YES AND NO TO LIFE: KNOW WHAT YOU'RE SAYING
MARCH 22, 2009: I read this article this morning and it is by a great dear friend and teacher Todd Norian, who I dearly respect. He visits us once/year and will be end of June 2009. Save the date. Basically he takes a verse from the sutras and interprets it from a Tantric perspective. Chapter 1 verse 2 yogas citta vritti nirodah (from April Fit Yoga).
The summary of the article is this: When you say NO to something by doing so you are automatically saying YES to something else.
In class today I contexualized this during the course of the asana practice and brought in my own analogies and examples. Here I offer you the straightforward article and leave it for your own meditation. Just know this, I am always saying YES and will support you if you want to live this way too! Love you all, Silvia
ARTICLE: “We assume you can say “no” to something. But in doing that you are automatically saying “yes” to something else. In tantric philosophy we want to start with “YES”, to open, soften, and receive what the moment is offering. Then, after taking a moment to reflect, we can say “no” as a boundary to what is NOT life enhancing.
Yoga is learning to align with nature rather than resist or control it. Instead of viewing our challenges as separate from you and a problem to be solved, the Tantra sees them as a gift of embodiment, the pulse, the very essence of the flow that arises from desire. Instead of being part of the problem, desire becomes the source of the solution.
The tantrikas believe the universe is made up of desire. The universe desires to be known by becoming you. Everything in this universe is awake, which includes the ripples of the mind, like waves on the surface of a lake. The key is to see beneath the ripples to the bottom of the lake, the deepest essence of self. However the self also appears in the surface waves. Instead of going against the waves we learn how to surf.
This is very helpful in navigating the ups and downs of life – learning how to flow with them, embrace them, and know exactly what you’re saying “YES” and “NO” to, rather than pushing them away in the name of freedom.”
PATIENCE AND COURAGE: EFFORT & EASE
FEBRUARY 26TH, 2008:
YOUR OWN BEST COURAGE
NOVEMBER 10TH, 2008: Last month after Todd Norian was with us for a weekend intensive he sent a thank you note with these words, “May you rise with courage to meet the challenges of this current time. May you do yoga to strengthen your core and nourish the source of your being. May you stay in your heart and give away love, kindness, and compassion to those in need. Yoga and giving are two of the best ways to weather the storm. Dedicating yourself to a deeper purpose will absolutely guide you through to success and freedom. – Todd Norian Workshop 08”
This has served as a wonderful reminder of how Courage is a quality that comes from the heart. Judith Lasater a personal hero of mine says, “Courage is the second most important quality to cultivate in life. (Right after love).” Winston Churchill goes as far to say, “ Courage is the first of the human qualities because it is a quality which guarantees all others.” For me the way I’ve come to understand courage day to day is that it is not really about undersatnding what is right or wrong but it is the strenght within us to choose the right course of action in any circumstance. Now recently a public figure had a mantra of Yes, I Can. I would like to suggest a modification to practice at home of, “CAN I? YES!”. So keep asking yourself today, What is possible for me? And then courageously listen to your heart to take action. Wishing you all your own best courage! Sat Nam, Silvia