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The Sage Agastya

The ideals of Yoga ask us to embody pure love, unconditionally with regard to all of our experience(s)?. The Yoga sutras speak of the highest state of Samadhi as being a seedless state where our actions do not generate further actions. That when we perform an action, our action is so pure, so centered and complete that no seed is sown that begets future seeds and actions. The sutras also tell us that to reach this state we need to cultivate an attitude of friendliness toward happiness (other’s and our own), compassion towards suffering, joy toward virtue, and neutrality toward vice (other’s and our own). To authentically live from such a place takes joyous unselfish living; a continual self searching vigilance and commitment to becoming more conscious of our inner workings, and while also learning to let go into the grace of Spirit and see beauty and miraculous life all around at all times. Yoga asks us to be present, uninhibited, open hearted, centered and receptive; to meet every situation with an exact right attitude that fits in an exact right way. This vigilance and commitment are necessary because our willingness to really experience truth can be absent and/or elusive; we can fool ourselves again and again into thinking we’re behaving one way when actually we’re behaving or feeling in an entirely different way. The following story addresses some of these themes.

Once there were two demon brothers; they got a real kick out of playing a deadly, murderous trick on unsuspecting victims. As a disguise, one brother would turn himself into a delectable meal and the other brother would invite the chosen victim to partake of this meal. Soon after the consumption of this ‘tasty’ meal the brother on the outside would call to the brother inside the victims belly; “Come out!” And the demon would burst forth exploding the hapless victim from the inside out. The sage Agastya, renowned for his prodigious digestive powers, came to know of this evil duo and let them play their murderous trick on him. He swallowed the brother who was disguised as a sumptuous (do you mean scrumptious?) dinner and before the other brother could shout “Come out” Agastya had fully digested the meal, and a bit of wind was all that remained of the offending demon.

The story speaks about what we ask ourselves and others to swallow. Because of his immense wisdom (Vedic knowledge) Agastya was able to see the truth that would have led to his demise. As students of Yoga trying, with vigilance and commitment to cultivate grace and love, we may sometimes hide and disguise our own negativity towards ourselves and people around us. We try to make our shadow elements palatable instead of facing and owning them (some examples of the negativity I’m referring to manifest as anger, jealousy, fear, low self confidence etc). Sometimes we do this unconsciously with mean jokes or subtle putdowns (aimed at ourselves or others), but often we are at least vaguely aware of what we are doing (as though we become possessed by a ‘demon’). The story tells us that we have to get tough (a thicker skin)?; that there’s a lot of stuff that we ingest that looks good, seems to taste good, but actually is poisonous and lethal to us. We have to develop ENERGETIC digestive fire and to learn to seek out and swiftly digest that which we feed ourselves (and that we feed others) and that which we are fed by others that is NOT nurturing.

My teacher, Sri K Pattabhi Jois, taught that Yoga teaches mind control. Daily practice helps develop a strong and fit body, but even more important is the mental strength that can be cultivated. His message is simple, as is the message behind this story of Agastya; disregard appearances, don’t feed yourself or others that which is not sown from a place of _____________. When someone, including you, feeds you bullshit, recognize it; become fiery; use your digestive power to swiftly reduce it to its real value, a bit of wind, and be done with it. through the development of inner knowledge your actions will become pure and then your consciousness, your mind will become graceful and benevolent like an offering. And that offering is a source of nourishment When you become renowned for your prodigious digestive powers, you’ll know you’re on the right track.

 

 

Pattabhi Jois in Seattle
It is with the deepest gratitiude that we remember and share Sri K. Pattabhi Jois' visit to Seattle in August of 2002. It was an incredible experience to host the man who has helped us transform our lives, and doubly so as we watched so many of our students practicing with him--many for the first time.

"Samasthiti!" The call resounds in the huge gymnasium as the command reaches 225 pairs of awaiting ears. The buzz of conversation and restless movement ceases and each student immediately stands straight and tall. In that moment, that voice and that single word convey the feeling that something very important is about to take place.

For the next one and a half hours, the only voice heard belongs to Sri K. Pattabhi Jois (Guruji), as he leads this group through the first series of the Ashtanga yoga system. Most of these people already know the sequence. The primary series is indelibly etched in their minds. They could go through it blindfolded. So why practice with Guruji? It's expensive, crowded, and he leads you through something you already know. He gives only the most rudimentary commands. He gives no instructions on how to get into or come out of poses. He gives no instruction on how to work once you are in a pose. He simply counts in Sanskrit to indicate the proper sequence (vinyasa), and in English to mark the duration of each pose.

The reason is this: Guruji imparts an entire approach to life in his teaching. He is not merely counting out numbers in a strange language. As he takes you through the sequence, there is a poignancy, a weight, a feeling that something important is transpiring. Yet he retains his sense of humor. There is a feeling of adventure and fun, along with a sense of the seriousness of the endeavor.

Guruji has been teaching this system for more than sixty-five years. His body, his family , his life, have been molded and shaped by this practice. He has watched thousands and thousands of people unlock the gate into the garden of themselves. He knows the magic, the potency of this practice.

The class is a little slice of heaven. It's a demonstration of his life's work, like watching a master chef creating his favorite dish. So many wonderful ingredients--tempo, rhythm, breath, silence, space, and devotion--combined in the hands of the master with consummate artistry and skill, with care and love, and with one prupose in mind: to set you free!

This is Ashtanga's potency and its success in bringing about change. When you move in a steady manner, your body and mind begin to mimic life's rhythm. Life's march has no beginning or ending. Its flow is constant; there is no respite. Our only hope of finding harmony is to learn to swim even as we are carried along by the current. Ashtanga yoga is swimming lessons for life's changing river. You begin to stroke, kick, and glide with power, with the ability to direct yourself within the continual sweep of life's flux. You find your bearings even as change cascades down upon, around, and within you.

Guruji shows you that the grand procession of life will keep moving along. There's no time to hesitate, to falter, to languish, or to pine away. The energy of the moment is always ready and available to lift you up and carry you along. You must become willing to let go, to merge into its ceaseless, sweeping flow. From a certain point of view, life is indifferent to your moods and whims, and if you resist its course, its flow, you will suffer needlessly. If you find a way to harmonize with life's mysterioius patterns, you will feel alive, thankful, and blessed. There is an element of mystery here, a sort of magic that Guruji has tapped into: the Ashtanga practice provides a key to harmonizing with life's flow.

It is so wondrous that, by moving in slow motion through a set sequence of postures, with breath and body synchronized, you can experience freedom and joy. Granted, you must go through this set of postures with an unflagging regularity, putting forth heart and soul moment by moment, practice by practice. This is really what Guruji is trying to convey when he says "Do the practice and all is coming." This is what he means when he calls out the Sanskrit numbers to mark the vinyasa in the sequence. His voice is saying all of this. The weight behind his words is in his knowledge and certainty that this practice works. No wonder, then that when you practice with him you move effortlessly, you feel carried along. Time slows down, and when you are done you cannot believe that only one and a half hours have passed.

Durga, the warrior goddess, has ten arms, each of which holds its own celestial weapon with which to combat the demons. Likewise, Guruji's voice has an arsenal of celestial weapons that help you to stay present and focused, even as the words encourage you to exert every drop of energy and effort you possess. There is something so indescribable about the sound of his commands. You feel compelled to listen with your entire being. So much is said without words, so much emotion conveyed. It's like a heart-to-heart talk, the inflection and nuance at times playful, flowing, melodic, at times stern, dominant, and insistent. Just as you might be drifting off, you'll hear a bellowing, "One," as if to say, "Not so fast! It's right here you want to be!" In this room, under this ceiling, in this body, under this brain, in this moment. "Samasthiti!"