Just because it's in Sanskrit and was written a long time ago it does not mean we need a PhD to understand it. Yoga sutra 1.2: Yoga is the cessation of the projections of the mind simply means Yoga is coming to the now. To the present moment. Where there is no time.
It is where we separate (one interpretation of the root of the word "yoga") what is real from what is not real. What is mind made stuff from what is consciousness and the flow of life right now.
It is where we unite (another interpretation of the root of the word "yoga") ourselves with the flow of life as it is right now, where we accept and surrender to what is happening in this moment. No future projections, no past regrets.
Where does the mind project after all? Is it not towards a future of glory we might hope for or even fear? Or the misery of a past with pain we have become used to identify with? -Addicted?-
I can see the Yoga Sutras 12-Step program:
1.- We admitted that we were powerless over our addiction to past pains, the stories we tell ourselves, and the glorified future we keep on envisioning. Always away from the now.
2.- We came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity...
Sanity. Yes. In the projections we are insane. We take them to be real. Pure fantasies on which we base our strong un-checked reactions.
The sutras say there are 5 kinds of fluctuations. Right knowledge, misconcentpion, verbal delusions, sleep and memory. Except for sleep, all others can happen only in relation to time, to past and future. As per sleep, well, we are asleep, have a good night.
Think about it, the form may change but at the base of it all when we "project" or "fluctuate", we do so in terms of past or future.
We can have right or wrong knowledge based on what we learned in the past, we can have verbal delusions based on what we expect from the future. Memory is, at best just our own view of the past at worst wrong recollection tinted by ego (things were so much better in the old days! - Where they?).
Anything but here, anything but now.
What is difficult is to actually stop the projections. To catch ourselves as the anger over past miseries arises and we turn into the incredible Hulk of what should we have said to make the "enemy look bad" and "come on top", "show them who we are". Delusion alert!
What is difficult is to watch the process and remain conscious, even as it takes us over, which it will, but not so much if we are aware. We might even notice that we are dangerous as this monster takes over and should probably remove ourselves from the situation.
It is also difficult to catch ourselves as we start glorifying some future in which we will do the fifht series of Ashtanga Yoga, yes, all of it! And we will be so much better than so and so!
Or where we think we will be completely enlightened and peaceful. That is also not now, is a projection, let's notice. Ride it if we have to, as it is what is arising now and therefore it is what it is, but with awareness.
1.- Awareness stops the projection by virtue of observing it and giving it its full attention. It diminishes its power.
2.- Awareness brings in consciousness.
3.- Awareness IS the light.
Let's wake up from the coma and put a period to end the "story" as we have been telling it to ourselves.
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RELATED:
Most People's Spiritual Teacher is Deep Pain
7 One Liners That Changed My Life On The Spot (See the Eckart Tolle Line that talks about the "Pain Body" or the "Hulk"
Am I Projecting? 7 Ways In Which I Check
 |
| Yoga is the cessation of the projections of the mind it's coming to the now |
It is where we unite (another interpretation of the root of the word "yoga") ourselves with the flow of life as it is right now, where we accept and surrender to what is happening in this moment. No future projections, no past regrets.
Where does the mind project after all? Is it not towards a future of glory we might hope for or even fear? Or the misery of a past with pain we have become used to identify with? -Addicted?-
I can see the Yoga Sutras 12-Step program:
1.- We admitted that we were powerless over our addiction to past pains, the stories we tell ourselves, and the glorified future we keep on envisioning. Always away from the now.
2.- We came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity...
Sanity. Yes. In the projections we are insane. We take them to be real. Pure fantasies on which we base our strong un-checked reactions.
 |
| Who is in for meetings? |
The sutras say there are 5 kinds of fluctuations. Right knowledge, misconcentpion, verbal delusions, sleep and memory. Except for sleep, all others can happen only in relation to time, to past and future. As per sleep, well, we are asleep, have a good night.
Think about it, the form may change but at the base of it all when we "project" or "fluctuate", we do so in terms of past or future.
We can have right or wrong knowledge based on what we learned in the past, we can have verbal delusions based on what we expect from the future. Memory is, at best just our own view of the past at worst wrong recollection tinted by ego (things were so much better in the old days! - Where they?).
Anything but here, anything but now.
What is difficult is to actually stop the projections. To catch ourselves as the anger over past miseries arises and we turn into the incredible Hulk of what should we have said to make the "enemy look bad" and "come on top", "show them who we are". Delusion alert!
 |
| Can you catch the Hulk as it is taking over you and remain conscious while it overpowers you? Can you even go further and become transparent to it, rendering it powerless? |
It is also difficult to catch ourselves as we start glorifying some future in which we will do the fifht series of Ashtanga Yoga, yes, all of it! And we will be so much better than so and so!
Or where we think we will be completely enlightened and peaceful. That is also not now, is a projection, let's notice. Ride it if we have to, as it is what is arising now and therefore it is what it is, but with awareness.
 |
| Can we catch it when it takes us to "one day"! |
2.- Awareness brings in consciousness.
3.- Awareness IS the light.
Let's wake up from the coma and put a period to end the "story" as we have been telling it to ourselves.
----
RELATED:
Most People's Spiritual Teacher is Deep Pain
7 One Liners That Changed My Life On The Spot (See the Eckart Tolle Line that talks about the "Pain Body" or the "Hulk"
Am I Projecting? 7 Ways In Which I Check
Hi Claudia. Always enjoy your blog and i find it very very helpful. Please keep writing!
ReplyDeleteScott
Thank you for such a wonderful post. I really appreciate everything you have to share and learn so very much, so I must express my gratitude. Keep shining and sharing the light of your awareness so that others may wake up a little bit more...just as I have on my own journey to yoga.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Jamie
Thank you Jaimie :-) I appreciate you telling me!
ReplyDeleteThanks Scott - I will :-)
ReplyDelete