Volume XXIII, No. 2, May 2014 Suffering By H. H. Sri Swami Satchidananda In a lecture, Swamiji was asked, “Can there be true God- consciousness even while living and functioning in the physical world, with all its suffering and misery?” This was Swamiji’s reply. God-consciousness, or Samadhi, doesn’t mean that one just sits motionless like a rock! True God-realization involves realizing God right here and now, bringing the knowledge and equanimity gained in silent, mystical communion with the Supreme down to the world. That is Sahaja Samadhi–the natural Samadhi. The realized person remains in constant union, constant identification with God, yet he continues to use his body and mind for the benefit of humanity. We have the mind and body for this purpose– and here we are! The important point is that so long as we are living in this physical world, the mind and body are still subject to the laws of matter. I know it sounds hard, but we must remember that when we see suffering, it is not the immortal Self that suffers. It is difficult, yet let us remember that it is not our essence– our true identity as children of God–that undergoes anguish and pain. Even a realized person, what we call a Jivanmukta, will have to live out his Karma until he is finally free. That is why great saints like Ramakrishna and Ramana Maharshi experienced cancer. Often I am asked, “Why should such great souls have such horrid diseases? They even appear to have suffered. “The answer is that as the Self, they never had (Continued on Page 3) Inside Yoga for Athletes by Alexandra DeSiato p. 8 Delving into the Deep Rest of Yoga Nidra Suffering by Sri Swami Satchidananda p. 1 Written by Stacy Kamala Waltman p. 9 From the Editor by Bharata Wingham p. 2 Karma Yoga: At Your Selfless Serviceby Karuna Maze p. 11 Evolution and Yoga by Sri Swami Sivananda p. 3 Yoga Therapy for Total Hip Replacement Contentment By Paddy San Gibraltar p. 4 by Sofia Friedman, Ph. D. p. 12 Bhagavad Gita Study Staffing at the Integral Yoga Academy and Yogaville Commentary by Swami Asokananda p. 5 by Kanta Haran p. 16 Inside the Yoga Sutras by Reverend Jaganath Carrera p. 6 The IYTA News Column by Brahmi Milliman p. 17 Centennial Celebration at Yogaville p. 7 Senior Speakers’ Schedules p. 18 Mindful Asana by Francesca Gobeille p. 8 Calendar of Upcoming Programs at Yogaville p. 19 The Goal of Integral Yoga® Integral Yoga Teachers Association The goal of Integral Yoga, and the birthright of every indi- The Integral Yoga Teachers Association is a membership vidual is to realize the spiritual unity behind all the diversities association open to all Integral Yoga teachers. Its mission is in the entire creation and to live harmoniously as members to provide mutual support and spiritual fellowship, to share of one universal family. information, to provide inspiration, and to conduct ongoing training and guidance. This goal is achieved by maintaining our natural condition of a body of optimum health and strength, senses under total Newsletter Editor: Bharata Wingham control, a mind well-disciplined, clear and calm, an intellect as Graphic Design: Anand Shiva Hervé sharp as a razor, a will as strong and pliable as steel, a heart Photos: Madhavan Aubert, Archives full of unconditional love and compassion, an ego as pure as a Copy Editors: Jeff Curry, Tiffainy Stevenson crystal, and a life filled with Supreme Peace and Joy. Brahmi Milliman, Lakshmi Fradianni Membership Coordinator: Brahmi Milliman Attain this through asanas, pranayama, chanting of Holy Names, self-discipline, selfless action, mantra japa, Integral Yoga Teachers Association meditation, study and reflection. Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville 108 Yogaville Way, Buckingham, VA 23921 USA Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti. Tel: 434.969.3121, ext. 177 Fax: 434.969.1303 Ever yours in Yoga, E-mail (Newsletter): [email protected] E-mail (Membership): [email protected] E-mail (Director): [email protected] Website: www.iyta.org From The Editor Welcome to our latest edition of the IYTA as you undergo the dualities of life (praise and blame, success Newsletter. This issue covers a large range and failure, profit and loss, etc.). Reverend Jaganath Carrera of practices and applications of Integral expands on the role of pain in our spiritual journey as put forth Yoga in different modern and post-modern in his book on Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, Inside the Yoga Sutras. settings. Also, we are excited to announce “Sutra 2.1. Accepting pain as help for purification, study, and the Global Garland 2014 Centennial surrender to the Supreme Being constitute Yoga in practice… Celebration at Yogaville. Tapas is not resignation, a passive submission to the sorrows of life; it is the embracing of pain as friend and teacher.” We begin the issue with Sri Gurudev’s discussion of suffering. He makes it clear that as long as we have a body and mind Delving into the Deep Rest of Yoga Nidra is an opportunity in this world we will experience some form of suffering. “I presented to us by Stacy Kamala Waltman. Who could resist? know it sounds hard, but we must remember that when we see suffering, it is not the immortal Self that suffers. It is Mindful Asana by Francesca Gobeille emphasizes the difficult, yet let us remember that it is not our essence–our importance of approaching our asanas. “…as I felt my way true identity as children of God–that undergoes anguish and through living postures realized that there is, indeed, no pain. Even a realized person, what we call a Jivanmukta, will difference between my morning sitting meditation and have to live out his Karma until he is finally free.” That true evening asanas.” freedom from suffering comes from identifying with the ‘I the Witness”, not “I the sufferer.” Yoga for Athletes by Alexandra DeSiato shares with us how, ”In two important ways, Yoga mirrors the training of Sri Swami Sivananda describes how the “last process of endurance and team-sport athletes.” evolution is called Yoga.” Describing what has been called in the perennial philosophy, “The Great Chain of Being, “This Yoga Therapy for Total Hip Replacement by Sofia Friedman, remarkable unfolding from the stone to the God goes on Ph. D. tells us how she “was caught in a turmoil of devastating through millions of years, through eons of time. But in the emotions that kept me in a negative frame of mind. Regaining individual this unfolding takes place more rapidly and quickly my sense of well-being became imperative and I embarked on a with all the force of its past behind it.” self-healing trip which was the roller coaster ride of my life! And how she “…believed that through Yoga, I would be able to get Swami Asokananda brings us another gem from the Bhagavadback on my own two feet and pursue my self-sufficiency.” And Gita and begins by pointing out that, “Spiritual life may withbe verythe constant practice of Yoga exercises she did just that. challenging, but it’s not very complicated: 1) Separate the feeling of “I” from the gunas of the mind (tamas-dullness,Werajas hope- you also enjoy the other enlightening articles and restlessness, and sattwa-balance), and 2) Keep the mindofferings steady of this issue. Om Shanti, Bharata IYTA Newsletter • May 2014 • Page 2 (Continued from Page 1) cancer. Their bodies were diseased, their minds experienced the cancer and after the cancer he would still be the Self. profound pain, and yet they themselves were watching–yes, He had attained this God-conscious state and he rested in like bystanders. I saw it myself when I had the great privilege that peace. For myself, I could no longer stand the sight of to be with Ramana Maharshi before he left his body. I could it. I wept and told him so; I told him that I wanted to go. hardly stand the sight, yet he smiled and teased me and the Fourteen days before he left the body, I took leave of him. others as if we were fools. “What kind of Yoga is this, eh?” And he understood; he just nodded his head. I went straight to He would say, “Why do you worry so? This body is just Rishikesh, and the day I arrived the radio brought the news that undergoing its Karma.“ Ramana Maharshi had passed away. Occasionally he would cry out in pain–and then he would Ramana Maharshi witnessed the mental and physical feelings, smile, “Ah, the poor mind can’t bear it. Poor mind, poor resting secure in the knowledge that everything in this world body, it seems to you a heavy burden, eh?” He underwent a must pass away. Through detachment, through constant cancer operation without any sedatives–a cancer operation! questioning, we can realize this God-conscious-state too. It is The doctors said it would be impossible without anesthesia. our own true and abiding nature. But Ramana Maharshi steadfastly refused. “No. Just do it.” As they were removing the cancer: “Poor arm, tsk, tsk, tsk... “Who am I, having this hunger? Who is this, feeling thirsty? I told them not to operate on you but they insisted. Okay. Who is this who feels unhappy? Am I always this way? No?” So now you must be strong and accept it.“ He spoke with I seem to go through these moods, thoughts, feelings, wants. profound compassion, as if he were consoling somebody I experience them–they come and go; ‘I’ remain.” So, I else. And really he was talking to his own body, telling his am something different than them.