The Dead-end Up Here

How do you feel when someone says to you, it's so good to see you? Or, you look so pretty, handsome, cheerful or wonderful today. Feels nice? Why? Doesn't matter who you are, a king, a popper, a minion or a boss. It feels nice. Why? Even if you don't believe the words. Even if the teller is disingenuous. Even if he is a stranger. It still feels nice. Why? And this nice feeling, where does it manifest in you? And how long does it last? Watch your thoughts when hearing these words or when you do not hear these words but were expecting them. Why? For therein lies the true definition of what makes this illusion of you.

Yoga is an adopted name originally from the word yog which is still in use by languages derived from Sanskrit. Yog simply means a way, a method, a process. Some say it comes from the word Yoke but I can't find any reference to this. Yoga as it is practiced in our neighborhoods today is just one (asanas) or may be two (pranayama) of the eight limbs of Ashtanga as taught by Patanjali in his book of sutras which is the most esteemed reference book used by yoga schools. The eight limbs of yoga are Yama, niyama, asanas, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana and samadhi. The first four of these are practice of yoga but normally we find asanas (often in Hatha yoga)and  pranayama taught in most studios. The first two, Yama and niyama are codes of living as recommended by Patanajali and also by Buddha in vipassana. Practices like vegetarianism, noble silence are part of Yama and niyama practice. Pratyahara is withdrawal from five senses which is a result of yoga practice of the fi...

Putrid is the smell where I was born Filthy is the pond Where I took the first sip. Where cows defecated Buffalo played and frogs frolicked Beasts used it as a playground Humans use as a dumping hole. From where the grass Looked greener outside. A home that looked Dark and murky. Then I saw the light from a blazing sun cutting through layers of filth it reached my innards. I opened my eyes looked for nectar in the crud little by little I drank the wine. Little by little I blossomed and got stronger to raise my head above the grime until blue sky and clean breath. Now all I see is love of shining treasures beauty beyond  occasionally the filth I left behind .

I love new age stuff, all of it. Except when it comes to conflict within. Should you have a good time or be so serious and do nothing but yoga an mediation on New Year's Eve? I see getting a little crazy and let it all hang out on this special day part of life, a good life. I don't see any reason why you should deny your illusory self the illusory fun just because you want something more? How do you reconcile this? The answer is mindfulness. You don't just mindfully do the esoteric so called good stuff. Mindfulness is an act worthy of all living even if it means getting crazy at New Years.

Words lead you astray. Unfortunately you have to use words to understand words or so it seems. More words make words even more confusing. Many teachers point you to presence awareness, the power of now, nothing but now. What they are pointing to is not a presence of something but absence of everything.  Peace and stillness or nirvana is  a state of absence not presence. What gurus point to is the presence of absence. What they point to is an absence of teaching, teachers, gurus and of course suffering.

Even  incomplete physics by Newton has allowed humanity to reach Mars and beyond. Even a dissatisfied Einstein's theory of special and general relativity has exploded into mind altering technologies and information beyond imagination of our ancestors. Imagine humanity when even better and perhaps complete understanding of physics arrives. Even an incomplete understanding of yoga and meditation has led millions of people to end or at least  limit suffering in their lives. Numerous credible studies support better health, better psyche and better life for the practitioners. Imagine you when even better and perhaps complete understanding arrives. Why does incomplete understanding still produce results?  Because it is just incomplete not wrong. It is still an understanding.

There comes a point on the path when you know that you are not living the truth. You know the truth, a truth, some truth or have a sense of the truth. But you also know that you are not living it. The very attempt of trying to live the truth will take you to the realm of untrue for what we call living is here in   and around a world of lies, deceptions and illusions. Living here can never be true. Only not living here can be true. It may seem that great sages, teachers, mahatmas and enlightened masters live the truth. But if you can see this or sense this, it is already untrue. They are the shining example of the truth. They are but pointers and evidence of the truth. You may and should follow them but that will still not be living the truth. It may be commendable, wonderful and desirable but not the truth. The great paradox as put by Richard Rose is that you can only be the truth and no more. Mooji asks who is it that is going to live the truth? So why know t...