Going within...

I hear a lot about going within here in India, from Sharath a lot of the time and I tend to think I have a good idea of what that means. But then the next level of realization occurs and you doubt that you've ever gone within before, because this experience feels so deep.

I just am home from conference with Sharath and the Vedas came to my mind on the walk home because he was asked what his favorite text was, I'm assuming Chris asked because each of us has something that touches us and makes us go deeper than before and he wanted to know what did that for Sharath. And I was surprised by his answer, although I don't think I should've been. He said "the real text is within you. Those other texts are just references. Do your practice, the asanas, the yamas, the niyamas, and unlock the real text, the real knowledge that lies within you." That's not an exact quote, but paraphrased from my remembrance of what he said, so perhaps I should remove the quotation marks? Ehhh.

Veda means knowledge, but more than that it means revealed knowledge. It was knowledge unlocked from within the sages of old, as they sat and meditated or did an asana practice, or just contemplated things deeply. The texts were called this because they believed these beings gained the information from within. So, why do we believe this can only have been done thousands of years ago? What can't it be happening now, as we speak, maybe even in my own bedroom? Thinking of this makes me think we've lost something in the West with all the busyness of our lives all around us we never take that time to go deep and get quiet, at least many don't. I do in my morning practice of asana, of chanting, of pranayama and of meditation but then it seems to get lost throughout my day as I move through a very busy life of teaching classes, having lunch meetings, talking with friends, texting, phone conversations, plans on trips, plans on workshops, etc, etc, etc...

But here with all the time in the world to contemplate it comes up and I feel it and I think about it more often, so does this mean at home I need to create a quieter life? A life more geared toward contemplation and reflection. Not just for myself but also for my students so that when they have a question I've taken the time to gain the insight into things enough to have a valid answer? Maybe so.

Last week in conference someone asked Sharath about a comment he'd made the previous week about how perhaps many authorized teachers are not real big yogis, that the possibility that someone practicing only half primary can be just as big of a yogi or moreso, and they asked why didn't he just authorize those people he considered to be the real deal. Again, paraphrased from my own memory of it. And he said, they did the work and learned the things in the order in which we've asked them to, so they get authorized, but we can't make them do the work. It's up to you to do the work of deepening and learning more about the yamas and niyamas and what they mean to you and as you pass along the teachings as they've been taught to you, to your students, then its up to them to do the work themselves. So, I take away from that I can only transmit the teachings, its up to them to do the work, we cannot do the work for them, which leads me back to this comment from this week, they have to unlock their own knowledge.

I like this. It's a weight off my shoulders. I know this from my studies with Abraham, we only have control over our own vibration, no one elses, so we can only hold them in our highest place and hope for the best with them. I can only do this work for me, I have to do my asana practice, I have to study and read scriptures if I'm drawn to reading them (and I am, a lot) and I have to chant if I want to and practice pranayama and meditation, they will transform me. And so when a student comes to ask a question I'll have some insight into how it worked for me and can share that with them, but they have to do the work on their own to unlock their own truth, only they can read that text, not me. I am rereading sections of the book Guruji also and one interview was talking about how Guruji never forced chanting, or any of his knowledge on his students, unless they asked. Have an opinion for yourself, but no need in sharing it or enforcing it upon another, unless they come and ask for it, then it's on them if they don't like it, they've asked for the way you see it and you can give it to them.

I love that, it makes me feel good. And yes, I'd much rather be the one doing half primary who gets it, than the one doing Advanced A or B who doesn't. I can practice full primary, I can stand up and drop back on my own, I can't "catch" my ankles from a backbend on my own yet, but that's okay, I'm still having the experience of opening up my back and nervous system by doing the backbending either way and that experience brings more insight each time I do it, some days it brings unlimited energy and some it brings deep tiredness, all of which are experiences to be worked through and I may complain but I still love it and am happy this practice is a part of my life.

I love this place, I really do, and I love having this experience. I could be irritated that I never came when I originally meant to back in 2000 or 2002 but what use would that be? I didn't come then, I'm here now, so obviously I'm more ready than ever for it and the universe knows that, so here I am.

Where are you? Are you happy there? Even content? I hope so, if not, ask how you can cultivate these feelings within, what would that take to get there? Or change the situation to one more desired maybe? I'd rather not run, I'd rather be okay wherever I am and move forward from there.

Have an amazing weekend, namaste!