THE HUMAN SUFFERING.... consider these five aspects to be the root cause of all our pain and suffering, influencing our thoughts and actions and preventing us from seeing things clearly. The blocks, obstacles and afflictions of the mind hindering our journey to enlightenment/ bliss. These are the poisons responsible for our suffering. Some affect us subtly, others loudly, they can stop us from being present and stop us from living fully. These aspects can be depicted as a tree, with Avidya as the root and the other four aspects growing from it like branches.
1. Ignorance, lack of knowledge, delusion (vidya – an inner knowing/ knowledge and ‘A’vidya – not/no knowledge, no intuition) This is the root of all our suffering, it is our belief system, it is not fact, it is very subjective, it is a lack of knowledge – what we believe our own reality to be, a misunderstanding, we have each created our own realities, we are a product of our conditioning. It is up to us to unlearn what we have been taught and let go. Learn to trust our own intuition. 2. Ego (smita – smiling, expanding, beaming and ‘A’smita – NOT smiling, not expanding, not beaming) The ego is overpowering the self, it is a defence mechanism. One can come across as dominant meanwhile insecure. Ego is self-absorption, ego centred, self-centred, it is the opposite effect of self-expansion, it narrows our awareness, creates selfishness, fear and insecurity. If the ego is in control of how we navigate the world, we are not expanding we are shrinking, only concerned about ourselves, the “I”. We do however need the ego to make us aware of ourselves and others but it is for us to resist the urge to respond from ego. 3. Attachment On an emotional level, attachment can be subtle, sub-conscious behaviour, deeply engrained. It can be an attachment to a person, a substance, e.g., alcohol, drugs, food, to possessions, to a type of lifestyle, etc. As soon as we are attached, we are not fully present. We are always wanting more. It is not about avoiding but just realising it is not permanent. Attachment can be healthy and is part of being human but it is when it becomes an obsession and when it starts negatively affecting our lives that it is a problem. If we can let it go, we have no attachment. Attachment to desire brings us satisfaction, if we cannot attain it, we suffer. The reality is that it is not going to fix all our problems – the problem comes when the focus is on the destination rather than the journey. Pain and suffering is part of life’s experiences but if we are not attached there is not pain. If we focus on the divine force – God/Universe, then it is out of our hands, therefore it is not our choice, it is to surrender to a higher power – then we do not feel pain. Nothing is certain, change is inevitable. Yoga practise helps you become aware. You can start to become aware of the areas which bring you stress and move past them. 4. Aversions This is the opposite of Attachment (Raga) but is also emotional, sub-conscious. It stems from a bad experience, also from ignorance, prejudice and negative thinking. The situation becomes disproportionate to the actual experience e.g., a dog bite, one becomes fearful of all dogs, forever. To determine what your aversions are, ask yourself, what don’t you feel like? If you had a bad experience you can ascertain why you don’t like it, e.g., if it was a person or experience, ask yourself what it was about the person or situation. By acknowledging what it is and by understanding this you become closer to true knowledge. Just by noticing and becoming aware is the first step. 5. Fear This is the fear of death or the will to live. It is more than being scared or anxious, it is the ultimate fear – death. Acknowledging the fear is the first step to acceptance. Everything has a purpose and understanding that it is out of our control and surrender to there being a higher power. The Self – the soul is greater than the physical body, the Self should fear nothing. Fear of change, not leaving our comfort zone, etc. It affects every aspect of our lives, if we release this fear it opens up more opportunities in life (do not be scared to lose anything). It refers to the fear of the unknown, and surrendering all. For all aspects, what would help us, is if we can live in Sakshi; as the silent witness, taking a step back from our mind, our thoughts, experiences, etc. with open curiosity, a sense of kindness, compassion and a detached perspective. (Meraki Yoga Teacher Training)
TRUE HAPPINESS IS A STATE OF CONSCIOUSNESS
Beyond the mind, there is a place where this happiness bubbles and overflows with nothing else needed from the external world around us.
Pursuing happiness as a fix, as a short-term gratification, or escape from a place of sadness, that you seek outside yourself, is not real and will be taken away from you as quickly as it arose.
Here’s a quick trick to help you evoke this state of happiness from within whenever you need it today:
Close your eyes for a minute or two. Think back to that thing, experience, or person that lights up your life. Immerse yourself in that feeling. All the emotion of it. Bathe yourself in that joy.
Now let the object of the feeling go from your thoughts (the thing, hobby, or person), and just hold on to the experience of the state you are in. Open your eyes. Feel any different? When your life is an expression of inner happiness, you are connected to the infinite intelligence of the universe and this is where miracles happen. It’s an experience you can choose to create, any day, any moment.
(Smiling through Creations, Brett Shuttleworth)
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