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Spirituality, Vibrant Health, Yoga

The End of Seeking

Jivani Lisa

Two months ago, my husband and I attended a retreat with Rupert Spira at the Garrison Institute in New York. The retreat included daily 90-minute meditations in the mornings, plus 2-hour Q&A sessions with Rupert in the afternoons. We also had plenty of free time for journaling, yoga practice, and hiking on the beautiful trails near the Hudson River.

The following is a reflection from one of my journaling sessions based on what I was hearing and experiencing at the retreat:

At some point, all religions fail us. They can’t give us what we truly desire because we already ARE THAT! We already have what we most desire. It’s like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz. After all her wild adventures, she realizes there’s no place like home. That “home” is our True Self, our Being Itself.

Spiritual seekers have given up seeking in other areas of life — status, money, power, relationships, etc. — and instead, focus all their seeking in the spiritual realm. This, then, becomes a difficult habit to break.

All we REALLY want is the experience of ultimate peace and pure unconditional love. And really, all we need to do is look deeply within ourselves and rest there. THERE is peace, love, and joy!

Giving up spiritual materialism, teachings/practices, and teachers is the most difficult step for seekers. This is the Buddhist teaching: “If you see the Buddha on the road, kill him!” Also: Use the raft (teachings, practices, beliefs, teachers) to get to the other side of the river, but once there, leave the raft behind; don’t continue to carry it. Know that it has served its purpose.

The journey is complete in pure Being. We were already there as infants but we didn’t consciously know it. Now, we can KNOW and BE in pure Being.

What does this feel like? Sometimes it feels like nothingness. This is Peace. We only have to recognize the experience as Peace rather than boredom or some other mistaken perception. Sometimes pure Being feels like fullness, full of something like energy or Love. This is joy, bliss (ananda in Sanskrit). 

Pure Being is BOTH Peace and Bliss/Love. It is both and perfect. WE are both and perfect already! All we have to do is remember this, our True Self. The more often we look deeply within and remember, the easier it is to live our lives from this center of Being.

And this is what the world needs more than anything: People who are living their lives from Pure Being: Peace, Love, Joy! May it be so! Amen! OM… OM… OM…

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com
Yoga

Yoga in the World

Jivani Lisa

Did you know that your full-time Yoga Teachers struggle to survive on teaching? Here’s an excerpt from a Yoga Journal article on the results of the Yoga Alliance research study on “Yoga in the World,” 2022:

Survey Says: In the U.S., nearly 75 percent of the teachers surveyed indicated that leading yoga classes is their primary source of income.

Context: Most yoga teachers are contracted at a flat rate for the hour spent instructing a class. Compensation for an hour-long yoga class varies dramatically depending on teaching experience and other considerations. Although the survey did not indicate income, compensation for a studio or gym class typically falls between $20 and $50.
That rate does not include the time spent commuting, answering students’ questions, preparing the sequence for class, and creating a playlist. There is also no compensation for transportation, music streaming platforms, or continued training.

Many full-time teachers consider a full schedule to be approximately 15 classes a week. Newer yoga teachers tend to enthusiastically take on more classes a week than is sustainable, and eventually lessen their schedule—and their take-home pay—to reflect reality. Do the math and the challenge inherent in teaching yoga to the exclusion of any other work becomes apparent….

Many full-time yoga teachers supplement their studio income with one-on-one yoga sessions, teaching at higher-paying corporations and resorts, leading workshops, retreats, or yoga teacher trainings. Those teachers will tell you it’s a hustle culture. And it’s exhausting….
The irony of this stress is not lost on teachers and studio owners. Yet there are also implications for students. What do we lose when knowledgeable teachers with diverse backgrounds and experiences can no longer afford to share their time and talents? What happens when those responsible for sharing yoga are unable to afford the time or tuition to further their studies?

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While our students may highly value what we’re offering, our employers (mostly) do not. Our society in general doesn’t appreciate the hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars of training we’ve undertaken to be good at what we do. Nevertheless, those of us who are called to this teaching persevere as best we can.

Access the full Yoga Journal article HERE

Photo by Rima Kruciene on Unsplash
Yoga

Yoga of Recovery Weekend

Jivani Lisa

I’m pleased to offer a new online weekend program called “Yoga of Recovery – 6 Tenets to Heal What Binds You.” This will be held on Saturday and Sunday, December 9 & 10. The hours are 9:00AM – 6:00PM both days.

Join us as we explore the six tenets of Yoga of Recovery, combining the ancient paths of Yoga with basic concepts from Ayurveda and modern recovery techniques.

This weekend is OPEN TO EVERYONE – Yoga teachers as well as yoga students. Learn how to release addictive behaviors and unhealthy habits through these ancient teachings.

This module will include presentations, discussions, journaling, and physical practices.

COST: $399
EARLY BIRD: $249 before Nov. 27th

Register HERE

Yoga of Recovery weekend
Spirituality, Vibrant Health, Yoga

Bliss and Emptiness

Jivani Lisa

My husband and I like to discuss – and meditate on – the Buddhist concepts of bliss and emptiness, particularly the teaching on the union of bliss and emptiness. We all have our ideas of what “bliss” might be, and what “emptiness” seems to be, but since they are opposites, how could there be a union of these opposites? Maybe it’s like a yin-yang sort of situation. Maybe it’s like two sides of the same coin.

Earlier this month, during our retreat with Rupert Spira and friends at Garrison Institute in New York, I was surprised to hear Rupert give very simple suggestions during a meditation session. He was pointing out our very obvious experience in meditation upon Pure Being.

When we rest in Pure Being, we notice that Being IS emptiness “which we call peace.” At the same time, while resting in Pure Being, we notice that Being IS fullness “which we call happiness or bliss.” I recognized this instantly. Yes! Sometimes, when I look deep within my Being, there seems to be nothing there. Being is empty. But this isn’t dull or boring. It’s peaceful! Sometimes, when I look deep within my Being, I seem to be full of life or energy or love. This fullness is blissful! It feels wonderful – like I have everything I could ever possibly want.

Sometimes I see the emptiness, and sometimes I see the bliss. But if I look carefully, I have to admit they are both there all the time. Being IS the union of bliss and emptiness. WE are the union of bliss and emptiness. Both. And perfect. All the time.

May we see and trust

Spirituality, Yoga

Higher Consciousness

Jivani Lisa

I often come across relevant teachings from the Enneagram Institute: “Once we have identified with our ego-consciousness, it is difficult for us to imagine any alternative, even though it brings no relief and causes us to behave in ways that hurt ourselves and others. Ignorance and fear, rather than evil and ill-will, are therefore at the root of much of our suffering and the suffering of mankind, as many of the great spiritual traditions have taught.”

Yoga practice helps us identify and live our lives from a place of Higher Consciousness where we can slow down and really listen to each other, and share understanding and compassion. May it be so!

(Photo by Greg Rakozy on Unsplash)