Identity and the Ocean II

I’d like to fulfill a request for further explanation on identity and the ocean.  This essentially addresses the question ‘who am I?’   To put it simply, when you go deep enough, inside yourself-not having your attention outside, but inside-, you discover that at the foundation of your existence is something like the deeply calming energy of the ocean when it is at peace.  This cannot be experienced if our attention is constantly going from this to that to this to that to this to that to this.  In our age, peoples ability to concentrate is drastically reducing, so more and more people can’t hold on to something long enough to actually experience it.  People are actually getting afraid to hold on to something.  You have to focus, and internal focus is a different mode of being than focusing on writing, for instance(there’s more relaxation in it). In Yoga training, we put the mind on the breath, and then we feel the breath and where it is in our body.  Where the breath is, and where and how far it can move throughout the body reveals how much consciousness there is.  If you can take that concentration, unite it with the breath, and then, using your mind, direct this attention inwards, then you can get below the surface level of the mind.  Again, the mind is like the ocean, so if you stay on the surface of things, for instance thinking about what’s for lunch, about that person across the street, about dinero, and allow the mind to jump like a monkey from one thing to the next, then you will never experience samadhi, because it is like being on a boat which is getting rocked by the waves, which actually isn’t so bad.  The main point here is concentration.  You can actually stare at any object long enough to get to the reality behind it, and the reality, my friends, is something like Mother Ocean.

Breath & Rhythm
So, more on the breath.  Rhythm is intimately tied into the breath.  As the rhythm, so the breath, as the breath so the rhythm.  As the breath, so the rhythm, as the rhythm so the mind, as the mind, so the condition, as the condition, so the experience.  Experience gives way to the Ground of Consciousness, and if the Ground of Consciousness is pierced, one experiences something completely impossible to put into words.  Om and its derivations, perhaps.

Inside the Breath

I’ll tell you a secret…It’s all in the Breath.  IN the breath.  As in, the breath withIN the breath.  INSIDE the breath.  I-N-S-I-D-E the Breath.  I have just spelled it out for you- if you are still confused, it is because you have not experienced.  If you have not experienced, then you must be wondering what all the fuss is.  Well, let me tell you, it is worth more than owning one of the pyramids.  And, incredibly enough, thankfully enough, there are paths which can lead you to this place, although ultimately it is a spontaneous thing that no one can force to happen.  It just does, which is what makes it worthwhile I suppose.  If one were to cook up this experience as one does a banana poundcake, then it wouldn’t be so awesome.  One could get discouraged by this thought, thinking then that there is no point in trying, but I’ll let you in on another secret- you have to try.  You have to prepare yourself- you have to train. And then you have to relax and let go INSIDE the breath.

Return

It takes a very long time to be a master at anything.  A very long time with a great deal of attention and energy.  A very long time indeed.  And some things in life are so difficult to do that one may not ever reach that level.  The length of time and effort it takes can definitely be daunting.  But that doesn’t matter. At these times it is best to relax the brain, return to the basics, and forget about the big picture.  Just remind yourself why you’re doing it in the first place.

Almost

Look to the sky, see what’s glowing up
bigger & brighter it gets
Chandra Namaskar at midnight

Abrupt Balance

Weary & tired
calculations are slow
to an ice cold river I go!

Hold on

I feel as if there is a great deal of ‘go with the flow’,  ’let go of what isn’t serving you….’ mentality circulating.  Have you realized how many impressions have come through you in your life?  And do you also realize that the only things which have meant anything at all have been the things which you held onto, and actually worked for?  True, realizing the loss of something you worked hard for can be very difficult, but is there really any other way to live which is worthwhile?

Daily Practice

Consistent, daily practice is saving Grace. You may not have the best posture…you may not be the best musician….you may not be the best cook, or banker, or lawyer…but if you establish regularity of practice in your life, this is the way.  For we are composed of Rhythms, of vibrations; and it is that which we are used to which repeats itself.  Set a time in the morning to do your practice, and again in the evening to sift out the days events.  If you cannot manage both, then find your time, and make it happen at least once a day.

Calm Abiding

A spiritual practice is a cleansing practice.  Its like taking a shower when you get into the depth of a sadhana.  I encourage you to find something that really enables you to transform your own energetic bodymind.   Oddly enough, it is with a sense of surrendering one’s own sense of self…relaxing, if you will…which allows for this transformation to occur.   This is because in a state of relaxation, energy can move more freely.   True strength comes from calm abiding.

Balance of Swimming Upstream and Downstream
When I think about the training within Hatha Yoga, it is a study dedicated to the transformation of our consciousness.  If we are in one place and would like to experience something greater, something beyond where we currently are, then one must work.  There are no ways around it.  Without real work one will continue spinning round and round in the same mental and physical patternings.  In order to get to the next stage one must balance the efforts of swimming upstream, against the current, with the rejuvenating qualities of floating down the river.  The rate of transformation is dependent on a variety of factors, but much of it has to do with one’s own efforts.  Of course, having an adequate place for training, and exposure to high level teaching, also play a large role.  The decision to really change though is always dependent on the will of the individual at a given moment, and it is usually when the body starts to give out that the decision has to be made.  There has to BE SOMEBODY inputting energy into the bodily systems.  Without this aspect of ourselves, we could not actually create anything of our own, but the fact of the matter is that we DO have this ability, so why not make yourself?  The quality of the energy with which one inputs at this time is also a highly influential factor in one’s future, because it is at this time that we are re-patterning old tendencies.

Authenticity of Movement
In the movement of Hatha Yoga, we are seeking to move with authenticity- to reach a place within ourselves where inner unity & harmony is established.  It is this authentic EXPRESSION of the movement which allows one to be in a healing space.  This space of healing is actually created as a field of one’s own bodymind when truth of expression is embodied.  To be united within is a beautiful experience, because one is given a chance to breath outside of the grip of the analytical mind.  So to attain this unity, authenticity of movement within the asana is necessary.  One must be- and truly be- without starting and stopping the brain.  Let the mind be-let it flow as it will without fear, and authenticity of movement will spontaneously arise.

Note: there is a reason why it takes thousands of repetitions for the blacksmith to perfect his art.  A diamond does not form out of coal overnight.  One must fix and refine!

On Meditation
In the West we are accustomed to going a million miles an hour and being in our ‘active’ mode of operation with a laundry list of to do’s.  Indeed in our society it is difficult to make ends meet if we are not this way.  However, there is another way which we must integrate into our lives;  that of meditation.  Meditation in my experience is an expansive state.  It is an expansive state whereby the grip of the analytical mind is not so present, and instead an eyewitness consciousness- an observer- of what’s going on within us, takes its place.  This is a healing state.  It can be a dreamlike state whereby we process out many of the experiences we’ve had during a day.  It’s like taking an internal shower.  Many of the impressions that we receive through the five senses are processed in this state.  It is important when tapping into this place to learn how to let go of thoughts.  In the beginning of meditation study, one gets all excited when getting out of the analytical mind, since just that alone can be a new experience for people.  However, we must now learn how to detach from our thoughts and whatever is coming up.  After all, what we focus on only grows stronger, and it doesn’t matter what the nature of the thought is.  So learn to let go of negative thoughts.  This is not easy, but it is what all of us truly want; to experience positive feelings and love.  When we look deeply within ourselves, we find that  this is always the case;  always working towards the Light.

Samtosha
Wow, there is this beautiful thing settling in:  it’s called contentment.

True restTrue Rest

You must blow through your own mind in order to know something beyond, something greater than what you have ever known or presently conceive yourself to be.  Only then can one truly rest.  Blissful Consciousness resting in Divinity exists.  What radio station do you want to tune to?

Repetition
A brain repeats what it is used to.  If you don’t like what is running through your brain, get used to other words and the different VIBRATION, PITCH, MELODY, HARMONY, of different words.

On the Guitar
Left hand is form, right hand is rhythm, the voice is the timing of the breath in harmony with the rhythm.  All this creates a musical state of consciousness whereby the attention cannot be anywhere else and a true moment of Yoga, Satori, Zen, Nirvana- contained within the medium of Music- can be experienced.  Holy Trinity.

Feeling over Thinking
Feel your rhythm in the moment. Relax the thinking mind and feel; you will notice a difference in consciousness if you can actually do this.  If you cannot relax your thinking, work yourself hard in whatever productive way until you are exhausted. Then let go of mind, and  Feeeel.

Evolution of Self
Evolution is a process in motion.  But it is not constant.  There are certain requirements-pranic, energetic requirements- necessary in order to continue one’s evolution.  It is also important to note that evolution is not necessary to lead a good life.  If one has a good makeup then there is no need to really change.  If ones makeup creates happiness while supporting others, then intense change isn’t necessary.

Spirit Through Matter
Spirit comes through in a refinement of matter.  When one lets go to Music,to Nature, to Zen mind in concentrated activity, then one KNOWS Spirit & a higher life exists.  When one is not in this state, we are simply forgetting and are identified in some other contracted state, but this does not mean that the Higher realms actually go anywhere.  Theye are always there and we merely connect in with that Beautiful Space.  Someone can be moved and refined by music in California, or Japan, or Africa, or Antarctica.  And two people can be connecting to spirit in two different places(doesn’t have to be at the same time), so this goes to show that the Higher Realms of Nirvana are always there waiting.  So to Mother Nature I go.

Window of Time
Carrying each other through the window of time.  When somebody falls down, you pick them up.  When somebody forgets the higher life, you remind them.  There is much noise in the atmosphere and we all need to sift through the static…listen for the lighting bolt of Truth somewhere in the midst.  It comes and goes, ebbs and flows, awakens, and falls asleep.  Only to awake again!   And then we carry each other through the window of time.

Swimming Upstream
At one time the future Buddha, then Siddhartha, was sitting by the banks of a stream with four of his disciples engaged in uplifting meditation.  One of his students broke his concentration and could not help himself from asking Siddhartha whether or not he was going to attain enlightenment.  Upon hearing this, and although initially annoyed at the break in concentration, Siddhartha compassionately picked up a bowl beside him and said, ’son, if I am to attain enlightenment, then this bowl will float upriver.’  Siddhartha then placed the bowl in the river and low and behold, the bowl began floating UPSTREAM.

This is a powerful anecdote, and one which if mediated on, can actually be the basis of complete transformation.  It essentially refers to working against our own vasanas(our habitual tendencies…in reality this is not easy at all, and to be truthful I can’t say whether Buddhahood is the ultimate aim of your life anyway- that is for you to decide- but no doubt it is a very positive thing to Aim for).

Common elements of a TablaYoga class
Common elements of a TablaYoga class:
Movement meditation
Namaskars: Sun Salutation variations
Tabla/Mridangam accompaniment
chanting and music
Multi-dimensional sequencing
Mudra meditation and pranayama
Healing Savasana

Daily Hatha Vinyasa
The practice orients itself to a daily hatha vinyasa practice, and preferably in a negative ion rich environment. This is really time for the river to meet the ocean, and for an opportunity to journey along the river of prana which flows within and all around us.

Transmuting
Breaking down the body, transmuting the Tamasic, and then allowing the body time to heal, in the Sattvic form, is essential to the process. We must Consciously, mindfully, enter into the Tamasic, and tunnel into the grooves with rhythms to convert into the Sattvic phase. This involves all aspects of life, from diet, to asana and music practice, to whatever else you can think of. It is all incorporated.

Time in Asana
To go through all the main asasnas in Yoga, really takes a long time.  To be steady and comfortable in all of them- well, let’s say the primary 100 asanas- really takes a good deal of time.  After all, we’re talking  about the entire process of breaking down many, many old patterns and REBUILDING new ones.  That’s tough, straight up.  And it takes time.

Music-Yoga Practice
My music & asana sadhanas, are like two sides of the same coin. Essentially I trade off. At times when I am inclined toward drumming, I play the tablas or the Mridangam. When I am inclined towards an asana pratice, I move. This keeps me in balance. My body needs to rest after an asana practice, and my hands need to recoup and regenerate before I can practice drumming intensely again. So in this way I am not wasting time. Progress feels more consistent and stable, and this provides motivation to keep working.

A brief Overview
“Yoga comes from the Sanskrit root yuj meaning union or joining. It refers to the joining of our ordinary or limited self, called jiva with our higher consciousnes, referred to as Shiva, or the Inner Self. It includes practices that bring us to the direct experience of that state being within; it is a personal, experiential process. This process is one of re-identifying or recognizing, over and over again, who we are on a deep and unchanging level. It is a process of unlayering and continually letting go of all the misunderstandings that get in the way of experiencing our true nature. The analogy is often used that the Self is much like the radiant sun, which always shines but is overshadowed by clouds, which are our illusions and wrong understandings. The quality of this state of being is classically defined as sat-chit-ananda or being, consciousness and bliss. As we identify with this inner state, all sense of anxiety and separation fall away.There are many forms or paths of yoga, all bring us to the same realization of the Self. We are attracted to a particular form according to our disposition, karma, and needs. Although they may appear different in form, in essence all forms of yoga involve the dissolution of the ego and all bring us to the heart of the Self. The paths of yoga include karma, bhakti, jnana, and raja. Karma yoga is a path of service and action. It purifies one by learning to act selflessly without expectation of return or personal gain. Bhakti yoga is a simple and direct path of devotion whereby one sees everything as an expression of the Self or love. Jnana yoga is the yoga of knowledge. Raja yoga is the path integrating all paths of yoga.  Hatha yoga is used as a means to cleanse, purify and prepare the mind and body for the higher spiritual disciplines. All of these processes of meditation, chanting, and hatha help to balance our energies in the subtle channels within the spine so that the dormant spiritual force awakens and rises upward to manifest its potential. “-from the Shambhava school of Yoga

Tablayoga is a form of raja yoga which specializes in kundalini meditation (energy transformation), mantra, hatha disciplines, and Indian drumming.

Tapping In
So the esteemed Mr. Bruce Lee was all about transcending form. What? What does this mean? Well, in his own words, he once said “The highest Art is no art, the highest form is no form.” What? Ok, let’s approach this with a bit more description. We’ve all felt times in our life when our physical bodies felt very dense, heavy, lethargic, or stiff. In these contracted states it’s very difficult to see how one is to “transcend form”. However, we all know through our own experience that the body is a bit pliable…it is when we begin to churn things up(perhaps through a workout of sorts), that we begin to open up. There are never-ending possibilities to the level of openness that we are capable of experiencing. It all depends on what your body and nervous system can handle, and what sort of grooves or patterns you have established within your bodymind. At a certain stage it is possible to lose all sense of self, and to enter into Tao; in essence becoming Tao. You are then in the Tao of _____. Could be Tao of skiing, Tao of Yoga, Tao of Martial Art, Tao of Music, Tao of Parenting, Tao of Drumming etc., etc. Really quite a cool concept when you think about it.

Zen and the Art of dirt biking
Yoga practice should be like dirt biking. You don’t have to go super fast to have a good time. In fact, going super fast will mean that you will inevitably hit a bump or a rock the wrong way, and find yourself in the dirt. There are times to hit the throttle and get a blast of exhiliration on the acceleration- but do this when the path is clear. Uphill climbs can be really intense, and it is easy to fall off. It can be real scary, so either don’t go up them, or fully commit to the climb. Take it easy when going downhill, and remain smooth on the throttle, especially on turns. Get to know your bike and its language- the sounds it makes. Listening will enable you to keep the bike running smoothly. Think of the bike as your body- learn to listen to what your body is telling you and actually heed what it is telling you! When the bike is overheated, give it a rest. When it is cold, give it ample time to warm up. Be courteous to others on the trail and help out when someone is stuck or in trouble- while dirt biking you will inevitably find yourself in a similar situation(this is just in the nature of dirt biking), and it’s REALLY nice when someone helps you out of the mud.  Of course, you don’t want to put yourself in the mud in the first place.

Full Practice
Every time I give myself the time to do a full yoga practice, I am so grateful for it. To exert oneself in the practice enough so that heaviness is transformed, sweating occurs, and lightness takes its place in savasana, is more or less the complete practice. I am going to make an intention to go through this cycle at least once a day, in some form or another.

Levels of Language
There are levels to language, just as in anything else. There is dualistic language, and there is unified language. Dualistic language occurs when ego arises, and will always be present when one is trying to be right, or trying to win the upper hand. With the existence of this ego, the opposite comes into play- or battle (in western psychology). From an energetic perspective, when there is less energy available for someone, it is easier to fall prey to dualistic thought. Also, if somebody else is established in dualistic thought, then they may unconsciously, or consciously, try to pull you into their dualistic thinking. This is where it is necessary to stay centered-at the space of the turn- and if one can do this, then a unified field is created.

Correct Practice
Before beginning anything, it is extremely helpful to know why you are going to do it, and what the aim is. When it comes to hatha yoga, at a certain stage it is possible to get into a state whereby one just kind of dissolves into the ‘river of prana.’ If this is the aim, great- be the river. If not, don’t let your mind wander. At a certain point one can easily slip into imagination and discursive thought without realizing it. This can subconsciously affect us in more ways than we know. Karma is complicated. Be aware of your thoughts and how they affect others.

Identity and the Ocean
The mind is like the Ocean. As such, one can reside in different levels of the ocean. One can spend much time on the surface of the ocean and become identified with the waves. If the weather is rough, the water gets choppy and such is the condition of the mind. If the weather is calm and graceful, the mind is peaceful and happy. However, when one dives deep beneath the surface of the waves, a beautiful space is discovered.
It is a place unaffected by the weather.
It is a place deep and calm.
It is a place where blissful consciousness naturally exists.
This blissful consciousness is who I am on a profound level.
It is a place beyond identity, beyond illusion, and beyond the chaos of the world.

Return to Mother Ocean.

______________________________________________________

If you have individual questions pertaining to your yoga practice, let me know.  Any questions? I’ll post your questions and answer them if there are any.

All Original Material written by Edward William unless otherwise quoted.

*Do not post a comment if you are only interested in what blog platform I am using.

Please Donate  $5 to the upkeep of this website and blog.