Action is superior to inaction - on Karma Yoga

Not by nonperformance of actions does a man attain freedom from action; nor by the renunciation of actions does he attain his spiritual goal.

For no one, indeed, can remain, for even a single moment, unengaged in activity, since everyone, being powerless, is made to act by the dispositions (gunas) of matter (prakiti). Whoever having restrained his organs of action still continues to brood over the objects of senses — he, the deluded one, is called a hypocrite. But he who, having controlled the sense-organs by means of the mind, O Arjuna, follows without attachment the path of action by means of the organs of action — he excels.

Do you do your allotted work, for action is superior to nonaction. Even the normal functioning of your body cannot be accomplished through actionlessness. Except for the action done for sacrifice, all men are under the bondage of action. Therefore, O son on Kunti, do you undertake that action for that purpose, becoming free from all attachment.

— III.4–9, Bhagavad Gita

somnul pe deplin

e atunci cand susura niste muzici indepartate si incerci sa prinzi cu auzul o voce si sa intelegi ce spune, iar bucati din corp se lupta intre ele pentru atentia cu care le mangaie gandul tau. apoi auzi miscam incet degetele de la maini si de la picioare si incepe sa-ti curga sange din urechi... nu mi-a fost de-ajuns... de ce m-as ridica acum?!

am mereu ceva de spus...

... desigur, si poate doar atunci cand mi-e prea lehamite sau sunt prea inteleapta, mai si tac. sunt nevorbita cum sunt altele nefutute. sau cum se spune despre ele ca sunt. nu pentru ca n-as avea cu cine vorbi, dar zau, sunt atatea de disecat, tocat, macinat, ruminat, asta foarte jos, apoi, mediu, am eu personal atatea de transmis, doamne, cate mai am de exprimat, apoi, cel mai sus stau abstractiunile pe care le-as epuiza cu niste definitii, inferente, sinteze, ipoteze, corolare. comentarii.

dar cel mai bine tac cand vorbesc de 108 ori acelasi lucru. imi convine tare si ma duce undeva unde e bine.

tacerea e, de fapt, concentrarea pe un singur lucru. maxim doua.

masaru emoto dixit

muzica structureaza apa din corp. 

atitudinea genereaza aptitudinea

... si orice acumulare cantitativa duce la un salt calitativ. 

Ashtanga is for the hungry

Ashtanga is for the hungry, the ones who have something gnawing inside, the ones who honestly aren't happy accepting complacent norms. Ashtanga is for those who are alive with intense feelings that there are worlds to discover, worlds that are found by reaching passionately inwards for expression that will contribute to personal and collective healing. 

http://davidgarrigues.com/articlesharath.html#sthash.1J58E20t.YhI58c9O.dpuf

hangover cure!

i've been missing yoga like hell as my last class was on wed dec 19th and my next one is sat jan 5th. truth is, i am not very motivated to do it on my own, at home. will make this one of my 2013 resolutions.

today i broke the ice (and hopefully the hangover) with this.

after a few sun salutations or whatever is your usual opening sequence, try to hold these poses for at least 5 seconds each. it takes around 25 minutes if you're accustomed to the poses. this post is obviously intended for more experienced / intermediate yogis, if you happen to be a beginner and want to try this, do NOT push yourself, especially with a bellyful of wine, chocolate and pork chops!

 1. half lord of the fishes / ardha matsyendrasana

"twist"asanas are mainly recommended when wanting to detox, as by twisting you squeeze your internal organs and the blood that's clogged with impurities will be flushed out, thus making room for fresher blood! your liver will say thanks, phew!

more on the asanas that have strong benefits for your internal organs, namely forward bends:

 2. standing forward bend / uttanasana

 3. seated forward bend / paschimottanasana

 4. head-to-knee forward bend / janu sirsasana

 5. seated wide angle forward bend / upavistha konasana

 6. intense side stretch / pyramid pose / parsvottanasana - for those who are on an intermediate / advanced level, it'd be wonderful if you could use your hands for deepening the pose with a reverse prayer, otherwise just lean them against a wall or chair, especially if you can't bend towards your ankle just yet.

 7. child's pose / balasana - palms upfront. keep every vertebra aligned and scratch the mat with your fingers / palms, almost pulling it towards you.

onwards to two gas, bloating and cramps-eliminating poses.

 8. full boat pose / paripurna navanasana. use a thicker yoga mat / blanket if you have a sensitive tailbone. for beginners and intermediates, it's ok to stop when you have your knees bent, without lifting your feet up and maintaining your legs straight.

 9. wind-releasing pose / pavanamuktasana.

gulp!

dulciurile si mancarea sunt pentru suflet, conteaza doar sa nu facem excese. daca ne abtinem, daunam prea mult psihicului.

uneori nu mai stii cum sa le multumesti oamenilor pentru ca exista. eu o fac acum aici -  a., iti multumesc pentru toate revelatiile, m-ai ajutat fara s-o stii.

the 8 limbs

[click to make bigger]

cele 8 ramuri

sa purcedem, deci. yoga din filosofia hindusa e un termen generic insumand o serie de actiuni mentale, fizice si spirituale. sau, yoga e pretty much uniunea individualitatii, a sinelui, cu divinul - etimologic vorbind, cuvantul tot unire inseamna. ramurile / scolile / disciplinele yoga sunt probabil cateva sute, iar informatii despre ele... well. where do i even begin. 

firul rosu din aceasta vaga definitie ar fi - de exemplu - Patanjali, despre care se spune ca a sistematizat yoga, adica i-a conferit niste coordonate, o forma, o practica. scrierile lui s-au concretizat prin ceea ce numim the yoga of 8 limbs, sau ashtanga / raja yoga (= uniune regala, imparateasca). 

in the western world, cum le place sa spuna celor care au studiat yoga la ea acasa, yoga a ajuns aproape exclusiv sa fie centrata pe sanatatea si purificarea corpului, practic, pe asane, sau posturi (adica e hatha yoga). ha e luna, tha e soare, deci, complet metaforic vorbind, practicam asanele ca sa echilibram dualitatea din corp, masculinul cu femininul. altfel spus, ca sa ne vindecam / curatam / purificam trupul si sa obtinem - implicit - mare atentie la cuvantul asta - un echilibru spiritual.

ashtanga e hatha yoga par excellence. in orice fel de sala de fitness/centru spa/studio care ofera clase de yoga vom intalni sigur asane de ashtanga, indiferent cum isi denumeste stilul respectivul prof.  

cele 8 ramuri, ramificatii, declinari, metode despre care vorbeam mai sus ar fi asa:

1. yama, respectiv "abtinerea" de la: violenta (ahimsa), minciuna (satya), furt (asteya), sex (brahmacharya) și posesiuni (aparigraha); altfel spus, controlul de sine.
2. niyama, adica "practicarea" / "observarea" puritatii (shaucha), a multumirii/satisfactiei (santosha), a austeritatii (tapas), studiul scripturilor vedice (svadhyaya), devotamentul catre dumnezeu (ishvara-pranidhana); adica disciplina morala.
3. asana (sederea, pozitia); deci posturile concrete, fizice, de yoga.
4. pranayama (respiratia, i.e. controlul fortei vietii, al energiei vitale);
5. pratyahara (abstractia, abstinenta, infranarea organelor de simt); deci, inhibitia senzoriala.
6. dharana (concentrarea, fixarea atentiei asupra unui singur obiect);
7. dhyana (meditatia, contemplarea intensa a adevaratei esente a realitatii);
8. samadhi (eliberarea, starea de iluminare, contopirea constiintei cu obiectul meditatiei) - sau extazul suprem.