Embrace the Weird: Journey Beyond
This week, I’m inviting you to embrace the weird. As my teacher once said – yoga gets weirder as you go deeper.
Get ready to tool up as we complete our journey into the Kleshas – the obstacles that get in the way of our experience of oneness, or true Self. We’re taking it one step further into the teachings of Advaita, which translates to “non-dualism” – a wholeness of being beyond the mind, time, matter, and energy. It’s the ultimate goal of our dedicated Sadhana (committed daily practice) – to achieve a state of Yoga (Union).
I told you to buckle up!
What Is Advaita?
If you’ve never come across these teachings and had no idea that non-dual awareness was the goal of all that posturing on your mat, it’s not your fault. Many teachers struggle to explain Advaita too – so they don’t!
But the essence of these teachings was fully explained in the school of Advaita Vedanta by the great master Adi Shankara and elaborated on in the Upanishads. Pretty important stuff, right? Every yoga student deserves to know this.
Sure, it takes dedication, time, will, and practice to study and embody these teachings, but they’re not beyond any of us. Don’t sell yourself short. You too can reach this state if you follow the science, methods, and teachings as they are meant to be taught.
Advaita teachings are designed to lead you, the student, to the highest states of realisation, where your individual soul merges back into its source, the absolute. It’s the ultimate goal of practicing yoga – to achieve a state of Yoga (Union).
Remember, nothing is beyond you. So, stay with me.
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Understanding Dualism and Non-Dualism
Before we dive deeper, let’s clarify the difference between dualism and non-dualism. Dualism involves recognising and navigating the pairs of opposites—light and dark, joy and sorrow, success and failure. Our traditional Tantric Hatha Yoga path honours both the path (dualism) and the destination (non-dualism) and works to balance these opposing forces to achieve harmony in life (form).
Non-dualism, on the other hand, transcends these opposites (form), guiding us towards the realisation that everything is interconnected and ultimately one. It’s the destination we’re heading for in meditation and the culmination of all the work we do in any traditional Hatha Yoga practice – through the path of Moon, Sun, and Fire.
The Path of Advaita: From Practical to Profound
Advaita can seem daunting, especially if you’re new to the deeper aspects of yoga. However, it offers a transformative perspective that can profoundly impact your daily life.
Our goal is to access non-dual awareness more and more frequently through our meditation practice. You can also achieve it through the traditional practice of Yoga Nidra.
But to do this, Vedanta suggests first cultivating ‘the six-fold spiritual wealth’:
Self-Restraint: Develop control over your impulses and desires. This doesn’t mean suppression but understanding and channelling them constructively.
Patience: Embrace the journey without rushing towards the destination. Patience allows for a deeper understanding of life’s rhythms and cycles.
Mental Clarity: Cultivate a clear, focused mind to discern the true nature of reality.
Non-Attachment to Pleasure: Find joy in experiences without clinging to them, understanding that true happiness comes from within.
Lack of Inner Conflict: Strive for inner harmony by resolving conflicting desires and thoughts.
A Burning Passion for Liberation: Cultivate a deep, unwavering desire for spiritual freedom and self-realisation.
Integrating Advaita into Everyday Life
Advaita isn’t just a philosophical concept; it’s a practical guide to living a fulfilled and harmonious life. Here’s how you can apply these teachings today:
Relationships: Recognise the inherent unity in diversity. Approach conflicts with empathy and understanding, seeing beyond surface differences.
Finances: Understand that material wealth is transient. Cultivate inner wealth through virtues like self-restraint, patience, and mental clarity.
Personal Growth: Embrace your journey with a non-attached, patient mindset. Seek inner liberation and harmony, balancing worldly responsibilities with spiritual aspirations.
Physical Health: Embrace your body as a vessel for your journey. Practice non-attachment by honouring your physical form without obsessing over it. Enjoy the process of maintaining your health through balanced nutrition and mindful exercise, knowing that true well-being comes from within.
Career: Approach your career with a sense of purpose and service. Understand that your job is a means to express your talents and contribute to the world, but it does not define you. Strive for excellence without attachment to outcomes, recognising that true fulfilment comes from aligning your work with your dharma (life’s purpose).
Emotional Health: Cultivate emotional resilience by acknowledging and embracing your feelings without being overwhelmed by them. Practice self-restraint and patience in emotional responses, fostering a sense of inner peace and clarity. Remember, emotional health is about balance and integration, not suppression.
The Journey Towards Wholeness
As we journey through this week’s theme of Advaita, remember that the goal is to rest more and more in the aspect of being that exists beyond the physical and mental realms. Through our Moon, Sun, and Fire practices, we cultivate spiritual wealth and inch closer to the realisation that we are all part of a greater, interconnected whole.
Embrace these teachings with an open heart and mind, and witness the transformation in every aspect of your life. Namaste.