Chapter 5 – Renounce and Rejoice
Yoga Teacher – Ellen Bain at Equinox Marina Del Rey
In my experience I find that with many people, including myself, who embark on a spiritual path a great paradox is unearthed. When one goes deeper the question naturally arrises “why am I doing what I’m doing?” For what purpose are any of these actions I do in life? Why not just give it all up and renounce everything?
It’s a paradox because a spiritual path can give so much meaning to everything yet at the same time make everything seem small because of the realization that everything is impermanent. So what does it matter what I do? How do I find purpose in life? How do I find purpose in even the mundane?
Krishna wisely sees that the path of renunciation would not be right for Arjuna. Arjuna’s dharma is one of action or of yoga. Through the path of yoga his self inquiry or Sankhya is realized. I find this to be very wise and intuitive of Krishna because he is giving Arjuna instruction based on Arjuna’s own unique dharma and circumstance and not telling him that he must do something that doesn’t feel right to him.
Chapter 5 Verse 3 “The immature think that knowledge and action are different, but the wise see them as the same. The person who is established in one path will attain the rewards of both.”
This is a very beautiful way of saying do whatever you do with your intentions set on being unselfish. The thought gives so much purpose to everything we do because in it’s perfect essence everything we do can be an act of devotion when done with “unified abandon of all attachment.” A “supreme peace” will be realized.
Again, I’m falling back to previous themes when mirroring these teachings against my own yoga practice. The only thing that matters is that I do the word without any attachments to the results. Yoga in Los Angeles can very deceiving because the fruits of the labor are very sexy and shiny. So many people who practice in LA have great physiques or can do incredible poses with their bodies but if practice to attain those things you will most likely fall short because it never ends. The beauty of yoga is that there is nowhere to arrive to, you’re already there. The success of each pose in ones life is completely subjective and should never be compared with others. However, like I said…it’s tricky. I’d like my body to be more toned, I admit it. I’d like to be able to a forearm handstand – I admit that also. This is why it’s tricky, my ego wants a lot of things that perhaps I’m just not ready for yet or do more practice to attain.
Chapter 5 Verse 8 “Those who know this truth, who consciousness is unified, think always “I am not the doer?” While seeing or hearing….moving about…letting go or holding on…they understand that these are only the movements of the senses among the sense objects.”
When you add individuality to this concept – the idea of a unique incarnation – it takes shape because everybody’s manifestation of how the move, breath and engage with the material world in unique. Therefore, to each their own yoga. Each persons sadahna is unique.
Chapter 5 Verse 27 “Closing their eyes, steadying their breathing and focussing their attention on the center of spiritual consciousness the wise master their senses, mind and intellect through meditation. Self Realization is their only goal.”
Everything is yoga if you look at this way. Making breakfast or taking out the trash is an act of yoga because a union is needed and executed upon.
Looking forward to Chapter 6 and Govind Das at Bhakti Yoga Shala tomorrow.
NOTE – please know the word “yoga” is being used lightly and in different context through out these posts. Sometimes I use the word to mean “hatha yoga” that we just call “yoga” in the West and sometimes I use the word to refer to the all overall system of “yoga.” Most readers will know this but it’s worth pointing out anyway.