Authenticity

This is a topic which I've been reflecting on the past week.

Many times in yoga, what comes to mind is a perfectly calm person who speaks kind words, never gets angry, always smiles, always has the right answer and the perfect reaction to every situation. Religions or spirituality often comes with that perfect Guru and so many a times, the person or proclaimed Guru by the followers or students, fall flat of expectations. We read and hear many yoga stories of fallen gurus and slowly judgement creeps in. But we forget one basic point, everyone is human. Also, sooner or later, this ' perfect veneer' will crack and bring more underlying issues to the surface.

Satya is one of the five yamas, commonly described as virtuous restraint from falsehood and distortion of reality in one's expressions and actions. Honesty to myself. Honesty to the asana pose when we are practicing on the mat. Am I accepting where I am in the body and in the pose, or am i going for the outer form, but distorting perhaps another anatomy part to get into the 'supposed pose'. Am i honest in my daily livings or do i lead a double life (one of virtuosity outwardly and separately inwardly).

Chogym Trungpa is a Buddhist scholar who practices crazy wisdom and died of alcoholism complications. But his teachings were always clear.

Real fearlessness is the product of tenderness. It comes from letting the world tickle your heart, your raw and beautiful heart. You are willing to open up, without resistance or shyness, and face the world. You are willing to share your heart with others.

Anyone on the path, doing the tough “internal work” will tell you that genuine acceptance, and the practice to get you there, will include experiences of genuine fear and discomfort. How can we stay with the discomfort, without wanting to bolt or the monkey mind finding thousands of excuses to get out.

How do we start in 2023 to live an authentic life? Start with something which challenges you most. Or you could start with your own yoga practice on the mat. With honesty, vulnerability, transparency and clarity. With an open, non-judging heart. With the surrender to the Divine.

Namaste