On The Mat, Off the Mat

I've recently lost my beloved pet to old age and illness after 6 long months. While I sit with the pain of the loss of the physical manifestation, taking my time to grief for this loyal dog who has been with my 13.5 years, i also reflect upon the yoga/spiritual practice. It is difficult to articulate but i will try and also for the audience to read between the lines.

How can we be consistent in thought/ word/ deed. Universe has allowed the natural dying process (regardless of the hardship) so that there is a consistency in the real life practice where my work involves palliative care and dying with dignity for older very frail adults; and the spiritual practice of Ahimsa, the first yama in the eightfold path in Raja yoga.

Pain and suffering comes in all forms through life. Most of us prefer to avoid pain (extremely normal). Running away from pain, stopping the activity due to pain, putting down the dog or choosing euthanasia/ assisted suicide is some people's way of dealing with our pain. To recognize and experience what a gift pain and suffering is/ can be.

To just be a passive observer when pain and suffering arises; understanding and having that full sensation and yet, knowing it's transitory nature and really coming to understand the nature of the Heart (as in previous blog post). To see Form and formless and truly try to understand it, instead of a crutch to 'make oneself feel better.' To see a dog's clinging to life cos it is so happy, loved, looked after and fulfilled - how Happiness can also be attachment and suffering .

The asana practice we do is about how we stay with what is, the pain and not run away. To stay in the pose where there are physical limitations, when the muscles are tight, when we do not have the strength to hold after 2 minutes.... Just being a witness. The observer observing the observed. The experiencer experiences the experience. And how this can then extend to life when we harness each encounter and experience to practice the teachings.

Understanding pain/ suffering as thoughts which are transitory and thus not concrete. Empty of self. The spiritual practice is to enrich our understanding and aid us in our explorations. As Thich Nhat Hanh says in The Heart of Understanding " In The Heart of Prajnaparamita, "Form is emptiness, emptiness is form; Form does not differ from emptiness, emptiness does not differ from form. The same is true with feelings, perceptions, mental formations, and consciousness.

Alleviating pain/suffering. Alleviating pain/ suffering comes from understanding. Understanding what? Understanding the inter-being of things and phenomenon. To be empty is to be empty of what? To be empty of a separate self. Everything co-exists, to inter-be with each other. The notions of existence and non existence are just created by our minds. We cannot conceive the birth of anything. There is only continuation. A cloud was the river and becomes the water and air. Nothing is created. Nothing is destroyed.

The wave in the ocean has a beginning and an end, a birth and a death. But the wave is empty. The wave is full of water, but it is empty of a separate self. It is a form that exists due to wind and water. We are neither defiled nor immaculate, neither increasing nor decreasing.

Gate Gate Paragate Parasamgate Bodhi Svaha!

Living the practice of a yogi. Loving the practice. Staying with what is.

May you live the practice and experience 🦋