january2003

happy new year virayogis
with great gratitude and respect, we welcome the prospect of beginning again, seeing with new eyes and honoring ourselves with sincerity.

this month we offer two evenings of lectures with Dr. Douglas Brooks, a scholar of Tantric philosophy and our beloved teacher and friend.

in translating and sharing ancient texts, Douglas genuinely and passionately brings the teachings into our everyday experience.

recently i attended one of his retreats, during which we discussed the Upanisad [often referred to as the Upanisads in English], ancient teachings that offer us definitive ways to enhance our understanding of ourselves and our experiences.

UPA- to approach
NI- to come near
SAD- to sit, establish a claim, stability

"we become who we are by the seat we take in our own heart."
douglas brooks

through the text we learn to ask about our APPROACH, our "seat". how are we approaching ourselves, others, situations in our lives? what is the quality of the "seat we take" in our own hearts?

the answers lie in the sincerity of our approach to everything. we learn to pay attention to what IS happening [because as Douglas says, what isn't happening ISN'T HAPPENING!]; and through such attention we truly participate in our own experiences instead of being captivated and led by our thoughts or emotions.

this 'participation' requires diligence and courage. we observe carefully the alchemy of our internal interactions in every moment, seeing where we are creating and/or spending energy without truly understanding why. each moment requires our attention, which consequently helps us to see, in our interactions with others, from whence our energy is derived and how it is being spent.

we have the will to facilitate a future for ourselves that is full of ease and comprehension. by drawing into our essence, our potential, we "take a seat" in our own heart. physically this is equated with muscular energy, the second principle of alignment. embracing the inherent strength.

through sincere observation of ourselves we can see the wisdom of past experiences and release them in order to learn from them. physically this 'release' is equated with organic energy, the expansion, the fifth principle of alignment.

when we have attention within ourselves commensurate with attention to the energy emanating out of ourselves, ie. what we're thinking/doing/saying, we experience the contentment of the present. this contentment is experienced as a sweet quality of silence that pervades all of our interactions.

in our practice, this is equated with that place where the pose finally feels aligned and strong, where the breath can flow freely and we are nourished by what we're doing.
 
"happiness is when what you think,
what you say and what you do
are all in harmony."
mahatma gandhi
 
we are supremely fortunate to have this community at VIRAYOGA where we offer each other support in the work we all do to experience our lives with sincerity and ease.

enjoy the workshops this month... with Douglas, Manorama, myself, Heather and Eric. we are also blessed to host a kirtan with Krishan Abeyatunge who has traveled with Ram Dass and Julia Butterfly. if you wish to treat yourself, Amy Ippoliti will guide you in a blissful week of yoga, chanting and sunshine on the beach in Costa Rica in February.

with loving gratitude for your presence,
elena