Showing posts with label yoga philosophy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label yoga philosophy. Show all posts

Mar 27, 2013

Santosha & The Family Scooter



Since this is the last weekend of the Mysore season, we dedicate this comic to those of you who are still in Mysore, packing up your trunks, visiting the Temple one more time, having your last Mysore dosa and practice in the Shala. We hope you enjoy this comic. Say goodbye to that amazing place for us too. Until next time…

Title: Mysore ride on family scooter.

Story: My kids' favorite part about living in India was getting to ride on the "family scooter".  Sometimes we would drive to the swimming pool across town and pile on the scooter with all of our floaties, swimsuits, picnic basket, and change of clothes, and we would all manage to fit. What's more, sometimes we could drive across town, beeping and swerving around vehicles and animals, without stopping once! It was pure freedom.

Wealth cannot be measured by the size and power of the 'Family Wagon'. It can be measured by the size and magnitude of the smiles on the passengers.

Santosha (contentment) is one of the niyamas. It means the knowing the peace that is already inside, and, at the same time, feeling unity with something much greater than ourselves.


via The Yoga Comics and Ashtanga Illustrations by Boonchu

Mar 18, 2013

Satya (The Yoga Comics)

Many times on our walks, complete strangers will come up to us, scoop up Maple, and kiss her on the mouth... Maple will lick their lips and they love it! I think it is so gross because I know exactly where her mouth has been... her privates, cat poop, garbage, dead birds. I don't encourage the kissing and I think about stopping them, but they are just so happy sharing the love.

Satya -- speak the truth but only if it is sweet.

Satya means "to speak the truth," yet it is not always desirable to speak the truth if it harms someone unnecessarily. If speaking the truth has negative consequences for another, then it is better to say nothing. The Mahabharata says: "Speak the truth which is pleasant."

Story by: Elise Espat
Edited by: Jessica Walden
Cartoonist: Boonchu Tanti, Ashtanga Illustrations by Boonchu

Jan 6, 2013

Guruji in Copenhagen conference

"One day, two days, one month, two months, one year, ten years also no use. Satu dirgha kala. Life long you take practice, practice, practice. After that is totally correct, control is coming (sense organs)...sense organs is your control, mind control after one day also looking possible to God..."


Conference on Wednesday, August 16, 2006 in the yogashala of Astanga Yoga Copenhagen:


 

Oct 22, 2012

Guy Donahaye ABQ - Bibliography

Source: Guy in ABQ, AAYS




Resources and references mentioned during Guy Donahaye's weekend workshop at the Albuquerque Ashtanga Yoga Shala October 19-21, 2012



 

 

GENERAL

Guy's Shala in NY:  Ashtanga Yoga Shala NYC
A good place to practice and a website full of valuable information.
http://aysnyc.org/

Guy's blog "Mind Medicine:  Ashtanga Yoga Darshana"
http://yogamindmedicine.blogspot.com/ 

Guy's book "GURUJI: A Portrait of Sri K. Pattabhi Jois Through the Eyes of His Students"
http://bit.ly/RhagPj

Book extracts:
http://bit.ly/QCpfmU

Interviews:
http://bit.ly/OXgeGN 




DAY 1:  Fundamentals of Practice

Reading list at Guy's website:
http://ow.ly/eGhEQ

What is Yoga?

What is Ashtanga Yoga?

Pranayama and mulabandha

Breathing


DAY 2:   Mind Medicine I

Ashtanga Yoga Mantram and translation
http://bit.ly/RlVIj3

Yoga Sutras & Hatha Yoga Pradipika

Why right leg first in padmasana

Diet and lifestyle

What is the Self?

Daily practice

Ego, vrttis, householders
http://bit.ly/RQIJTS

Ayurveda, doshas, recipes, and many more resources
http://www.ayurveda.com/online_resource/index.html  

Ashtanga yoga history and lineage
http://bit.ly/Rapfc0




DAY 3: Mind Medicine II

3 gunas, Yoga Sutras, and more
http://bit.ly/UtOlsh

When to and not to practice


First you do asanas

Mind control

Guruji teaching

Mad attention



Check back soon for more updates...

Sep 20, 2012

Video: ThinkingAllowed interview with Prof. Dean Brown



"Prof. Dean Brown points out that most European languages can be traced back to a root language that is also related to Sanskrit - the sacred language of the ancient Vedic Hindu religions of India. Many English words actually have Sanskrit origins. Similarly, many Vedic religious concepts can also be found in Western culture. He discusses the fundamental idea of the Upanishads - that the essence of each individual, the atman, is identical to the whole universe, the principle of brahman. In this sense, the polytheistic traditions of India can be said to be monistic at their very core."

Sep 18, 2012

Yoga Sutras - Samadhi Pada

1.1   atha yogānuśāsanam
1.2   yogaścittavtti nirodha
1.3   tadā draṣṭu svarūpe'vasthānam
1.4   vttisārūpyamitaratra
1.5   vttaya pañcatayya kliṣṭākliṣṭā
1.6   pramāaviparyayavikalpanidrāsmtaya
1.7   pratyakśānumānāgamā pramāāni
1.8   viparyayo mithyājñānamatadrūpapratiṣṭham
1.9   śabdajñānānupātī vastuśūnyo vikalpa
1.10 abhāvapratyayālambanā vttirnidrā
1.11 anubhūtaviayāsapramoa smti
1.12 abhyāsavairāgyābhyā tannirodha
1.13 tatra sthitau yatno'bhyāsa
1.14 sa tu dīrghakālanairantaryasatkārāsevito dṛḍhabhūmi
1.15 dṛṣṭānuśravikaviayavitṛṣṇasya vaśīkārasajā vairāgyam
1.16 tatpara puruakhyāterguavaitṛṣṇyam
1.17 vitarkavicārānandāsmitārūpānugamāt saprajñāta
1.18 virāmapratyayābhyāsapūrva saskāraśeo 'nya
1.19 bhavapratyayo videhapraktilayānām
1.20 śraddhāvīryasmtisamādhiprajñāpūrvaka itareām
1.21 tīvrasavegānāmāsanna
1.22 mdumadhyādhimātratvāt tato'pi viśea
1.23 īśvarapraidhānādvā
1.24 kleśakarmavipākāśayairaparāmṛṣṭa puruaviśea īśvara
1.25 tatra niratiśaya sarvajñabījam
1.26 sa ea pūrveāmapi guru kālenānavacchedāt
1.27 tasya vācaka praava
1.28 tajjapastadarthabhāvanam
1.29 tata pratyakcetanādhigamo'pyantarāyābhāvaśca
1.30 vyādhistyānasaśaya pramādālasyāvirati bhrāntidarśanālabdha bhūmikatvānavasthitatvāni cittavikepāste 'ntarāyā
1.31 dukhadaurmanasyagamejayatvaśvāsapraśvāsā vikepasahabhuva  
1.32 tatpratiedhārthamekatattvābhyāsa  
1.33 maitrīkaruāmuditopekāā sukhadukhapuyāpuya viayāā bhāvanātaścittaprasādanam
1.34 pracchardanavidhāraābhyā vā prāasya  
1.35 viayavatī vā pravttirutpannā manasa sthitinibandhinī  
1.36 viśokā vā jyotimatī  
1.37 vītarāgaviayam vā cittam
1.38 svapnanidrājñānālambanam vā
1.39 yathābhimatadhyānādvā
1.40 paramāuparamamahattvānto asya vaśīkāra
1.41 kīavtterabhijātasyeva maergrahītgrahaagrāhyeu tatsthatadañjanatā samāpatti
1.42 tatra śabdārthajñānavikalpai saṅkīrā savitarkā samāpatti  
1.43 smtipariśuddhau svarūpaśūnyevārthamātranirbhāsā nirvitarkā  
1.44 etayaiva savicārā nirvicārā ca sūkma viaya vyākhyātā  
1.45 sūkmaviayatva cāliṅgaparyavasānam
1.46 tā eva sabīja samādhi  
1.47 nirvicāravaiśāradye 'adhyātmaprasāda
1.48 ṛtabharā tatra prajñā  
1.49 śrutānumānaprajñābhyāmanyaviayā viśeārthatvāt  
1.50 tajja saskāro 'nyasaskārapratibandhī
1.51 tasyāpi nirodhe sarvanirodhānnirbīja samādhi


Aug 19, 2012

Hatha Yoga Pradipika Online

"There exists at present a good deal of misconception with regard to the practices of the Haṭha Yoga. People easily believe in the stories told by those who themselves heard them second hand, and no attempt is made to find out the truth by a direct reference to any good treatise."
Whether young, old or too old, sick or lean, one who discards laziness, gets success if he practises Yoga. 2.66

Success comes to him who is engaged in the practice. How can one get success without practice; for by merely reading books on Yoga, one can never get success. 2.67

Success cannot be attained by adopting a particular dress (Veṣa). It cannot be gained by telling tales. Practice alone is the means to success. This is true, there is no doubt. 2.68
 
Full copy of the "Hatha Yoga Pradipika" translated by Pancham Sinh
http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/hyp/index.htm

Aug 18, 2012

Gheranda Samhita Online

"(Having closed the eyes) let him contemplate that there is a sea of nectar in his heart: that in the midst of that sea there is an island of precious stones, the very sand of which is pulverized diamonds and rubies. That on all sides of it there are Kadamba trees, laden with sweet flowers; that, next to these trees, like a rampart, there is a row of flowering trees, such as the malati, jati, kesara, champaka, parijata and padmas, and that the fragrance of these flowers is spread all round, in every quarter. In the middle of this garden, let the Yogi imagine that there stands a beautiful Kalpa tree, having four branches, representing the four Vedas, and that it is full of flowers and fruits. Insects are humming there and cuckoos singing. Beneath that tree, let him imagine a rich platform of precious gems, and on that a costly throne inlaid with jewels, and that on the throne sits his particular Deity, as taught to him by his Guru. Let him contemplate on the appropriate form, ornaments and vehicle of that Deity.” 
 
Full copy of "Gheranda Samhita" Translation and commentary by Rai Bahadur Srisa Chandra Vasu

Jul 13, 2012

Interview with Guy Donahaye by Elise Espat Part 3

Part 3 of my interview with Ashtanga yoga teacher Guy Donahaye, author of "Guruji: A Portrait".
Originally posted here:
http://yogamindmedicine.blogspot.com/2012/07/reflections-on-guruji-portrait.html



Reflections on "Guruji: A Portrait"
- Interview with Elise Espat - Part III

Did you ask any of the questions to clarify a question you had?  For instance, whether advanced asana meant advanced practice?  Or what was mulabandha?  Was there a satisfactory answer?

I believe there is a general misunderstanding of the purpose of asana practice - which is therapy. Advancement comes through perfecting yama and niyama, pranayama and the internal limbs - asana practice is the foundation of that process. So no, I was not curious - I had the desire to get the subjects to speak about this so as to dispel this general misconception. 

Mostly the questions were not asked out of personal curiosity but with the intention of  getting the interviewee to speak on a subject of interest. However, I was certainly interested to hear their different perspectives and feel that my own understanding has been enhanced through the process of making the book.

In the Guruji book, it seems that people agreed that advanced asana did not necessarily mean advanced yoga practice.  Do you think that is true?  Through asana, with the tristhana and a good teacher and time wouldn't that lead to advanced practice?  Would a student automatically start doing self-study and such?

Asana practice is therapeutic, purifying and strengthening - both for mind and body. How much purification or therapy is required depends on the individual and what end result is desired. I don't think anything will happen automatically through asana practice alone, but if you have a good teacher, he or she will teach more than asana.

Dena Kingsberg: "Some of us have to drag our bodies a long way in order to facilitate the cleansing process.  Those of us with stubborn, egotistical natures may need to drag ourselves further and twist ourselves harder and bend ourselves deeper in order to appreciate that at the end of the day we just need to focus the attention and open the heart."  

One of Guruji's most capable students (not interviewed in the book) was given a practice of 12 Suryanamaskar A and 12 B morning and evening - this he was told was for treating "insanity of the mind". So there is no apparent correlation between being able to do postures and a particular level of spiritual or mental development. However, developing a practice with Guruji into advanced series and practicing the asanas over time gives enormous benefits. 

If the student has not gained some control of the bandhas by the end of Intermediate Series, she will have no choice but to master them progressing into the advanced asanas. Perhaps this is why instead of teaching the pranayamas after intermediate, as he did in the early 70s, later Guruji wanted students to be established in the advanced asanas first. 

Westerners have such a strong attachment to their bodies and body image that practicing asanas can easily lead to greater vanity, competitiveness and other distractions from the goal of yoga. Sri Shankaracharya warns in his Vivekachudamani:

"Whoever seeks to realize the Self by devoting himself to the nourishment of the body, proceeds to cross a river by catching hold of a crocodile, mistaking it for a log… 

…desire, like a crocodile, instantly seizes the aspirant who tries to cross the ocean of samsara and reach the shore of liberation without firm detachment, and straightaway drags him down." 

One has to consider: what is the goal of practice? After overcoming health problems, our aim is to be able to sit still and quiet with a concentrated mind. For some this can be attained easily, asanas are not required, which is very rare today. Some need moderate exercise and purification, others need deeper cleansing and more rigorous training for the mind.

Guruji taught that Ashtanga Yoga was a step by step method but that yama and niyama could not be perfected until the stage of pranayama. However, in spite of the fact that it is very challenging or maybe even impossible to perfect yama and niyama, an attempt to do so is required, and our success in yoga will be much more closely related to our progress in the first two limbs than the third alone. In a certain sense the yama and niyama encapsulate the whole path - it is said that liberation can be achieved through perfection of any one.

As far as asanas go, what is important in the immediate moment is a practice which gives us a sense of well being and freedom from pain. If we are sick, then we need to purify and strengthen the body. In preparation for pranayama we also need to purify the nadis further through Nadi Shodhona and to be able to sit comfortably in padmasana or a similar asana for a long period of time. 

Where did the notion come from - that advancing through the series would lead to advancement on the path of yoga? It seems like there should be a logical correlation.  However, the purpose of the asanas is therapy. As long as we continue to fall short of following the yamas and niyamas perfectly, our system will require continuous correction from practicing asanas.



Guy Interview

Feb 25, 2012

Video Intro to the Bhagavad Gita

Full video on learner.org
featuring Sandy Crawford, Douglas Cuomo, David Damrosch, Gadadhara Pandit Dasa, Vishakha Desai, Philip Glass, Jack Hawley, Amitav Kaul, and Sheldon Pollock.

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