Transforming darkness to nectar
Yoga is one of the six fundamental paths in India called Darsana, which translates “to see” or “sight”, “view”, “point of view”, or even “a certain way of seeing”. One way to understand this, described by D.K.V. Desikachar in his book The Heart of Yoga, is to see a mirror that you use to look inside yourself. Like this, yoga gives us a way of seeing, that allows us the opportunity to better recognize ourselves. We naturally will look deeper inside ourselves as we progress down the path of yoga. Sounds kind of…scary. Who wants to look deeper inside, that’s where we hide all of our “pain” right? Fears, anxiety, anger, hatred, jealousy, insecurity, and…should I continue? But what about happiness, and joy, and experiencing your heart and the stillness that lies there? Mark Nepo asks in Seven Thousand Ways to Listen, “Can you softened your pain till it forms a nectar in your heart? Have you eaten of this nectar? Can you search for the pain softened in others and eat of their nectar? ” Here in Colorado we get to enjoy those incredibly juicy peaches from palisade, can’t you just taste the luscious nectar inside? The famous composer Beethoven, lost his hearing at a relatively young age. He was in deep despair over the progression of his hearing loss and how it was effecting his gift of music. On October 6, 1802, he writes a letter to his brothers confessing to them his deep despair and loss of interest in continuing on this journey of life, and that he was actually considering suiside. In a way this letter was both a surrender to and acceptance of his gift and his loss. He never sent the letter and resolved to live finding the nectar in his pain, and bringing that nectar through his incredible gift of music. The letter was found shortly after his death in March of 1827. This kind of work requires going into the fire in a sense. But how? “It is said that the souls intent on living will reach deep into their wound and bring out the fire living there, which out in the open turns to light. It is said that those intent on making things better will reach deep into their minds and bring out the fire there, which out in the open turns to truth. It is said that those who love like rain soothe every fire” (again ~ Mark Nepo). Through your practice of yoga you courageously reach into the fire. As you surrender to each breath, you stand in front of the mirror that allows you to see inside yourself. This process done again and again softens the pain and transforms it to nectar. I hope your mouth is watering at the thought. Won’t you take that first step? It’s so juicy…
Om Shanti - Peace
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