This is my first return to this blog after the 25th
April earthquake that hit us here in Nepal reaching a magnitude of 7.8 followed
by countless aftershocks, most noticeably the next day on the 26th
reaching 6.7 and then again on the 12th May reaching 7.3. We are still feeling these aftershocks
all being in the 4 point something’s the most recent two days ago. It is a funny thing that you are going
about your normal day and within seconds everything is completely
different. More than 8800 people
have lost their lives and more than 23000 people have been injured. Villages have been lost, people have
lost their homes all their belongings, beautiful world heritage sites have been
lost. And noticeably people have
lost their confidence. There have
been reports made of future earthquakes that will come in the high numbers that
have done nothing but further this fear, we could go on and on focusing on the
negatives but what good is this and what does it achieve? Fear breads fear, gossiping and rumours
are so damaging, but largely what I have seen here is a nation of people trying
to pick themselves up and simply carry on. Neighbours that may not have even noticed each other before
are now caring for each other, today the Nepali schools opened in whatever
shape or form they could, people are cooking for each other. Isn’t this how it should always
be?
This is the best time now for our practice of Yoga,
to know the tools we need to heal ourselves and then continue on, to work
selflessly as a community as with a spirit of oneness, to put into practice our
karma yoga, to work in essence for all, even if this is a simple smile, an act
of compassion or sharing a hug.
Everything that is positive is making a difference, to show our
resilience and to again look into the true nature of ourselves, this is our
yoga practice and this will bring us peace, to know what we truly are, and then
we have the understanding that essentially there is nothing to grieve as Lord
Krishna explained to Arjuna as he stood on the battle field in the teachings of
the Bhagavad Gita. Yes this life
is a battlefield but our yoga practices give us the tools to fight on and
eventually reach a place of all contentment, earthquakes and all! Use the tools that we are so honoured
to have received, now is the time not only for those of us here in Nepal but
for all of humanity for the good of all living entities and Mother Earth
herself. I would like to share
these words from Swami Dayananada on his explanations from the Bhagavad Gita –
“A person who commits himself to the pursuit of
knowledge is generally supported by the society which values knowledge. In modern society scientists are
provided with grants and resources for research, being told, in effect, ‘You
may discover anything, your hypothesis may prove wrong; it does not
matter. Continue your research –
that is enough.’ Society will not
disown a person who persues knowledge.
In this way Indian society supports those who dedicate their life to the
pursuit of the knowledge of the self.
With the thought of taking a life of an aesthetic
than that of a warrior, a new line of thinking was triggered in Arjuna’s
mind. We all experience such
reversals in our patterns of thought.
For instance, an overwhelming event, like the death of a friend, may
start a chain of inquiry. ‘This
man was alive yesterday. He is
dead now. What happened to his
life? Was he just the body, or was
there something different from the body which left the body and for which the
body died? Is there something more
profound, more lasting, than the physical body of flesh and bones? Am I also the same? Are all my wants and achievements
meaningless? Should life be spent
struggling if the outcome is death?
Can’t I resolve my struggles during my lifetime?’ These questions are fundamental and
universal and arise out of ignorance about ourselves.” – Swami Dayananda.
All our pain is coming from our ignorance of what we
truly are, all our pain is coming from the limitations of the human condition –
the fear of being unhappy, the fear of being ignorant and the fear of
death. It is our sense of
inadequacy that causes so many problems for us.
Lord Krishna states to Arjuna – “ You are grieving
over that which deserves no grief, although you may talk words of wisdom. The wise grieve neither for the living
nor for the dead.”
To gain knowledge of our true selves we must be
taught, be put on the right path to a place where nothing more and nothing less
than absolute consciousness resides.
To be fearless as there is nothing to fear.
For this we need Yoga, and not just our asana
postures that we love, we need all four of the major paths of yoga, Raja yoga –
the mystical approach, Bhakti yoga- the devotional approach, Karma yoga – that
of action and selfless service and Jnana yoga – that of knowing who am I.
Let us use the tools that we have been so joyfully
given, as a builder knows which hammer to use, an electrician which wires to
use, we too as Yogis should know which tools we need at which times in our
lives to remain calm and positive and keep our sense of commitment to those
that surround us to create a balanced and harmonious world for ourselves and
for all of living entities.
I wish and strive towards us all finding our strength
no matter where you are or what your situation is, in the practice of
yoga. We are here, we have our
breath, the sun rises and the sun falls, everything is in its place.
Om Lokha Somasta Sukhino bhavantu
May you all be happy, balanced and find your peace
Om shanti
Always Om
Mangala / nicky.
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