THE YOGA SUTRAS OF TRAVEL: PART 15

DRSTANUSRAVIKA VISAYA VITRSNASYA VASIKARA SAMJNA VAIRAGYAM

DRISHTA= SEEN

ANUSRAVIKA= HEARD

VISAYA= OBJECT

VITRSNASYA= OF HIM WHO IS FREE FROM CRAVING

VASIKARA= MASTERY

SAMJNA= CONSCIOUSNESS

VAIRAGYAM= NON-ATTACHMENT

THE CONSCIOUSNESS OF SELF-MASTERY IN ONE WHO IS FREE FROM CRAVING FOR OBJECTS SEEN OR HEARD IS ABOUT NON-ATTACHMENT.

Non-attachment is often misunderstood. It is not indifference. In more literal translations the term Vairagya (non-attachment) means without color. Our human nature is to desire and be distracted so practice will not stop desire but allow us to not be continually swayed but every want and temptation. By keeping an attitude of non-attachment and releasing the immediacy of the urges that bind us we can have more calm in the mind and contentment in our current state.

We have reached days three and four of the Nelson Elemental AcroYoga Immersion. Non-attachment becomes a harder idea to bring to your participation. The physical moves increase in difficulty. The types of sequences get longer and link more complex moves together. Your body begins to feel the effects of training six hours a day. You don’t want to miss learning the next move, but often the brain and body might not be fully communicating with one another to the degree that you as the observer would like them to achieve these results for you. The desire climbs for the next trick and you find yourself stumbling through move by move, grateful the spotter pulled you through, when you realize you are upside down and have no idea how you actually moved to get into that position.

It is interesting to have participated in that very type of conversation with myself (many times over) and to witness it now in various students. Some students are so relaxed and shrug everything off, knowing they have done their best and all will come with time and practice. Other students get it intellectually but struggle with the fact that they aren’t THERE yet and you can feel their mind racing with anxious anticipation about when and how they are going to get the move. I smile as I see myself reflected in all of them.

I always give my best to my physical practice. I the works do not shift as easily as my attitude towards them. I feel at ease when I have given my best and remain a bit dispassionate about the results of my labor. I fall into grumbles and frustrations when I allow myself to get caught up in the pure desire of the next movement. I don’t “get” the move any faster by getting frustrated or any slower by releasing the intensity of my wanting what I have seen. I know this wholeheartedly. I am getting better at it, but I still have some solid lines to my desires that will not be so easily removed. I am inspired to be more aware of my mental gymnastics as I watch the reactions of other students mirror my own nature.

The babies have continued to be an enjoyable addition to the mix. They love to fly and today Peko the most amazing recipient of the Prone Thai Massage Sequence. It was touching to see mama Yola tenderly pressing her fingers on his little feet and seeing his smile get bigger as she gave small circular rubs to his back. Manu stood in a full balance in my hand today. He didn’t stay long before he decided it was more interesting to sit on me and try to eat my fingers. 

Tomorrow is the last full day in Nelson. Tonight, sleep, lots of sleep is in order!