Check out Nischala Joy Devi's The Secret Power of Yoga for a woman-centered interpretation of the Yoga Sutras. Here are my thoughts on a couple of them.
Sutra 1.1: With humility (an open heart and mind), we embrace the sacred study of Yoga.
In the structure of the Sutras, Patanjali gives us the most important teaching first, and I think that you can get everything that you need to know if you unpack this sutra. First, we have to step onto our mats (or sit on our cushions) without the preconceived notions that we have about ourselves and what we think Yoga is. What's more, we have to let go of the emotional baggage attached to those thoughts. It is then, in this vulnerable place, that we can hug Yoga, and more importantly, allow Yoga to hug us back. In this process, we learn who really are and can begin to see othes as they truly are. Everything gets opened up! And that is DEFINITELY sacred!
Sutra 1.3: United in the heart, consciousness is steadied,then we abide in our true nature--joy.
This one has puzzled me. Being "united in the heart" seems to indicate the presence of at least two parties. Who, or what, are we uniting with? Here's my idea. Maybe we are uniting with ourselves in the deepest sense. All the disparate pieces of the little 's' self come together to become the big 's' Self. And what do we feel when we feel integrated and whole? Steadiness and joy. It's a beautiful thing. Nischala calls it "identification with the Divine Self." Steady, joyful, and divine? Why would anyone not want to practice Yoga?!?!
No comments:
Post a Comment