How do you think yoga can help our world?
Yoga doesn’t help the world. It’s not a magic potion, some sort of sacred ointment made of handstands and weird breathing you apply to life’s problem areas.
All truly aligned, time-tested spiritual practices serve the same purpose – to (eventually) reveal to the seeker what they know, deep down, already exists, but perhaps forgot: that divine center, your “essence nature” – i.e.; that stable, wordless, unfucked-with Godhead, the Self that’s been there since the beginning of the beginning.
When this Self is more fully awakened – be it with the help of meditation, asana, chanting, or myriad other sacred technique – what naturally re-emerges will look very much like… gratitude. Or kindness. Love. Compassion. Generosity. Empathy. Unicorns dancing on the head of Jesus. Pick any one, they’re all the same.
For most sentient beings on Earth, this is the natural expression of your true Self. This is what spontaneously arises when all the other noise and nonsense of the ego have finally calmed down.
So then: Yoga doesn’t help the world. You help the world, by skillfully, avidly expressing your divine Self, every damn day. Yoga is simply the revelatory catalyst.
How do you bring yoga into everyday life?
You don’t. You actually realize that everyday life is yoga. And vice-versa. There is no separation. I mean, obviously.
What happens is: With patience, dedicated practice and way too much Nag Champa, yoga becomes all you are able to breathe anymore, or care to. It swarms your blood, interpenetrates your bones, pivots your attention, redistributes your daily choices. Distinctions become less rigid. Your mind’s desperate need to opine and label, grasp and achieve, lust and fear begins to soften, as you increasingly recognize the divine essence of all things – most notably in yourself.
What happens is: You will walk down the street or stumble through the airport or bang around the grocery store, and you will suddenly pause and look around, blinking hard in the light, momentarily overtaken by a dizzying swarm of awe, intercut with reverence, shot through with this vast and impossible… spaciousness, made of nothing your mind can grasp – much to its whiny chagrin. And then, the fatal turn: those moments begin to expand, deepen, become your “everyday” life. And then you’re done for.
What are some other passions, things, activities, or practices that give your life purpose and benefit your well-being?
Music literature wordplay dance sake sex wine fashion fine aperitifs photography mythology esoterica dendrology large dogs Saiva Tantric technology automatic watches architecture modern design mysticism spirituality sex toys dark chocolate organic meats fine lubricants small European luxury cars modern barware sumptuous travel philosophical conundrums quantum theory deep astrology sacred geometry the smell of time the taste of delight the feel of mystery the fuck of yes designer boots skinny jeans fitted leather artisan bourbon pure consciousness fresh water dark matter a good pen tactile feedback candlelight fireplace meditation deep electronica classic hard rock superlative tattoos deep sweat cool breeze good work effortless magic ecstatic love sublime raunch decent mints occasional naps fine bedsheets good lighting ongoing shimmering humming thrumming sticky palpable divine connection.
Above all, in between and through: My partner Desiree, our baby daughter Selah, our dog Bodhi. Love.
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