Lakṣ

Since I started practicing yoga I have been adept to reading as a way to obtain understanding about meditation, philosophy, and the yoga poses. I read many of my teacher's books and talks that she gave as well as other teachers within my tradition. I had read other philosophy books before but I could not grasp what they were trying to elucidate. It felt like trying to hold water with my hand. It did not matter how much I tried, it felt like I could only get my hands wet at best but could not get enough to drink. Reading and studying my teacher's books somehow opened up my eyes and mind so I could embark in the process of discovering what is contained in the yoga books.

At the same time I was practicing meditation, philosophy and the yoga postures. Gradually I started to experience on my own many of the things that my teacher and so many yogins before had talked and written about. One of the things that I love about my teacher and many others I have encountered is that things are not taught as dogma. It is more taught with an attitude of "we practiced this and this is what we discovered and experience. Try it and see what you find out". It is something I remember and always keep in mind when I teach.

It is good to study and practice but there is another step to yoga. I was reminded of this through a dream I had a while ago. In this dream my teacher was telling me that what I was looking for was not in the books. She has said this before. Of Course this does not mean we should not study or practice. This means that when it comes to the ultimate goal of yoga, to know ourselves, the books can only teach you about certain aspects of the full experience but not all of it. We bring so many expectations and biases to our practice that do not allow us to have the full experience either. So once you have studied and practiced, one has to let go of all that, the knowledge and the biased practice, and truly immerse ourselves in the experience of what it is to Be. No judgements, no biases. A practice without expectations that allows for the full experience of who we are to unfold.

The Sanskrit root word Lakṣ (pronounced Laksh) encompasses this whole process to me.
It means  to perceive, to observe, to know, to understand your goal or aim fully.

I look forward to seeing you in class this week so we can explore this.

Blessings

Jorge Nihal