Ahamkara (Ego - separateness)


5) As yoga practitioners, our practice grows when we learn to simply get out of the way of our ego driven, analytical mind.  Similarly with raw-foods, we heal ourselves and grow stronger, both physically and mentally, when we allow the body's miraculous immune system to do it's job with minimal interference from food, processed or otherwise.  By constantly 'letting go' of life's excesses and all things temporary we become a true naturalist -- living as one small part of the whole.    

 

Truth is a pathless land and you cannot approach it by any path whatsoever, by any religion, by any sect. Truth, being limitless, unconditioned, unapproachable by any path whatsoever, cannot be organized; nor should any organization be formed to lead or to coerce people along any particular path. -- J. Krishnamurti

No two individuals have the same religion.  Each mind is different and you create your religion with your mind. -- Sri Swami Satchidananda

 

Being able to step away from attachment to ego and the mortal body is one of the most difficult endeavors we face as our yoga practice evolves. Many masters have taught that to become enlightened we must simply find and accept what is already there - the silence that rests deep inside each one of us. If finding this silence seems challenging, then remaining forever focused and rapt in this silence may seem impossible. Once again the key is to get out of the way and trust in nature. Each being has a divine soul which is the only true self, while all the rest, all the other supposed "I's" and "Me's" are just window dressing.

There are far too many ways to think of ourselves as "I". The first "I" that we encounter in this life is the body and that may be the last word on the subject if we never look deeper. But even for the religious zealot it is difficult to think of ourselves as anything but this body that we carry around for a short time. Humanity is so accustomed to its own physical form that even the Bible claims that man was created in God's image, leading many to believe that the angels above are simply reflections of what we see in this world. By shedding a few layers, we may come to believe that the real "I" is that incessant voice within our own minds-eye, but even this is limited to time and space.

Our true self is that part of us that is connected to all other beings and also to the divine source of creation; the part that knows no difference between our manufactured concept of life and death. We all catch glimpses of this ineffable place but generally the moment is so fleeting that we either dismiss it as a whim or try to resurrect the feeling by reproducing the materials and sensations that brought us there the first time.  Unfortunately, however, we cannot duplicate a past experience as our frame of reference will be different the second time around. In other words, if one morning you have the best meditation practice of your life, finding that you were able to step outside of your body for a time, there is no guarantee that the same time, place, lighting, and sequence of movements, the very next day will yield the same results. In fact, you may find that you are much more distracted than usual as you search for that similar feeling of weightlessness that you found only twenty-four hours prior. Why is it so difficult to simulate the same feeling? Because the "I" that we are attached to is given the task of actively searching for the "I" that is beyond the senses. As George Soros once said "Why does nobody have access to the ultimate truth? The answer became clear: We live in the same universe that we are trying to understand, and our perceptions can influence the events in which we participate."

To get out of the way means to have no expectations, no judgment, no attachments, but always a high level of humor. Laugh when you fall, smile instead of straining, and never take the practice that you love above all else too seriously. If we take ourselves and our yoga practice too seriously then there is always a certain amount of attachment, both to an unknown goal and to the rituals themselves. Remember that rituals are created for us not the other way around. Rituals such as prayer, lighting of candles, chanting, and asana practice are all wonderful tools and they may help us to focus in preparation for deep meditation. But if there suddenly comes a day when, for some unforeseen reason, you have no choice but to give up one or all of your rituals then rejoice in all that they have taught you and move on. Neither an omnipresent God nor these finite rituals themselves would want you to waste time worrying about what is not meant to be, especially when there is so much more to explore.

Modern yoga in the West

When I think of the current state of yoga in the America I can't help but think of the novel "Animal Farm". In this classic tale a small group of animals overrun their tyrannical and abusive masters, claim the farm as their own, and set up their ideal form of government. This works well for a time but it isn't long before we see them develop the same hypocritical traits and characteristics that their masters had previously. This is of course a basic lesson in human nature, one that we see come to light again and again throughout history. When an enlightened being preaches a new way of life and inspires enough people, then positive changes begin to occur. But once this untainted doctrine becomes codified, then rituals, laws, and some type of hierarchy are thought to be necessary to insure that the ideas are carried over to future generations. Indeed, without a leader - whether you call them Guru or President - the disciples of this new lifestyle feel that they will be abandoned once the originator of the new order inevitably passes away. They feel that they are somehow not whole, not as credible as their neighbors who have rigid systems in place, and who not only have different beliefs and rituals, but ones that are so obviously completely wrong.

So in order to keep up with the competition and gain converts a code of conduct is formed, a leader is established, and a community is formed, sounds simple right? Inevitably, however, after just one generation it becomes obvious to the disciples of this exciting new practice that they must find a new leader and then, also inevitably, a rift forms between two or more factions of the same community. One faction will want to keep living by the strictest written codes that they can find, thereby denying that time creates change, while another will want to create a spin-off of the practice, thereby making it easier for anyone to join but also watering down the original message. Both sides elect their own leaders who will defend their right to spread the good word in their own way, even if it means killing a few people to keep it sacrosanct. So the original message which may read something like: "Thou shall not kill", becomes "Thou shall not kill those that agree with our way of life".

This hypocrisy is not exclusive to Western religions, but since America is largely a Judeo-Christian country we find that many disenchanted Jews and Christians have turned to yoga for their present spiritual nourishment. Like myself, many of these people first looked for spirituality in their native religion only to get frustrated by name calling, bitterness, divisiveness, and endless rules and ritual that seemed to have nothing to do with an all-knowing power. Personally, it was refreshing for me to finally hear a religious teacher say that all are welcome and equal in the eyes of God without any consideration of race, class, or natal religion. These Indian teachers, or Gurus, that I sat with as a teenager may have had their own rituals, their own distinct brand of yoga, and occasionally even some type of agenda, but when I asked questions of them the difference between their answers and that of the Rabbis and Priests was that they were not going to deny any human being God's salvation and love no matter what that person's personal history or philosophy may be.

This type of open armed and open minded spirituality was the essential catalyst for the oddly named "New Age" movement of the 1980's. New Age was an inappropriate title for a set of beliefs that were generally as old as the written word, most of the ideas being borrowed from Hindu texts such as the Bhagavad-Gita or the Vedanta philosophy. But what shone brightly as new in the West was the concept that all creatures -human and otherwise - desire the same thing: liberation, and are therefore on the same path. No matter where someone may have been placed on that path by their so-called random birth, or how they may have tread on that path up to this point, there is still that same inner desire for liberation. This idea of inclusiveness was like a breath of fresh air for many people with spiritual aspirations who had never found much spirituality in their own religions.

Most of the problems with any dogma arise when the practice becomes exclusive rather than inclusive. So now with the burgeoning acceptance and interest in yoga that the ideas of the New Age made possible I wonder if this once inclusive philosophy has reached its peek and is starting to come full circle. As the information and literature about yoga philosophy, asanas, and meditation grows so does the bickering over who is right. I hear yoga teachers of different methods denouncing each other, whether behind closed doors or in the media, and even making ultimate judgments of who is a qualified teacher and who is an impostor. This may be due in part to the rise of an unprecedented amount of quick and simple Teacher Training programs. It may also be due to the usual competition that arises when money becomes a prime motivator. But whatever the reason, this puritanical and elitist tone that so many schools of yoga are starting to adopt is eerily reminiscent of the squabbling that originally divided whole populations of people in the first place. If your yoga practice is bringing slander, guilt, or jealousy into your life then this may not be the right practice for you.

Yoga has a rich and noble history, one that has produced great prophets, influenced great thinkers the world over, and remained for the most part consistent and untainted. It is an ancient practice that has been handed down from teacher to student since the beginning of recorded time in a very natural and sympathetic way that doesn't impose ones beliefs on others, or aggressively seek converts. It is said that when the student is ready the teacher will appear. So it is important to remember that we cannot spot a yoga teacher in the same way that we do a doctor, an engineer, or even a massage therapist. A yoga teacher can take many forms and may teach in a variety of different ways, possibly to one student or to thousands, possibly using the physical body as a vehicle or only the mind, possibly in a very austere manner or even in a seemingly comical fashion. A yoga teacher should not gain credibility based on being able to bend over backwards or memorize aphorisms. A true teacher has their own regular practice, faith that this practice will lead to greater knowledge of the self, and a desire to be of service to both God and the world by teaching this system to sincere students.

Students are drawn to a teacher as a bee is drawn to its nectar, so to design strict tests and guidelines for yoga instructors is as absurd as creating a rigid curriculum for how parents must raise a child. This doesn't imply that there is no reason for a teacher to study. On the contrary, a teacher should have a good understanding of the method that they choose to teach. If this method is very physical then it is helpful to understand the workings of the body and proper alignment, if it is based on the scriptures then it may be wise to read various interpretations, but ultimately all paths lead to the same place: liberation from the dense body and union with it's creator, so if a teacher is able to communicate this principle well then they don't need a certificate hanging on their door. As Swami Sri Yukteswar is quoted as saying in Yogananda's Autobiography of a Yogi, "A university degree, in any case, is not remotely related to Vedic realization. Saints are not produced in batches every semester like accountants". But rules, commentary, and the spurious idea that one single path may be superior is overshadowing the longing for an individual relationship with God and personal introspection that are fundamental to yoga. Guidelines are useful when we begin any field of study as they give us a certain element of focus and understanding, but eventually, when the framework becomes innate, it is best to let it go in the same way that we hope to let go of past issues that play in our heads like a stuck record.

It is time for us to step back and take a long look at what direction the practice of yoga is heading. Although we credit and thank India and it's great seers for creating and unifying the complexities of the yoga system it is America that will now have the greatest impact on where it will go from here. As much as America may be derided and despised by other countries, it remains, for better or worse, the forerunner in setting the tone for what is popular, creative, and fashionable. It has been seen time and again that other countries don't necessarily have to agree with us in order to imitate our habits. So the traditions of the East will be shaped, at least for a short while, by Western hands and it is already looking far more Western than ever imagined or intended. We have come to a point where Hatha yoga is beginning to take on all of the same characteristics as a spectator sport. Continuing on its present path, yoga is destined to take its place along side Gymnastics as the next Olympic event. With every passing year the practice of Hatha yoga becomes more competitive and goal oriented. Though an obvious contradiction to its true purpose, some will argue that it doesn't matter why people do yoga or how it is disseminated to the public because the more people do it the better. This may be true on a purely individual and physical level but there are very good reasons why most of the important yoga texts and yoga masters have cautioned us against turning it into just another form of calisthenics.

Both asana and pranayama (breath control) can be very powerful tools, but as with anything, power can be put to very bad use. When we practice the asanas without being mentally and spiritually grounded then it makes us over eager and careless. This can manifest in two ways: firstly we may become so excited about the odd shapes that we can mold ourselves into and the new found strength that we've attained in a relatively short time, that we begin to feel indestructible. Many practitioners wind up hurting themselves by forcing their way into a new "shape" before they are truly ready. This has resulted in a flood of knee and back injuries recently, even though this practice was created to be therapeutic by nature. Alternatively, the average Westerner, being very driven, may get frustrated if they cannot do certain so called "basic" asanas even after practicing for many years. This competition in yoga generally leads to injury, but even when injury is avoided there is no way to avoid the hang-ups that arise from judging yourself against someone else. It is one thing to be inspired by someone else's practice but something else entirely when we make comparisons.

This obsessiveness about getting into a posture has slowly become the standard in many gyms and even in yoga centers. The main difference between the yoga that I remember as a teenager versus what I see now is that years ago teachers never created a competitive environment. Every asana is ideally a comfortable seated position. The word "seated" is used here to describe a suitable, well aligned position for the body from which meditation can occur without distraction. It doesn't really matter if we are sitting crossed legged on a cushion or doing handstand backbends, the asana is just an outward form that is meant to lead to a higher place internally. So we are not really doing asana practice if we must grunt and groan as we tug our way into some arbitrary shape that at best has no therapeutic value and at worst may cause us distraction and injury. The second problem I encounter is when practitioners, often coming from a dance or gymnastics background, are such naturals at the practice of Hatha yoga that they use it as their new chosen "sport". They may not become injured physically but often the heat and energy that is created in their yoga practice causes the rest of their day to be manic and ungrounded. The conversations that may be overheard outside of yoga studios, such as speculating who is "the best" or who has the "nicest body", often involves the type of senseless prattle that is altogether contrary to the idea of letting go of the ego driven mind. Whether Hindu, agnostic, or atheist, this type of gossip can only serve to bring a person down. Most yoga texts warn against this type of talk. If we spend our time with gossip on our lips then it tends to creep into our subconscious mind, affecting our sleep, relationships, and meditations.

Yoga has been called the "hottest new trend" of the past decade, and even as most of us know that there is nothing new or trendy about it, what is ultimately important is how the practice of yoga evolves in the West over the next few decades. Although teachers from the East gave us this valuable gift, it is the Western instructors that are now spreading the word. So as the practice moves from large cities to smaller towns, from progressive areas to the mainstream population, from white middle-class America to inner city schools, there will be endless questions about what yoga really is, how it should be taught and how it can really help an often stressed out and sedentary society in the most efficient way. We as teachers and practitioners should remember that there is no single right answer, and while there may be disagreements along the way, if we stay fully rooted in the most basic precepts that yoga teaches: union, non-attachment, non-violence, and service, then all other concerns will automatically be resolved.