{Yesterday, our Coach...absorbed in contemplation. Not just an athlete whose feats are unmatched, Coach is a philosopher whose unique, powerful Teachings are devoted to helping humanity reMember an Ancient Path of Sweat and Stillness known as 'yoga'. It was Coach's amazing vision, many years ago, to use an unmatched caliber of multidisciplined Path of Yoga known as Wholistic Fitness® to re-instill the Passion For Enlightenment and Inner Attainment instead of the current addiction to EnterTainment. i asked him about his natural state of being absorbed in contemplation, he just smiled and replied, "Well...it is hard for me to relate to anyone who is bored with life...to me, especially during these Kali Yuga times, there is always way too much to ruminate about when i am Practicing not-overthinking!" - Temple Manager Ananda}
***
On June 18th, 2006 i did a DL devoted toward a WF Training Tenet:
Perpetuation of Rationalization.
In that piece, i used a Student's philosophical conundrum about killing a bug to illustrate the intensity of the yogic Practice of Ahimsa (non-violence). You may wish to review that particular DL in the Archives, for i reset in it a tough spiritual principle that will break most of our backs; to See all Bugs as our Teachers. In fact, they do not need to be bugs at all, but rather any other creature of endless forms that strike instant Fear in us. Can we accept those "Fear Dragons" as our most benevolent Teachers or deities or gurus; think here of Jesus, Gandhi, God, Whatever/Whomever...could your killing of that spider or snake or mosquito REALLY be compared to you killing the Buddha or slicing the head off of Mother Teresa?
Answer is:
Ab-so-friggin'-lute-ly.
No doubt about it.
"As you sow, so shall you reap."
- Jesus
"Do no harm."
- Buddha
"Do not kill."
- 1st Commandment
{So, whaddya goin to do in this Moment? Leave your yoga on the mat or take your Practice into the handling of this Spider in your bathroom? Will you leave the Spider Being alone or carefully transfer this Spider outside or what? Your choice may dictate a WHOLE LOT MORE than your ego might wish to consider!}
To ANYONE who has reMembered just a miniscule GRAIN of their Yogic Training or Inner Work, they immediately realize the depth of the first Yogic Yama: Ahimsa or Non-Violence. Squash the bug, kill the spider and you absolutely have no stance whatsoever to EVER SAY ANYTHING OF INTEGRITY about the Bush Administration's war policy, abortion, the raping of Mother Earth, Global Warming, increased gas prices, divorce, the high cost of living (which is continually built upon the high cost of killing), etc., etc., etc.
Very high Jainin yogis would actually sweep or have swept for them, the path ahead of their feet so as not to inflict harm or death upon any little bugs. Taken one step further (forgive the pun), these same yogis would be very critical if you or i just flopped ourselves down onto a chair or couch unconsciously. Why? Well, because, the very fibers of the couch are in a process of incarnation and you inflicting unconscious violence upon their matter harms both yours and the 'couchs' chances for a more Higher Incarnation next time around the Wheel of Samsara!
At what level, oh noble yogin, do you REALLY feel capable of playing the Game?
Regardless of your answer, i will say this to you;
One cannot practice violence in their own personal life and then plead innocent in other matters. Or as the Zen saying goes,
"Behind each jewel
are three thousand
sweating horses."
Or, as i have Taught you in this forum for years;
"All Karma is God."
So, having prefaced it this Way, here is how i answered the Student's question about her killing of a bug and my Gift of several spiritual arrows that she can use in the future to help her and the karmic repercussions when faced with this "workout" next time...
May this entry help you and all Sentient Beings Everywhere...
"There is only one great adventure and that is inwards toward the self."
- Henry Miller
namaste,
coach
{Read the rest of Coach's once again, utterly unique and transforming answer over at DIRECT LINES: Subscription}
