Saturday, December 26, 2009

true identification - to the seer

2.24
Merry Christmas, this year the song with the words “and man can live forever more because of Christmas day” means, to me, that baby-jesus is a spiritual awakening and Christmas is when I celebrate spiritual awakening and living forever :-) Sutra 2.24: “Lack of spiritual understanding (avidya) is the cause of the false identification of the seer with the seen.” (Iyengar translation)
Or for the non-believer “misapprehension” is the cause of false identification. So when I do the asana, am I the one doing the asana ;-) or am I the one observing the asana unfold itself through this human body? This is also my new years celebration asana, I’m attracted to explore the relation between the seer, purusa and the nature, prakriti. Purusa and prakriti are intended for Self-realization (the big self... ) and when I do my evening review and self-examination I think this relationship can become clear to me. What is me, what is the false identification and what is the nature/ever-changing ending other.
Coming Saturday I'm not internet-connected, so I don't know when I'll be back.
Happy playing new year - every now is sacred
Love
Jenni

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Perspective

2.23
So this is this years Christmas sutra :-) “All that is perceived, whatever it is and whatever its effect on a particular individual, has but one ultimate purpose. That is to clarify the distinction between the external that is seen and the internal that sees.” (Desikachar translation)
This reminds me of people that tell me to “try to se things from Gods perspective” or more humbly “another perspective”. Maybe because I relate the external to something whole or all inclusive. Even if it’s just a part of the whole, still something that puts me in perspective, of not being the only existence. So the sutra brings me Perspective, in relating to something external, but also by accentuating that perception always happens from a position, in a specific perspective.
When I read Iyengar and Bouanchauds translations, I understand that to perceive is to conjunct or to unify. This is my experience. When I perceive something external, I experience unification where I become a part of something. The weird thing is that I don’t feel like this unification makes me whole, like I was incomplete before (you know the songs “you complete me” or “you are the missing part of me”). On the contrary, in this unification I get to be “part of” and experience integrity and freedom in togetherness.
Not the easiest thing to write about, but considering my starting point for this post “Unified with you I can be separate as part of” I think I gave it a good shot.
Namasté
God Jul
Jenni Saunte

Friday, December 11, 2009

the most authentic way to be

2.22
“The existence of all objects of perception and their appearance is independent of the needs of the perceiver. They exist without individual reference, to cater to the different needs of different individuals” (Desikachar translation)
At first glance this just seems … well like “ok”. But the picture of a big table of food comes to me, and when I’m starving and hungry this table probably would have my full attention and seem wonderful and dream come true, when I’ve eaten I probably start pay attention to other objects, and be neutral to the table, and if I just been in a very poor country and came to an overload of food I might be repulsed by the table. But no matter what -the table with food just stands there, not good or bad or anything by it self. Maybe it’s like this with all situations, they just happen and are to be perceived and that is it.
My family situation is changing a lot in these days, maybe it’s not good or bad – it just is. Maybe the change cater something else, I cannot see what it is? Independent is an important word for me in this sutra, Iyengar uses emancipated, I’m grateful for both as reminders to me.
I also love Desikachar for spelling out that needs are ever changing and very individual and cannot be compared. I get that. My focus for classes, is to pay attention what the most authentic way to be in yoga to day – in the here and now :-)
Love Jenni

Friday, December 04, 2009

the flue is supposed to be percieived...

2.21
“All that can be perceived has but one purpose – to be perceived.” (Desikachar translation)
Love this!!! Couldn’t be clearer and more exact. So relating to this, I’ve got the swine-flue and it’s here to be perceived, and I perceive it more than I like :-) But this sutra sets me free; I don’t have to like it, that’s not what it’s about. The sutra offers me a position of complete neutrality.
Iyengar confirms my instant feeling of freedom, by using words like “free”, “emancipation”. And life shows me the places where I can get more free in these days, offers me even more space and breath to expand, even though I tend to be worried about the change, instead of enjoying the new freedom. Let’s just go for it and see what happens – and so what if I’m sick, it’s just raining anyway :-) To be honest I’m bored by being inside for several days, and my fever has went down, so I do the “tiger in cage” walk, but if I try to do something more demanding than that, I get all exhausted – I amuse myself. Amusing head, I’m actually really good (entertaining) company :-)
Love Jenni