It has been a long time since my last post..

I have had many exciting adventures and major changes in my life.  The largest of which is that I am now a Home “Condo” Owner and am also certified to teach acroyoga  (more on that later).

The many years renting gave me a sense of freedom, but I realized, I love Toronto and I am quite comfortable with the idea of “nesting” here.  Of course I’m always open to change but in the meantime come Fall, I will have my “own” place right in the heart of the city..and I mean heart of the city.  I don’t think I could be more central!

But enough about that.. I’d like to move on to more spiritual matters

In my last yoga class that I taught, I spoke to the fact that yoga is indeed a science and a valid one as far as I am concerned. It is a science that is most concerned with interiors and the exploration of consciousnesss.  We can employ a consistent method…we have the tools (asana, pranayama, meditation), and we have the resulting data which can be cross checked with a group of peers or masters that can support, confirm or reject the observations and conclusions based on duplicating the same experiments using the same tools. 

Is there not hundreds if not thousands of years of cross cultural data to support?  Yoga, Buddhism, Christianity, Kaballah.. etc..  they all speak to actual practices (ever hear about sitting in a cave or in the desert for 40 days in contemplation which reveal certain common experiences and insights. 

As luck would have it.. did I ever pick the right time to raise this issue.  I had a Yoga Teacher in Training observing my class and it turns out she is a scientist.  She approached me after class and was very enthusiastic about this notion as it seems she has experienced some sort of conflict (whether internal/external or both i’m not sure) about being drawn to this practice and perhaps its “mystical” and esoteric aspects. 

We then wound up speaking a little bit around the fact that some of the interior experiences can have an external correlation that can also be objectively observed i.e. changes in brain states, different areas of the brain being stimulated during the course of various states of absorbtion/consciousness/meditation etc..

It’s nice to know that I can be of service by offering some questions or examples for people to ponder

Seriously.. there are alot of intelligent people out there that think this yoga/meditation stuff is just a subjective personal rollercoaster ride..maybe they are right…but then can’t the same be said of mathematics? 

As I believe Ken Wilber has said..

“Nobody has ever seen the square root of negative one”.

Yet, mathematicians will agree on an answer no?

Man, I love this stuff!

So during the course of my recent readings i’ve come across some interesting quotes that I’d like to share …

“There is no one who even for a trice fails to experience the SELF. In deep sleep you exist; awake you remain. The same SELF is in both states. The difference is only in the awareness and the non-awareness of the world. The world rises with the mind and sets with the mind.  That which rises and sets is NOT the SELF.

The individual is miserable because he confounds the mind and the body with the SELF.  It is the nature of the mind to wander.  But you are not the mind.  The mind springs up and sinks down.  It is impermanent, transitory, whereas YOu are eternal.  There is nothing but the SELF.  TO abide as the SELF is the thing.  Never mind the  mind. If the mind’s source is sought, the mind will vanish leaving the SELF unaffected.”

~ Ramana Maharshi

 
“When one is no longer concerned with the Where, the When , the Why and What-for of things, but only and alone with the What, and lets go even of all abstract thoughts about them, intelletual concepts and consciousness, but instead of all that, gives over the whole force of one’s spirit to the act of preceiving, becomes absorbed in it and lets every bit of one’s consciousness be filled in the quite contemplation of the natural object immediately present - be it a landscapte, a tree, a rock, a building, or anything else at all; actually and fully losing oneself in the object: forgetting one’s individuality, one’s will , and remaining there only as a pure subject, a clear mirror to the object-so that it is as though the object alone were there, without anyone regarding it, and to such a degree that one migh no longer distinguish the beholder from the act of beholding, the two have become one… ”

“The person absorbed in this mode of seeing is no longer an individual-the individual has lost himself in the perception-but is a pure, will-less, painless, timeless, Subject of Apprehension.”

~ philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer

Doesn’t that sound exactly like a definition of samadhi or for the more contemporary, Tolle’s “NOW” or “Presence”?? 
Since i’m on the topic of interesting things i’ve come across that i’d like to share..

As a child in the 80s, I loved Depeche Mode and so I picked up the latest album out of curiousity.  I was VERY pleasantly suprised as they maintained the sound that I am accustomed to but with lyrics that reflect a personal growth and spiritual depth that I can really relate to.  Sweet! 

Hope to have more time to blog again soon!

Sri K Pattabhi Jois, a student of Sri T. Krishnamacharya, left this world recently but not before leaving an incredible abundance of love, wisdom, compassion, strength, not to mention gifted teachers of the Ashtanga Vinyasa method behind for all of us. 

The practice of Ashtanga Vinyasa is a system of yoga that I am very drawn to and it is the method that really spawned my deep love of yoga and asana in particluar.

I offer Guruji (as he was known) much metta and gratitude!

While I never had the  pleasure of practicing directly under his guidance, I have however had the priviledge to have been taught by some of his senior students and his teachings shine through them.

For his biography please see..

http://www.kpjayi.org/biography.html

On a personal note, I am convinced that there is a direct link with lineages and the idea of transmission is so readily evident.  When practicing a certain method for long periods of time, using the same meditation, mantra or chant or asana etc.. we can’t help but connect with all those that practice likewise.  THat includes all those that came and all those that are yet to come. 

On the day of Guruji’s passing, I awoke early with an incredible urge to practice the ashtanga primary series at home..this is not something I would particularly do, as in the scenario where I wake up early,  I would typically sit in meditation. 

During the course of my practice I felt particularly strong, focused and present (and I didn’t skip the poses that I particularly don’t like :)…there is no doubt in my mind that something was radiating through the Kosmos conncecting so many ashtangis and yogis alike.. and this something was Pattabhi Jois’ love

I offer you my metta Guruji..thank you for your gifts!

Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga Mantram

OM
vande gurunam caranaravinde
sandarsita svatmasukhava bodhe
nishreyase jangalikayamane
samsara halahala mohasantyai

abahu purusakaram
sankhacakrasi dharinam
sahasra sirasam svetam
pranamami patanjalim
OM
I bow to the two lotus feet of the Gurus
which awaken insight into the happiness of pure Being,
which are the refuge, the jungle physicians,
which eliminate the delusion caused by the poisonous herb of Samara (conditioned existence)

I prostrate before the sage Patanjali
who has thousands of radiant, white heads (as the divine serpent, Ananta)
and who has, as far as his arms, assumed the form of a man
holding a conch shell (divine sound), a wheel (discus of light or infinite time) and a sword (discrimination)
OM

~ translation Micheal Stone

Unmoving the one is faster than the mind.
The angels do not reach it, as it is always beyond them.
Standing still it passes beyond those who run.
In it the Mother establishes the waters.
It moves, and it does not move.
It is far, and it is near.
It is within all this, and it is also outside all this.

Whoever sees all beings in the soul
and the soul in all beings
does not shrink away from this.
In whom all beings have become one with the knowing soul
what delusion or sorrow is there for the one who sees unity?
It has filled all.

~Excerpt from the ISHA UPANISHAD - English version by Sanderson Beck

By the way, for those that have been coming to my various yoga classes or have been meaning to attend some classes, I’ve been asked to take on a few extra classes for the next while to cover some holidays etc.. that should be a lot of fun!

Sebastian’s teaching schedule at the yoga sanctuary college…

Saturday May 16 – ROCKET VINYASA CLASS – 11:45-1:15 – Advanced

Saturdays May 16, May 23, June 13 – Ashtanga level I/II – 5:00-6:30

Sunday August 9 – Partner Acroyoga Workshop  - preregistration required

These are beautiful lyrics that can twist and bend the mind in every direction possible.

I can’t remember which Upanishad this came from, perhaps the Katha Upanishad? but I was drawn to two lines and allowed them to float around in my mind space (I may have paraphrased a bit)

Brahman exhales the sacred breath
Who is it that inhales?

Let that percolate…

This reminds me of the koans so often found in zen such as:

“What is your Original face, the one you had before your parents were born?”

As I allowed these words to absorb into my consciousness, I found myself continuing with the lines in my own way…

When Brahman exhales the sacred breath
The self inhales
And the SELF exhales

I then asked myself, what on earth did I mean by that??

So.. I figured I’d try to write it down.

BRAHMAN exhaling is Sunyata, God, Pure Consciousness or my favourite way to name the Unnamable….“Infinite Potentiality”

The breath being Prana, Chi, or life..the energetic complement to Consciousness (my current view is that consciousness is NOT energy but they are two sides of one coin).
The breath is the creative physical expression of Potentiality.

The self inhaling is the first grasp at the breath, at EXPERIENCE , a sense of interiority regardless as to how subtle it may be.  This inhale is the initial experience of BEING which eventually leads to the notion of Duality and the progressive development of the “I” as ego or as self apart from other selves i.e. Dukkha

During this one cycle of breath or life, the idea and feeling of something greater begins to shine through.  This feeling is coloured by the lens of perception, culture and psychophysical elements. With gentle cultivation this feeling starts to get stronger and it can lead to a dropping of the small “self” and it’s identifications with glimpses of an Authentic SELF.  A SELF which transcends the small perspectives of an individual ego.

Perhaps that is the moment of the shift from the self to the SELF?.  That tiny instant between the inhale leading to the exhale. It is here that the Authentic Self starts to replace the egoic self in the form of selfless acts of wisdom and compassion in the world….the EXHALE

The SELF and this EXHALE while retaining a very subtle form of  identity shines with life and love for all to see… the unique jewel that reflects all the other jewels in Indra’s net.

The end of this exhale then brings us back to where we never started..

Brahman exhales the sacred breath
Who is it that inhales?

Nirvana is Samasara is Nirvana.

AUM
Shanti
Shanti
Shantihi

Its been a busy few months and i think it the I’ve finally come back to a place where I am starting to feel grounded again.

Let the rambling begin…

I was burning the candle at both ends for a little too long, but I feel excited by what the future might now hold. I have some great ideas and opportunities that I hope to capitalize on and I’m setting the intention to take care of myself a little more.

I had a booth at the yoga show selling my yoga and meditation supplies and it went really well again this year. My meditation cushions were going like hotcakes! I had wonderful compliments on the quality of the products all weekend long and I hope that some of the new contacts made manifest soon.

Although it was a lot of hard work, i had great help and i loved the opportunity to reconnect with some of the yoga and meditation community that I haven’t seen in a while!

Aside from that, in order to commit to more ME time I have signed up for two meditation retreats coming up in the next month and i’ve recently started to find more time to spend on the cushion. I’ve forgotten how much of a difference regular sitting makes as you roll through the average day!

My latest inspiration was a Buddhist Saying that I came across a little while ago.. it is so simple, yet profound and as such I would like to share it…

Act as if the future of the Universe depends on what you do;
While laughing at yourself for thinking your actions make a difference.

~Buddhist Advice~

Love it!

On a yoga note.. Kaelyn and I have had so much fun with our partner workshops that we’ve lined up some new sessions at some great studios across the city… We even have a mother’s day workshop ready to go!!

8 LIMBS, 2 HEARTS Partner Flow Workshop ¦

Jivamukti Yoga Toronto

Date ¦ Sunday April 26th 2009 ¦ 3.00pm - 5.00pm

Bring a spouse, partner or friend as well as a sense of playfulness and come experience a partner vinyasa flow yoga workshop with Sebastian and Kaelyn.

Working with a partner can bring a whole new depth and awareness to your practice. Serving as a mirror, your partner will help you with alignment, balance and concentration while both of you deepen your connection through trust and plenty of laughter.

This workshop is a flow based practice which includes: a brief discussion on partner yoga, various postures from the Primary Series, an introduction to basic assists and concludes with a lengthy relaxation.

Some experience with Jivamukti and/or Ashtanga yoga is recommended while a sense of adventure and humour is a requirement!

www.8limbs2heartsyoga.com

$50 for two participants

8 LIMBS, 2 HEARTS Partner & Mothers Day Course ¦

Fireflow Yoga

Date ¦ Saturday May 9th 2009 ¦ 2.00pm - 4.00pm

Bring your mom, partner, or friend as well as a sense of playfulness and come experience a partner yoga workshop with Sebastian and Kaelyn.

Working with a partner can bring a whole new depth and awareness to your practice. Serving as a mirror, your partner will help you with alignment, balance and concentration while both of you deepen your connection through trust and plenty of laughter.

This workshop will include meditation, seated postures, basic standing postures and conclude with some gentle restorative postures and a lengthy relaxation.

What a great way to spend time connecting with that special someone in your life!

www.8limbs2heartsyoga.com

$40 for two particpants