A Scene from the Apocalypse Tapestry, France Photo by Dennis Jarvi
Dear Reader,
How are you?
For many of us, these are difficult times. It’s natural to feel the strain of our problems and predicaments within our minds. I’m noticing various challenges arising within and around me that demand more emotional processing time. I’m really grateful I do seem to be able to grant myself that time, even though I feel the pressure of the “to-do” list as a constant niggle in the background.
Bliss is the absence of the “to-do” list, the delight of just being.
Although I have some worries, concerns and lamentable situations to deal with at the moment, yoga has taught me that these chitta-vritti (fluctuations) within my mind (chitta) need not dominate my mental sphere and drag my spirit down. Do you find that when you turn the full light of your full attention towards a difficult feeling, it starts to morph and move?
In the standard modern culture we reside within, we tend to identify too much with our minds. The mistake that most of us make is that we stay mentally embroiled, trying to problem-solve our way out. This means that when events in our lives take a turn for the worse we are in danger of getting overwhelmed by rumination. It can be liberating to realise that there is far more to our beingness than our thinking mind.
Yoga philosophy helps us to get clearer about the parts of our mind and how they relate to our true Self, which is not our mind or thoughts within it. When we attain this clarity, we find that we are more able to take a kinder, considered view of ourselves. This helps us relate to people and events in a more loving, wise and empowered way.
Chitta is the mind, the non-localised field of consciousness (yoga does not consider the mind to be in the head, or delineated by the brain) in which the fluctuations (vritti) of our thoughts, memories, hopes, dreams, reflections and perceptions arise.
Atman is the part of us (our true self) that observes this field of consciousness, it resides quietly, in the background of our lives, hiding in plain sight. Brahman is the unmanifested, unbounded, infinite consciousness that pervades all existence. It is the Witness to All that Is. In this way, it might be compared to God. However, Brahman is not a decision-maker, nor it does not have a sense of I, it does not think, judge, worry, or know right from wrong. It is beyond all concept of that, Brahman is purely Life Experiencing Itself.
Consciousness is not an entity, it is a constantly evolving process. We are part of Life, therefore part of this unfolding process of being. Whereas other parts of Life have evolved differently to us humans, we have evolved to have a mind that is composed of three parts.
The ahamkara - the I maker. This part of us delineates our atman from Brahman, it hides the fact that we are part of the whole of Life and separates it into a parcel of “I”, “me” and “mine.” Ahamkara leads us to become annoyed, frustrated and jealous if Life is not going well for us. Ahamkara leads us to become arrogant, self-satisfied, greedy and proud if Life does go well for us. Ahamkara cuts us off from the experience of Oneness with All of Life. This part of our mind is responsible for the division we see in the world.
Yoga practice helps us to calm the intensity of ahamkara so that we be comfortable in our individual identity and personality, yet at the same time recognise that we are a part of All That Is.
Manas - the part of us that processes and organises the sensory information that we receive from our inner and outer environment. Manas enables us to respond to what is going on for us and around us. Manas gets us through the day making all those decisions about where to go, what to do, who to speak to, when to eat, how to dress, etc etc. Manas can go into autopilot very easily, it doesn’t always produce a well-thought-out response! Also, manas can become attached to sensory input, craving more pleasant sensations and avoiding less unpleasant or challenging sensations. In this way, manas is helpful, in that it keeps us safe, and helps us to create a pleasant environment. However, if it becomes too strongly attached this can lead to addictions, laziness, obsessive behaviour and unhappiness.
Buddhi, is the intellectual, discerning part of our mind. We use buddhi to work out what is true for us, and for making discerning, thoughtful decisions. Buddhi takes a more considered approach than manas, accessing buddhi takes more time and deliberation. Yet we can have too much of a good thing! If we allow ourselves to get attached to this way of using our mind, we can get trapped in rigid beliefs and dogma. An example would be the scientist who cannot let go of the theory he has spent his life formulating, even when a wealth of new evidence comes to light that disproves it.
Behind all of this lies our witness consciousness Atman, watching phenomena in our inner and outer world arising, observing the process of Life unfolding before our eyes. Atman is connected to the whole Brahman and has a clear sense of being embedded in the web of Life. Atman is non-judgemental and apprehends Life as It is. Atman, like Brahman is beyond concepts, words, theories and ideas.
Our knowledge of the Atman allows us to temper the excesses of ahamkara, manas and buddhi, so that we may utilise these aspects of mind in a balanced way that supports our own well-being, and the well-being of the Life around us. When the three aspects of chitta are calmed by viewing Life from the perspective of the atman, the mind the chitti-vritti (mental fluctuations) are calmed.
Stepping more frequently into this Witness Consciousness does not make Life peachy, necessarily. Life will continue to do its thing, presenting us with new scenarios some favourable, some challenging. Yet, by meeting Life as It is, we get to experience the rich spectrum of colours; the rough and smooth textures; the mystery contained within this magical tapestry.
Perhaps the way to flow with Life is to really deepen our appreciation of it, without making it all about us, without becoming attached, without even necessarily assigning a meaning to it. In this way, we get out of the way and let Life express itself through us to become more harmonious, vibrant and beautiful.
In-Person Yoga this Monday 15th May 1:30 - 3 pm
at Union Church, Crouch End, N8
There is no Monday morning meditation as I’m travelling back from Norfolk then, but the Tuesday evening Holistic Somatics Class on Zoom is running!
Private Yoga Classes Available
If you’re interested in private yoga classes, I now have some space on Wednesdays, just reply to this email if you’d like a lesson (it can be online, or at your home near Crouch End, or at my home).
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