:

"It should be noted that the concept of God entered into Indian literature at the time of the revival of Bahmanism around 800 A.D. In our present study it has been shown that from the earliest time to the time of Patanjali, there is no mention of isvara as god in any Indian Literature. How then could Ptanjali talk of isvara, when the concept was unknown?"  [my bold]

Patanjali, compiler of the Yoga Sutras

Something Missing

The Gita, you see, was brought forth (following the book recollection) by a sage called Vyasa, who thought that it was all nice and good with Samkhya and its encouragement that we should seek right knowledge, and it was all nice and good with Patanjali who added a healthy body and mind to the mix, but he believed that there was still something missing.

What was missing was that in every day life sometimes we come across situations that are very difficult to resolve. The type where we are doomed if we do and doomed if we don't.  What then?

He then set a stage in a Kingdom of North India where two cousins who had been brought up as brothers came into conflict with each other. Due to jealousy, one of the cousins was deprived of its land (for him and his people) after being promised such a thing if we went on exile for 11 years. Which he did. He then came back. And no land. So there was no way out, battle had to ensue.

What Krishna told Arjuna before the battle
 has been manipulated by lobbyist interests
since the year 800

Krishna, as you know, sides with the conflicted Arjuna who is confronted with the very ugly reality of having to kill those he grew up with, and the Gita starts.

But it is a VERY different Gita when the verses we read relate only to Samkhya and The Yoga Sutras. For starters it only has 86 verses which can be found within only the first three chapters.

It becomes very clear what verses are real Gita and which ones are not.  Because those that do not relate at all to Samkhya or Patanjali's (like "Chapter VII... talks about God, faith, Maya (illusion), Brahman and spirituality...")  are, well, 'added'.

He provides an impressive list of verses that have been "interpolated", meaning adding verses that are not so far off as to not seem authentic, yet with the intent to control the thinking and lead it towards a particular point of view, example:

"Chapter IV is entitled ...Yoga of Knowledge Action, and Renunciation. The title suggests that one can expect to find some philosophical deliberations, but there is not a single verse which ... containing any rational or philosophical thought. The whole chapter is concerned with the idea of incarnation, maya (illusion)... fourfold caste system, yajna (sacrifices), sin, faith..."

How did the caste system or the idea of sacrifices (related to Vedic ceremonies) come into play through Samkhya and Patanjali?  There is no mention of either in them.

What Went Wrong

India has a caste system, four of them.  I met a woman in my last trip to Mysore that belonged to the lowest of them. She did not know how old she was, she never looked me in the eye or accepted my thanks. She came, cleaned the floor and went back to her two sons and the depth of her poverty.

Brahmans in their quest for domination and maintaining their cast superiority added verses to the Gita to introduce Vedantic notes. According to the book this happened around the year 800 and on.

The only religious connotation in any of the major yoga philosophies, according to the book, was added then by a power struggle from the caste that rules India, the first, that of the Brahmins.  It was done to maintain the lower castes in their own status quo, without letting them raise.  You just continue doing what you do and leave all fruits to God, never question, lower your head, keep going.

This is how the author describes the national thought pattern of India today (book was first published in 1986):

1. Work without caring for the results
2. Act, but do not look for the fruits of action
3. Desires cause sorrow therefore do not have them
4. You only get what fate dictates
5. Material wealth is inferior, spiritual life is superior
6. You should strive to achieve unity with God for a happy life, to go to heaven and not be reincarnated
7. Man is predestined and cannot do anything unless it is willed by God
8. Sorrow, pain and misery can be removed only by God, not by human effort

The book provides a deep exploration at the issue of letting go of desires, and points out how desires are not bad, and actually striving for happiness IS part of the Samkhya philosophy and the Yoga Sutras, and even the Gita, when seen in the right light and read without modifications.  Action for the betterment of society must happen. But for the betterment, not just for action without having any say. In this light action does include looking towards a result, not being totally hopeless and reduced to whatever some external preconceived destiny dictates.  

Consider the last line of the Gita As It Was 

"... Arjuna!, Mighty-armed, destroy this enemy which, like passion, is difficult to conquer"

Which the author concludes means:

"...Krishna advises Arjuna to fight the war and conquer the enemy who, like passion, is obscuring his knowledge and deceiving his wisdom" [my bold]

Just like the newest (post year 800) version of the Gita seems to do!

 ---  Fascinating read.  Why does Amazon sell it for over one hundred and ninety dollars? I would not know. Good thing there are used copies available for fifteen!

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How Ashtanga Changes You: Commitment

Any style of yoga is likely to invite the practitioner to commit to a practice, but Ashtanga burns it into the blue-print of the very core of your experience.  There is no way out.

In  response to Kino's recent article on the logic behind a 6 times a week practice, Nobel points out how his own teacher says that there is 'no dabble into Ashtanga' either you get in and commit to it or you are out. Which is not to say it is prohibitive, but in order to fully feel the benefits you need to make it stick.

The commitment starts with a daily asana or poses practice because there is no substitute for sweat to get us to focus, to become more effective so that we will not hurt ourselves, to save our energy so it will not be all spent by the time we finish the standing part of our series of asanas for the day, be it primary series, or intermediate or any of the advanced ones.

That deceivingly 'simple' act of committing to a practice changes our lives dramatically and instantly.

At first, of course, we only notice the most notorious colors in the palate of transformation.  We can't really eat that late if we will attempt to get into Marichasana A...nything the next morning.  Our socializing rituals change, drinking becomes something we either stop completely or at least put a lot more thought into before attempting.  Waking up early brings up new mind states, ones we perhaps did not know we had before we tried waking before the light came out.  There is a new wander sense in the air.

If we still continue to progress the pastel colors of the transformation blend into new colors and we notice new depths on the painting. New shades, new brightness.  Now people who are negative around us suddenly become highlighted.  We cannot spend that much energy in them, we have to let them go in order to have enough stamina, mental strength and clarity to continue with the challenge of submitting the body into a meditative yet strong physical daily practice. New, more positive people flourish into our lives, new friendships are forged.

We find new opportunities. Being more grounded in our own bodies we are also more open to them, perhaps we take a chance, our lives change.

There is truth to the "Do Your Practice And All Is Coming" that Pattabhi Jois is famous for saying again and again.  The "All" behind the coming, is whatever you want it to be, but your desires may change just by virtue of getting on the mat daily.

Whereas in the past you may have wanted security and a structured way of knowing where you were going, the possibilities awakened by what you can do with your body give way to a more open way of life and what you can do (or, shhh, NOT do) with it.  One where trust is invited and we can go confidently along knowing that what we need is coming.

The alchemy of yoga manifests in front of our eyes slowly, and if we pay attention, very close attention, we might even notice it.

REASONS WHY I AM GRATEFUL FOR ASHTANGA YOGA:

1-  Eye-Focus, Breath and Bandha in Every Practice
2-  Generating Our Own Internal Heat

3-  A Very Personal Practice

4-  Commitment

5-  A Real and Clear Way to Happiness

6-  A Real, Clear Way to Happiness

7-  Becoming Super Efficient

8.- Gunas

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