The texts say that yoga is skill in action. To me, this means learning how to most efficaciously engage in life as it comes, practicing and developing the technique to meet our challenges such that we can transform them into art. I was led, by the new of Prince’s death to watch some videos of his performances.
Prince’s performance at the 2007 Superbowl (which, I of course, did not see when it was first aired) I think is an exemplary demonstration “skill in action.” From my only know him through video and sound recording and some news articles over the years, think he lived what a yogi would call his dharma, he practiced steadily, and he transformed his experience of both adversity and joy in equal measure into his art. It is receiving a teaching to be able to witness such an artist.
In the washrrom at William Penn House. Come join us for class on Tuesday nights. For me, the practice and study of yoga informs this question.
Peace and light, E — Posted with WordPress for BlackBerry.
I was at a business meeting yesterday that started with people introducing themselves around the table. The participants were all either members or staff of a prominent lobbying group or government officials. One of the men said that he was now a consultant. “I used to be general counsel of [lobbying group], and now that I am consulting,” he said, “I have my life back.” The introductions continued around the table. The new general counsel, when he introduced himself, claimed, “it’s my life he has taken to get his back.”
I found this all interesting in light of my blog yesterday. These men are very successful. They both are married with families. They seem to be pleasant and smart. Their definition of “not having a life” was not having failed to be fully engaged in doing what society expects them to do — they have clearly done very well indeed — but not having time to play golf or hang out in addition to being “successful.”
Is the difference between being male and female? Or were the two different contexts of the same social, linguistic tic just exemplifying a the view point of a superabundant and privileged class that we are not living fully unless we do and have everything the collective society admires and we simultaneously feel like we have lots of leisure time to enjoy as we see fit? It’s a hopelessly unrealistic standard.
Every moment we breathe and our heart beats, we are living. One of the keys to tantric yoga is to come to a place where we are living fully and abundantly whatever we are doing, whether it is working or playing, being challenged or relaxing. When we can do that, we realize we “have a life” and one worth living, no matter where we are in our journey.
