the yoga sutras of travel: part 17

vitarka vicaaranadaasmitaanugamaat samprajnaatah

vitarka= reasoning
vichara= reflecting
anandan= bliss, REJOICING
asmita= pure ego
anugamat= ACCOMPANIED by the forms of
samprajnatah= distinguished

samparajanata samadhi (distinguished contemplation) is accompanied by reasoning, reflecting, bliss and CONTEMPLATION on pure self. 

I am feeling challenged by the lack of access to the internet where I am staying. One one hand, there is definitely a sense of pure surrender to not being able to check in whenever I choose. I would go so far as to say there are moments that I can allow the spaciousness created by the absence of media to be a delightful experience. On the other hand I am observing the nervous tension building when I remember that much of the work that still needs to be completed relies on a connection to the cyber world. I have not found enlightenment yet and I am allowing these moments to reflect back to me my true nature. If you haven't really met me yet... Hello, my name is Chris Loebsack and I am a work-aholic! 

I originally scheduled the beginning of this trip to be one week of work coupled with two weeks of a holiday. I managed to turn it into months of preparation, days of demos and promotions and three different weeks of teaching with mostly travel and more prep in between. I am learning a huge lesson in creating more space around everything I do and this little internet dilemma is only one of my teachers.

It is perfectly fitting right now that I am co-facilitating a Lunar (therapeutics) immersion in Sydney and the House of Yoga with Jules, Julia and Stefanie. I am surrounded by some of the most powerful teachers of softness , gratitude, and grace. Sometimes the world hands you exactly what you need when you are really ready to listen to it. 

Yesterday I was able to attend an AcroYoga class taught by Bruce and Pascal. It was a treat to arrive and spend the day with the girls, take a swim, and get to be a student in class. The more time I spend with different teachers, the more inspired I get. I have a few new ideas to share when I get home. 

Today was day one of the immersion. Julia and I have still not seen a Kangaroo. We are on a mission to find one before we leave. We huddled up for a team chat and during the course of the planning we settled on the ideas of expansion and contraction. Mandala, a sacred form of art, has become our muse.  

The Sutra today really looks at the stages of real meditation. We first need the concrete object and gross form to wrap our understanding around. Then we can begin to entertain the abstract ideas until our minds are ready to sit with joy. In the final stages we don't need anything to and we can rest in a state of pure awareness. 

I notice how closely these phases of coincide with the way we layer the therapeutics. 
We begin with simple and concrete physical practices; learning body mechanics; how to pour body weight; and use of leverage. As the days progress we move towards subtle practices of feeling, listening and observation. Each moment that unravels we work to tap into the heart space to cultivate more joy, compassion and love. We reach the ultimate experience when we can really just be present with one another and listen to music between the souls of partnership. It is our physical representation of our meditation principles.

The local café only gives you an hour of internet each time you come in. I used mine up before I finished this post so I will be back in the morning for coffee and get this up online along with a few pics. For now the signs of no web, low battery and the look of rain clouds from this little table outside, are telling me very clearly that it is time to go and find space elsewhere. I am looking forward to the next few moments, as it will be the first time I have been fully by myself in months.