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Beloved Yoga
Let's talk about love...
Bhakti yoga or the path of devotion is the 'juicy' path, it is the simple path, the path of relentless love.
There is an ancient metaphor that describes the difference between Jnana Yoga (the path of knowledge) and Bhakti Yoga. The Jnani is like the baby monkey that holds on to the Mother with all its might. As the Mother jumps from branch to branch and from tree to tree the little monkey has to be vigilant and holds on tight. The Bhakti on the other hand is like the kitten who simply sits and cries until its Mother comes and picks it up by the scruff of the neck and carries it where it needs to go.
Love and Gratitude are the wings of the Bhakti or the Beloved Yogi. The path of love may be simple but it is not easy. The mind is tricky and constantly leads us away from the heart. In the practice of asanas I always encourage students to begin to thin out the thinking mind in favor of the feeling mind (or heart). Any asana can become a puja (moving prayer) or a worship of your Beloved. Bring passion to your yoga in the form of devotion and you will experience the ecstasy of the mystics.
Who is your Beloved? To whom do you feel grateful when you look into the eyes of a newborn child? Perhaps your Beloved is the Mother Earth, engage with her on your yoga mat, worship her with your body. Be in love with the breath. We need to feel safe in order to truly express love on our yoga mat. Take a moment at the beginning of your next class to establish a protection so that you can be vulnerable and passionate in your practice.
It took me a long time to come back to my Christian roots after discovering Eastern mysticism. I loved the practices of meditation, contemplation and yoga but one day I went into a church and a deep love of Christ was restored. I had turned away from my Catholic faith for many reasons but nothing evokes the love that Christ does for me. I have since begun to align my morning practice of the Sun Salutation with the Lord's Prayer. I can't tell you the subtle and profound healing that occurred for me when I brought my Catholic heritage together with my passion for yoga. Christ was a Master of love as have been many other great mystics. Whether you have a form for your Beloved or if your Beloved is formless bring your Beloved to your yoga class.
I have always appreciated the fact that Beloved could be broken down to BE LOVED. Perhaps that is the most basic practice of the Bhakti yogi, BE LOVED. I have the Grace to live with my Master teacher or Guru, Ma Jaya and when the busy-ness of the world starts getting to me I have my secret Bhakti Yoga mantra...."My MA Loves Me". I guess it is not a secret anymore.
I would love to hear how other people integrate or experience devotion with their yoga practice.
Love and Victory,
Jayanta
Bhakti yoga or the path of devotion is the 'juicy' path, it is the simple path, the path of relentless love.
There is an ancient metaphor that describes the difference between Jnana Yoga (the path of knowledge) and Bhakti Yoga. The Jnani is like the baby monkey that holds on to the Mother with all its might. As the Mother jumps from branch to branch and from tree to tree the little monkey has to be vigilant and holds on tight. The Bhakti on the other hand is like the kitten who simply sits and cries until its Mother comes and picks it up by the scruff of the neck and carries it where it needs to go.
Love and Gratitude are the wings of the Bhakti or the Beloved Yogi. The path of love may be simple but it is not easy. The mind is tricky and constantly leads us away from the heart. In the practice of asanas I always encourage students to begin to thin out the thinking mind in favor of the feeling mind (or heart). Any asana can become a puja (moving prayer) or a worship of your Beloved. Bring passion to your yoga in the form of devotion and you will experience the ecstasy of the mystics.
Who is your Beloved? To whom do you feel grateful when you look into the eyes of a newborn child? Perhaps your Beloved is the Mother Earth, engage with her on your yoga mat, worship her with your body. Be in love with the breath. We need to feel safe in order to truly express love on our yoga mat. Take a moment at the beginning of your next class to establish a protection so that you can be vulnerable and passionate in your practice.
It took me a long time to come back to my Christian roots after discovering Eastern mysticism. I loved the practices of meditation, contemplation and yoga but one day I went into a church and a deep love of Christ was restored. I had turned away from my Catholic faith for many reasons but nothing evokes the love that Christ does for me. I have since begun to align my morning practice of the Sun Salutation with the Lord's Prayer. I can't tell you the subtle and profound healing that occurred for me when I brought my Catholic heritage together with my passion for yoga. Christ was a Master of love as have been many other great mystics. Whether you have a form for your Beloved or if your Beloved is formless bring your Beloved to your yoga class.
I have always appreciated the fact that Beloved could be broken down to BE LOVED. Perhaps that is the most basic practice of the Bhakti yogi, BE LOVED. I have the Grace to live with my Master teacher or Guru, Ma Jaya and when the busy-ness of the world starts getting to me I have my secret Bhakti Yoga mantra...."My MA Loves Me". I guess it is not a secret anymore.
I would love to hear how other people integrate or experience devotion with their yoga practice.
Love and Victory,
Jayanta
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