"I can't do that!"

Oh man I'm going to ruffle some feathers here - but I"m writing this as much for me as anyone else so here goes...

Nothing drives me more crazy than when I hear someone (usually a perfectly health person say) - "I can't do that."

Ok - I know you can't. It's hard right? I got it.

But the "I can't" statement is a door slammer. It shuts out any possibility that you may be able to do the pose either in the immediate or near future.

Looking further at this mindset you see what is really true. What's true is the "I can't" statement is the ego's smokescreen. Because truly the problem isn't that the body "can't" do the pose. The poses are MADE for the body. The body LOVES the poses.

The problem is always the mind - and the mind lies to us. The truth is either one (or all) of the following....

"I can't do" the pose because...

...I'm undisciplined
...I dont' practice
...I'm lazy
...I'm scared it will hurt
...I don't want to work that hard
...I don't like looking silly trying
...I just don't want to do it.

At least these have all been (and continue to be) true for me to varing degrees.

It's always the mind that keeps us from practicing the pose. The mind stops, stalls, resists, argues, complains, whines and basically keeps us stuck. Furthermore, the mind talks us into believing the crap that it tells us...that my body can't do that. Bully-pucky!

That's why the classic Yoga Sutra (1:2) is - "Yogah chitta vttri nirodah"
Yoga is the process of extinguishing the "chatter" of the mind - the vttri's - literally the "twirlings" of the mind.

Next time you practice - when you hear your self about to say "I can't" - stop it! Don't listen - just breath and feel - let the mind observe but NEVER lead the practice. The practice should always be led by the Guru within. The inner-being - the Atman - who resides in your heart.

Namaste.

Yoga and Vacations. It's not about the pose.

The body is merely a vehicle. Yoga is not about making a "beautiful body" for yourself (although it does do just that quite nicely!)

So, if it's not about the pose - then what is "IT" about?

Here's an analogy to help answer the question - It's the same as a "vacation."

The vacation isn't about what car you drove to get there -or - what airplane you flew. The vacation is about something else besides the vehicle that brought you to your destination.

In fact, it's not even about the destination. Because every vacation is different. Some are in the tropics, some are in the mountains, etc.

So - if Yoga is NOT about the pose -and it's not about where the pose TAKES you- then what is IT about?

It's about the EXPERIENCE - your experience - Period!

It's about your experience of getting into the car (pose). It's about your experience of traveling to your destination (your inner-Self) - AND - it's about your experience once you're there.

This is what it's about - the experience of living - of going deeply into that experience, and returning to share it with others who desire a similar experience - a similary journey.

Need a vacation? Go practice yoga - and experience the joy of living fully now.

The Ultimate Freedom -

The Sanskrit word for ultimate freedom is "Kaivalya."

According to the Yoga Sutras of Panajali, true and complete freedom is experienced when a person is no longer imprisoned by the five afflictions (klesas) common to all of humanity. These afflictions are: ignorance, ego, desire, aversion and fear of death.

The Sutras of Patanjali also lays out a crystal clear path towards achieving this ultimate freedom.

Verse 1:12 reads: "Abhayasa Vairagyabhyam Tanniroddah"

This roughly translates as "...constant and dedicated practice, extinguishes the obstacles to freedom."

Constant and dedicated practice? Constant and dedicated practice of what?!?

So here's the rub - we have to constantly practice these five things:

Recognizing that we are ignorant - that we don't know. This keeps us humble and inquiring.

Surrendering our ego. This keeps us right-sized.

Letting go of our insatiable desire. This give us serenity and peace of mind.

Experiencing the uncomfortable and painful. This gives us stregnth and endurance as we courageously face the distasteful and unpleasant situations and events in our world.

Accepting death as our inevitable and ever-approaching birthright. This gives us clarity in the moment as our end may come at any time.

Ultimate freedom means that nothing has power over me - nothing has control or "hold" of me. I am thus totally free to express my deepest creative self. I am not moved by fear, worry or doubt, anger, lust, pride, greed, etc.

Through constant practice ultimate freedom can be achieved - yet we must practice.

Om shanti shanti peace

Hold the pose - longer - longer

Why do we hold the pose in our asana practice? Because it takes time to get still and go within. The yoga sutras say "Sthira Sukham Asananam" - Sthira means firm, unmoving, immobile. Sukham means happiness, joy, delight.

Thus, it is by holding the pose - being still in the asana that we can find the inner joy and happiness that exists. That is the only place it exists. Wait for it. Hold the pose a little longer. Move through the aches and pains and itches and twitches that have us come out of the pose a moment too soon - the moment before the miracle happens.

Hold the pose.

Namaskar - Jim

1 billion breaths

How many breaths will we take in our lives?  No one knows.  How may breaths do we take in a day?  We can probably make that calculation.  How many breaths in a minute?  Let's count:

I just counted off 10 breaths in one minute.

10 x 60 = 600 breaths per hour

600 x 24 = 14,400 breaths in a day

Let's go a little further and assume I breathe faster when I'm excited, etc.  

A good estimate is 25,000 breaths a day.

Thus, 

25,000 x 365 = 9, 125,000 million breaths per year!

I would have to live to 109 years of age to pump out those billion breaths. 

I'm still counting. 

BTW - A billion pennies (to put a billion in perspective) is $10 million dollars.   See the picture to get an idea of what a billion pennies looks like.

Namaste - 

Adrift on a Sea of Love

Cacau Peres working with love.

about an hour ago · Comment · Like

 Jim Coughlin at 9:14am April 30

powerful force - handle with care

Cacau Peres at 9:46am April 30

It is the most powerful force ever, isn't it?And why do so many people keep it away from them? I don't get it...

 Jim Coughlin at 9:50am April 30

it scares them - because it requires complete and utter surrender. And to let go completely is a fearful proposition to those who cling to the belief that they are in charge of their lives. We are all adrift.

Cacau Peres at 9:57am April 30

Very nice explanation!!!! Liked it!!!!

 Jim Coughlin at 9:58am April 30

Beautiful image isn't it? Adrift on a sea of love?

Cacau Peres at 10:04am April 30

just perfect!

 Jim Coughlin at 10:09am April 30

Om mani padme hum

It's not about what I want - EVER!

This post may rub some people the wrong way.  My intent is not to offend - but rather to tell it like I see it. 

I have a problem with "systems" that profess to help you "GET WHAT YOU WANT."  It really doesn't matter the brand of system - Tony Robbins, The Secret, The Laws of Attraction, Norman Vincent Peale, the Power of Positive Thinking.  All these systems (in my opinion) are flawed.  

The reason I believe these "Control your mind/power/intention to get what you want" programs are flawed is because the basic premise - that if you get what you want you will be happy - is erroneous.   It's a lie!

Being "happy, joyous and free" has very little to do with what I want.  All my problems - all of them - are a result of things I 've wanted.  All of them!  

It is my experience that getting what I want is the cause of my pain and suffering.   Getting what I want never creates happiness - only temporary pleasure.  Happiness is not about getting what I want.  

The reason "Getting what I want" causes pain and suffering is because there can never be enough "stuff" - enough money, success, riches - to satisfy the ego's craving desire.   Additionally, the things that I want - that my mind tends to "grasp" for - are all fleeting and impermanent.

A quick story.  It was 1966 - I was 9 years old.  It was just before Christmas, and I remember thinking to myself...

"...if I only had a remote control P-51 gas powered airplane I would be totally happy and satisifed."  

I wanted that airplane.  I saw it in the model airplane store.  I showed it to my mom and dad (because I knew by this time there wasn't really a Santa Claus).  I told my parents it was the ONLY thing I wanted and if I got it I would never ask for anything again.  I obsessed on that airplane.  I envisioned myself flying the airplane in the field near our house.  I envisioned all  my friends liking me because I had the airplane.  I could think of nothing else. 

I craved the airplane.  Have you ever craved for something like that before?  Be honest!

Christmas morning came and I got the airplane!  I was so excited.  I had made it!  I had arrived!   Life was good.  I didn't even bother to wait for my sisters or parents to open their presents (selfish and self-centered as I was).  I ran outside with the plane to fly it.  My dad helped me start it.  It didn't work as smoothly as I thought it would at first - but it did eventually start.  We got the engine screaming at a high RPM.  We let the plane go.  Up it went - and down it came, crashing into the hard pavement of the cul-de-sac in front of the house.  Broken wing, broken prop, broken dreams. Disappointment.   

We tried to fix the plane but it was never the same.  I got other planes after that.  Then one Christmas several years later I remember craving for a bike - and I thought to myself - "...I remember this feeling - where did it lead before?"

That was then.  The selfish dreams of a 9-year old boy.  What's changed?  Nothing much really. I still have rising cravings for cars, houses, jobs, titles, vacations, clothes, experiences, relationships, - you name it - I've craved it. And none of it has added one ounce of "happiness" to my life.  At best, the things have added moments of pleasure - but fleeting at best.

There's a great quote in the book of Ecclesiasties about this..."Vanity of vanities - all is vanity." The story is about how King Solomon (the Bill Gates of his time - the richest guy in the world) can have anything in the world he desires - anything "under the sun" - yet nothing brings him satisfaction - nothing he can grasp - nothing his eye can see - nothing his mind can think of having - brings him peace.

So what does bring happiness if it's not getting what you want?

BEING WHO YOU ARE - and being of service to others.  This is the definition of Karma Yoga - selfless service.  Doing without concern for the results.  Following spiritual principles of Ahimsa (non-violence/kindness), Satya (truthfulness), Asteya (non-stealing), Bramacharya (restraint) and Aparigraha (non-hoarding).    This brings happiness (to me anyway) because it aligns me with a larger purpose. 

It's not about getting what I want - it's about being who I am and thinking of others from a spiritual frame of reference.   Seems like it wouldn't be very fun.  In practice - it's wonderfully fulfilling.   

Namaste -