We had the fourth meeting of our Yoga for a World Out of Balance Meditation Book Group at Yoga Bliss. In yoga we explored our willingness to experience ourselves as we truly are: sensation without interpretation. We let go of fixed ideas, allowing thoughts, emotions and breath flow freely. We practiced sitting and walking meditation periods. We discussed the 6th & 7th chapters: Satya: Honesty and Asteya: Nonstealing.
These chapters challenged us to examine the relationship between our actions and their effects, especially around our patterns of consumption and habits of self preoccupation. They asked us to consider how our unquestioned beliefs prevent us from seeing the world clearly and obstruct our innate compassion. Michael asks whether attention to honesty can be a strategy by which we wake up to our interconnectedness.
In our small circle we created space and offered time – a trustworthy container in which we could allow ourselves to be seen and heard. Each of us shared personal stories – memories that came to life in response to considering these difficult questions. Our stories revealed how we contracted around experiences of pain and loss. We observed how some of our coping strategies only kept us alone or how as Gandhi said “we unwittingly made thieves of ourselves by taking more than we truly needed. ” We also described the innocent ways love came through the cracks and enabled us to continue shining with caring and generosity.
Truly considering our place in the world involves hearing the cries and seeing the face of its suffering. It seems our ability to see and hear, to be seen and heard depends, in part, on where we are in our own healing process and the depth of trust we have in our capacity to feel. Michael writes that the energy of feeling motivates us to act. Yet compassionate, helpful action springs from feeling and looking deeply at our motivations. He tells the metaphorical story of how one can unwittingly prevent a baby bird from learning to fly by “rescuing” it too soon from the ground. One of our group joyfully shared this week’s wonder of witnessing a baby eagle learning to fly from a nest in her yard!
Wisdom teachers such as activist and author, Joanna Macy, urges us to take courage: we can choose where to put our minds. She encourages us to trust in our ability to feel like we can trust that our bodies know how to breathe. This may be less difficult in a community of supportive friends. We created interconnection even while feeling overwhelmed at the prospect of looking more broadly and deeply at the issues that involve us in the world’s suffering. Here is one of Joanna’s favorite poems:
Quiet friend who has come so far
from Rilke: Part Two, Sonnet XXIXQuiet friend who has come so far,
feel how your breathing makes more space around you.
Let this darkness be a bell tower
and you the bell. As you ring,what batters you becomes your strength.
Move back and forth into the change.
What is it like, such intensity of pain?
If the drink is bitter, turn yourself to wine.In this uncontainable night,
be the mystery at the crossroads of your senses,
the meaning discovered there.And if the world has ceased to hear you,
say to the silent Earth: I flow.
To the rushing water, speak: I am.
I feel so blessed by my friends: their willingness to investigate and share so generously.
Yoga for a World Out of Balance Homework 4