Extracts from:
THE HOUSE OF WISDOM
Yoga Spirituality of the East and West
By Swami Dharmananda and Santoshan
Foreword by Glyn Edwards
Published by O Books (ISBN 978-1-846940-24-8)
£11.99. 223 pages
THE HOUSE OF WISDOM
Yoga Spirituality of the East and West
By Swami Dharmananda and Santoshan
Foreword by Glyn Edwards
Published by O Books (ISBN 978-
Transforming ourselves in the Light of the true Self
Changes are inevitable if we are to continue to grow in the knowledge and application of yoga. Remember yoga is about life, and the practices are for growth and for expanding our spiritual awareness. I would be failing in the work my Guru Paramahansa Satyananda gave me to carry out if I did not endeavour to convey this and, indeed, aim to live by it. My teacher Sri Trivadi Ramachandra also wanted me to encourage all students I came into contact with, to convey the true essence of the practices – the essence that is portrayed in the teachings of the Vedas, Upanishads, Gita, Great Epics, Tantras and many spiritual writings.
Within these teachings it reminds us that we are pure Spirit here and now. They advocate practices that help us to awaken to the infinite qualities of the Spirit within and reveal Its true radiance. The mantra So-
By daily chanting the Gayatri, it can help to remove obstacles and bring us closer to that Great Union, the Ultimate Yoking/Integration of our being with the true Self – realising That which we know as God, the Divine Light. Through meditation, mantra and profound and deep levels of prayer we can become instruments of God’s compassion, forgiveness, light, joy, peace and love.
We need to offer ourselves in service and share the truth and wisdom of yoga in all areas of our lives and in all that we do.
Knowing ourselves and manifesting the Divine in everyday life
If we look at what has occurred over the centuries and learn from the mistakes that humankind has made, we may one day be able to achieve a true peace that everyone can benefit from. Humankind needs to use its scientific and spiritual discoveries to help and benefit humanity and the world. Not for the purpose of destruction, but for progress, growth and spiritual advancement in order to create a better place to live and achieve a closer bond with each other and nature.
We all need to work harder to understand our relationship with God, the created universe, life and our authentic spiritual Self. Through the Union/Yoga of our physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual being we can bring about harmony within and so manifest a unity that reaches out to include others. Only through knowing ourselves can we begin to know God. The work is always ongoing, a constant awareness and consciousness of the living presence of God that works and expresses Its sacdredness through all. Let us start a new era with the determination to look at ourselves, and overcome the everyday problems that disharmoniously separate us from one another. Let us grow in love, compassion and peace, and start a new beginning with the intention of spreading our unitive and creative abilities and attributes in order to achieve a greater spiritual awareness in the world.
– Swami Dharmananda.
Integrating the teachings
Let us encourage ourselves and others to band together in our work and radiate out like the spokes of a wheel. The wheel can be seen to contain the essence of yoga, the spiritual centre of the Self, which we are all a part of. Yoga in its truest form is ultimately a way of life. We may practise asanas, pranayama, mindfulness and meditation, but unless we carry the formula of the yamas and niyamas into our daily lives, the essence fades. Without the yamas and niyamas we will not be able to achieve a true spiritual awareness that looks deeply into life.
The practices are there to help us tap into inner knowledge of the true Self and our interactive relationship with all. They give us strength during adversity, and courage to overcome the obstacles that confront and often appear to bind or restrict us.
The teachings of yoga and those in various wisdom traditions are there to guide us on our way and remind us that the spiritual life is forever in the ‘here and now’. We may have plans for the future, but we can only act on those plans according to the present moment.
By working on our unfoldment, embodying the teachings, opening our hearts, being mindful and aware of each passing phase or season of life, and through practising God Consciousness, we can rise above entanglements, heal our mental and emotional wounds, and help and inspire others in much freer, compassionate and creative ways.
Practical evolvement
Initially we will have to accept and explore the experiences that have led us to where we are now, as these are our stories, our life histories and narratives which we use to justify our temperament and views. Eventually we will discover they are only partial realities which do not supply us with a complete or very clear picture. Nonetheless, we will not be able to travel far unless we assess the roads that have brought us to this moment and understand something about the way we work – physically, emotionally and mentally – and how to move forward and become more spiritually whole and creative.
Initially we will have to accept and explore the experiences that have led us to where we are now, as these are our stories, our life histories and narratives which we use to justify our temperament and views. Eventually we will discover they are only partial realities which do not supply us with a complete or very clear picture. Nonetheless, we will not be able to travel far unless we assess the roads that have brought us to this moment and understand something about the way we work – physically, emotionally and mentally – and how to move forward and become more spiritually whole and creative.
– Santoshan.
The unfolding work
The initial stages of working on ourselves are about acknowledgment. If a negative rises to the surface, we must acknowledge any hurt, fear, anger or insecurities, and realise it is an opportunity for growth, understanding and transformation. If we are sincere and let things in, give them some room and own them without judgment, instead of ignoring or suppressing them, we can begin the healing process.
Instead of thinking there is something wrong when we feel cut-off, needy or agitated, and placing conditions on how we image we or things should be, we accept life and ourselves in all dimensions.
A sense of spaciousness can be experienced as we release any tension or negatives and become aware of richer fields of existence. We may at first feel like avoiding a part of our life because it feels too painful to embrace, or fight against opening ourselves, as it means entering unfamiliar territory. But we will discover that connecting fully with ourselves – meaning more than just the shadow side of our personality – leads to a fullness and wholeness where we are no longer separated from the experience of truly living.
By freshly evaluating restrictive emotions, feelings or thoughts, without involvement in any inhibiting stories we may give to them, we open up to ourselves and allow our troublesome areas room to truly communicate with us. In this process, we find that we are able to be authentic and feel a sense of release as we let old restrictive patterns go and allow a deep healing to take place. We may at first feel raw and exposed. But once we recognise inhibiting parts and realise them for what they are, we begin to see them as areas that can be changed and grown out of.
The initial stages of working on ourselves are about acknowledgment. If a negative rises to the surface, we must acknowledge any hurt, fear, anger or insecurities, and realise it is an opportunity for growth, understanding and transformation. If we are sincere and let things in, give them some room and own them without judgment, instead of ignoring or suppressing them, we can begin the healing process.
Instead of thinking there is something wrong when we feel cut-
A sense of spaciousness can be experienced as we release any tension or negatives and become aware of richer fields of existence. We may at first feel like avoiding a part of our life because it feels too painful to embrace, or fight against opening ourselves, as it means entering unfamiliar territory. But we will discover that connecting fully with ourselves – meaning more than just the shadow side of our personality – leads to a fullness and wholeness where we are no longer separated from the experience of truly living.
By freshly evaluating restrictive emotions, feelings or thoughts, without involvement in any inhibiting stories we may give to them, we open up to ourselves and allow our troublesome areas room to truly communicate with us. In this process, we find that we are able to be authentic and feel a sense of release as we let old restrictive patterns go and allow a deep healing to take place. We may at first feel raw and exposed. But once we recognise inhibiting parts and realise them for what they are, we begin to see them as areas that can be changed and grown out of.
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