om ceilin, originally uploaded by ✿ Enchลn†resŞ ✿.

3 Gunas, a Million vrttis

It is the three gunas born of prakriti (nature) - sattva, rajas, and tamas - that bind the immortal Self to the body. Sattva - pure, luminous, and free from sorrow- binds us with attachment to happiness and wisdom. Rajas is passion, arising from selfish desire and attachment. These bind the self with compulsive action. Tamas, born of ignorance, deludes all creatures, through heedlessness, indolence and sleep.

The Bhagadvad Gita - Ch. 14 slokas 5-8

I am home. Last week I spent a week on a quiet, rural Abbey in Louisiana. My days were full of asana, pranayama and silent time. A whole week of sattva. I feel fortunate that I was able to take this week for myself to lay this "sattvic foundation." We have all had small glimpses of sattva; when all the actions integrate in a asana, when a breath or a pause feels smooth and effortless while practicing pranayama. These are the samskaras (imprints) that we need to continue to access over and over again. Instead of using our memory to recall painfully how sweet the moment was, in the words of BKS Iyengar, we need to use our memory "to further correct action."

Look back a few posts ago, the quote about our yoga practice moving us out of the familiar. Do we stay in states of rajas or tamas simply because they are familiar to us? Do we behave in an aggressive or heedless manner because we think that is who we are as a person? The familiar path is the path of least resistance, even if it is up the tallest mountain. That is why tapas and svadhyaya are so important. It is tapas, the challenge, the self-discipline that we need to practice to elevate us up out of tamas or slow the destructive cycle of rajas.

It is the guna of sattva, that allows us to be compassionate, focused and experience true happiness. Not a satisfactory material happiness that a rajasic state has lead us to for a brief moment on a shopping spree.

Pranayama removes the veil covering the light of knowledge and heralds the dawn of wisdom.

sutra 2.52

An asana is perfect when the effort to perform it becomes effortless and the Infinite with in is reached. sutra 2.47

Then, we are undisturbed by dualities. sutra 2.48

The "light of knowledge" is the light of sattva that is covered with the anxiety of rajas and the stupor of tamas. You have to find out, svadhyaya, do you have to speed up or slow down? What habits do you have to break? What are you fooling yourself about? Remember the brief glimpses of sattva, from a perfect asana, a smooth breath or even a simple , quiet moment where you felt at peace. These are the moments that need to be accessed and re- lived when we are sitting in traffic , running late, facing a conflict, or anytime we are going into the unknown.

When sattva predominates, the light of wisdom shines through every gate of the body. When rajas predominates, a person runs about pursuing selfish and greedy ends, driven by restlessness and desire. When tamas is dominant, a person lives in darkness- slothful, confused, and easily infatuated.

The Bhagavad Gita Ch.14 11-13

Pink Flower, Oxalis Weed Macro, originally uploaded by cobalt123.

I'm open

Thanks to all of you who attended the sutra class this past Saturday, on Feb 6th. I am trying to continue my svadhyaya practice. To keep the class interesting, I welcome your comments. Please feel free to leave your feedback here on the blog, email me or speak to me directly. Thanks for your continued interest and support!!

Is it possible?

A long time ago, yogis examined this unsatisfactory state of affairs. They saw how the bias in mind of "repeat pleasure, avoid pain" for all its survival usefulness could lead to trouble. Where was the problem with "I-consciousness"? The benefit is clear- single awareness in a single biological entity. Is it possible, they asked, that singularity of awareness, the I-ness, is not the same thing as my true Self, the essence of my being, but merely for practical day to day purposes impersonates it and, as it were, by force of habit has actually become to believe in that impersonation?

From Light on Life by BKS Iyengar

India Dogs

IMG_0704-1, originally uploaded by deweesescience.

This dog and I became friends. She befriended me because I fed her everyday. She lives right in front of the Institute. After a few days, I learned that I was not the only one feeding her. She was the only dog who solicited attention. Missing my dogs back home, I was more than happy to feed her and pet her.

CRIM0104, originally uploaded by deweesescience.

Big Dog

CRIM0023, originally uploaded by deweesescience.

This was the biggest dog I saw in India. He had a bad limp when he got up to walk.

I know it's blurry

CRIM0038, originally uploaded by deweesescience.

This is actually a little stand. off to the left was a women grilled corn on the cob and selling it. Both of these dogs also seemed well fed and having human companions who cared for them.

Lucky Dog

CRIM0042, originally uploaded by deweesescience.

This dog actually belonged to a family and looked like he was well fed and cared for.

CRIM0045, originally uploaded by deweesescience.

CRIM0048, originally uploaded by deweesescience.

This is the other temple guard

Temple Dog

CRIM0050, originally uploaded by deweesescience.

This dog was one of two who were sleeping outside the entrance to a temple on top of Parvati Hill

Rain dog

CRIM0211, originally uploaded by deweesescience.

This dog was hanging out in the parking lot of the Agakhan Palace. It was pouring all day long.

Spotted Sleeping

CRIM0118, originally uploaded by deweesescience.

All these dogs were cute, sweet faced dogs. I saw many dogs that were maimed, skin and bones, wounded, losing hair and basically waiting to die. I could not bring myself to photograph any of them. I also saw a few mean ones every now and then. One morning, about 3am, I awoke to the sound of growling and yipping. When I looked out my window, I saw a big black dog roaming through, picking fights with all the other dogs that lived on our street. There was also a big snaggly gray creature who passed through in the afternoons. When he came through, all the other dogs hid. I also stayed clear of that one.

CRIM0177, originally uploaded by deweesescience.

trash picking dog

CRIM0179, originally uploaded by deweesescience.

If you're a dog living in India, your a trash picker. It's how they survive. This is the trash pile in front of our apartment building. This dog was a frequent visitor.