Then how do we do Yoga?

Last blog was about who is a yogi? We highlighted the late Mary Dunn whose blog brought tears to our eyes and also her yogic wisdom in facing the final frontier - the annihilation of the physical Self.

But how then do we do Yoga and be a yogi/ yogini

BG Chapter 2 Verse 47

कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन | मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि || 47 ||

karmaṇy-evādhikāras te mā phaleṣhu kadāchana mā karma-phala-hetur bhūr mā te saṅgo ’stvakarmaṇi

You have a right to perform your prescribed duties, but you are not entitled to the fruits of your actions. Never consider yourself to be the cause of the results of your activities, nor be attached to inaction.

The Bagavad Gita is one of the holy scriptures in India. It depicts the conversations between Arjuna, a Pandava prince and his Charioteer, Krishna who offers him sagely advice when he was faced with war with his kins and elders. Arjuna is frozen into inaction. Krishna tells him, you have to fight, because it is your duty (Dharma).

I have found this verse to really help me in daily living, off the mat. I can only do the best I can, but I cannot expect to receive the results. As there are so many other forces at play which influence the results. The mind is very clever at justification - resulting in inaction. Or I beat myself up and get upset when I do not get the result I want despite best efforts.

How then do I maintain that equanimity even in action?

BG Chapter 2 Verse 48

योगस्थ: कुरु कर्माणि सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा धनञ्जय | सिद्ध्यसिद्ध्यो: समो भूत्वा समत्वं योग उच्यते || 48||

yoga-sthaḥ kuru karmāṇi saṅgaṁ tyaktvā dhanañjaya siddhy-asiddhyoḥ samo bhūtvā samatvaṁ yoga uchyate

Be steadfast in the performance of your duty, O Arjun, abandoning attachment to success and failure. Such equanimity is called Yog

Doing what is necessary, but surrending the do-ership and results to God/ Source/ Consciousness. We then accept whatever result of the action as a gift from God.

Samatvam is equanimity of mind and outlook, equipoise. It is being able to keep the mind steady and balanced in all the conditions of life. The person a yogi and the practice Yoga.

The next time we encounter a dilemma, do remember this verse.

It has really helped me in my daily living, in my yoga practice, in my relationships. Still very much work in progress.