This month has inspired some deep reflections from recent highs and lows of all going on. Things have been frustrating and hectic in world events yet reassuring while being amongst those taking meaningful actions. It’s felt a bit slower than usual in the studio while I’ve become busier with events and teaching Yoga outside of the studio. I’ve had new client sessions begin and some sessions come to a close. I’ve become more involved with IfNotNow and less fearful of what it means to speak up as an American Jew.
With the unpredictability of all we experience, it could make for an unsettled life. And yes, at times I feel uncomfortable with the unknown and wonder what will come of it all. What helps me is what I’ve learned from Yogic teachings and within my practices – it’s the analogy of our mind in reference to the surface of a lake:
If the surface of the lake becomes choppy, we can’t see anything but the splashing, rippling water. This might even be so captivating (negatively or positively), we accept this surface as life. When the lake is calm, we can experience reflections and even have a sense of what lies beneath the surface. What is the source of the agitation? What is preventing me from looking deeper? Am I contributing to this in some way? An analogy often used is that the choppy waters are like our disturbed or distracted mind. When we can access our Higher Self that exists beyond the constant waves of agitation, we gain a deeper sense of our being. We can know that even when the surface has turbulence, the depth below remains rather still with only gentle undulations. There lies an even further depth that is undisturbed by the inevitable surface fluctuations. This is the True Self, forever existing in a state of peace.
Only by having an experience of this, can this even have a remote impact on our psyche. Otherwise, it sounds like a nice poetic way to understand nature and consider how we might relate to nature. With a mind that is fixed on human doings versus human beings, and even just thinking that as humans, we’re the ultimate expression of existence, the possibility of welcoming the ancient and persistent teachings of Yoga and Buddhism will always sound lofty or too esoteric. With a dedicated practice that has broken through the veil of the habit mind and has become tuned to present awareness, we gain access to the subtle power of consciousness that exists beyond human form. This has been written about for thousands of years and exists as guidance in Yogic and Buddhist texts from the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, The Bhagavad Gita, Mahayana and Vajrayana traditions and more.
I can’t imagine those who are experiencing horror and strife on this planet would ever find this calm place beyond the surface agitation. When life is being threatened at every turn and it feels like no one is coming to your rescue, how could a mind ever find a moment of calm? Many of us might imagine that we wouldn’t last a moment in such a state of constant threat to life. And with our fixed mind on material comforts, we likely wouldn’t! And yet, it has also been an incredible testament for me to witness Palestinians in Gaza who are managing to exist in the absolute worst of circumstances. I’ve remained much closer to this genocide than any other right now due to my relationship to this story. I am aware now, that it was purposefully removed from my Jewish education and manipulated in such a way that I only believed one version of this story that intended to erase the other story. As soon as I became willing to pull off the bandaid of what exists as the bleeding wound of American history, it wasn’t too hard to see the same injuries all over the globe at the hands of greedy, power-addicted men. Certainly, there is also the same suffering for Sudanese, Congolese, Somalis and many more beautiful human, animal and environmental beings on this planet. If we can acknowledge this common disaster of humanity in order to consider how we are all a part of the suffering, I believe we’ll make choices that move us towards ending the violence and create true space for peace to exist.
There is a depth of comprehension far beyond the material plane which most of us haven’t had to or made an effort to understand. Most of us consider this material existence as the only reality and (blindly) enjoy the comforts many have worked hard for us to have. For those whom I’ve witnessed being able to find any moments of joy or calm during a genocide, I am humbled to my core. I have had moments where I don’t even know what else I could be doing but speaking up against this atrocity being committed under the guise of safety! Can we at least accept there are innocent children who are adapting to constant drones and bombing, earth pounding and shaking as structures tumble, and death of families as a regular occurrence?! How can this become a way of life for an innocent mind?! And then somehow, from accepting that this has been our human existence since we know it, I remember to direct this anger as fuel for change against what I do not want to accept and what I believe is possible. I channel the force of this horror into a laser of intention. I come back to making sure I’m staying resourced so I have the energy and clear mind to keep speaking up about this. I know that I need to be the change I wish to see.
This is why I have a Yoga practice – not so that I can make fun shapes with my body. It’s to witness and experience changes in my mind/body, where I create the environment of right challenge to break through old patterns. It’s a sincere practice on the mat so that I may find the path that feels most right and true for me off of the mat. I’ve discovered that THIS choice to speak out, moves me further forward on my path of liberation than when I was choosing to stay silent. The action of unlearning, learning, and relearning has been healing for a self that had learned to exist in protective mode. I feel as though my nervous system is strengthened by speaking up for others and weakened when I only focus on only serving my own needs. These choppy waters of life are actually the catalyst for experiencing the calm waters of a clear mind. I would have never known this until something within me said it was time to grow and challenge that which was keeping me feeling limited and victimized.
This month has also included a joyful gearing up for our 11th seasonal Well-being Fair. I’m filled with joy as I imagine this incredible day and how it is such a beautiful resource. The focus is on personal and collective well-being. It’s not a way to escape what’s happening in the world. It’s not a big bubble bath of a fantasy world. It’s a space that offers inspiration for each of us to find that way of resourcing and supporting ourselves so that we can have direct access to our Higher Self. What is my role while I have the gift of being in this body? How can I use my privilege to speak up for those who are being attacked or harmed? What practices might help me sustain my life path so that I can thrive? Where can I find community that will support me and love me for my authenticity? I hope that you will attend and experience a day in community that builds on the power of love, hope and well-being for all. This happens each season – 4 times a year with the intention of keeping us all connected and aware of our priorities in a world of constant distraction. For our summer fair that coincides with SF Pride Month, we elevate our LGBTQAI+ community and welcome an incredible group of 24, all LGBTQAI+ practitioners ready to share their services, practices, rituals, and products! Please join this day and share with others!
Summer Pride Well-being Fair
June 7 – 12noon – 5pm
SF LGBT Center – 1800 Market Street, Castro, San Francisco, CA
Let’s stay connected,
Marc
