Yoga Fail…Offending the Other

I don’t like to hurt another’s feelings on any level.  I think that’s true of most people.  For me, however, as a yogini, an empath, and an intuitive when I hurt another I deeply suffer.  From a yogic perspective, I understand when I hurt another I hurt myself.  From an empathic perspective, I feel the hurt.  Finally, from an intuitive perspective I know that I shoulda known better.

This week I offended someone I care about in my personal life because of my yoga.  Now I know what you are thinking because I had the same thought, “It’s a choice to be offended.  You can’t actually offend someone.”  Well, I’ve dove deep into this and I don’t believe it.  I know and feel as a yogi  I have not only the skills, but the greater responsibility to understand a person, show compassion for a person, and be respectful to a person in the space they are in than they actually do to me.  Being a yogini is a great responsibility on that level.  Being a light bearer and healer is an even greater responsibility on that level.  We’ve been blessed with education, gifts, and experience most people have not been blessed with.  We must be able to hold space better.

I’m sure your curious what I did to create conflict and how yoga could be offensive.  I practice Raja Yoga.  This is the royal path of yoga and includes all forms of yoga including Bhakti or devotion, Karma or service, and finally Jnana or knowledge.  Given my nature, I find most connection to God through the practice of the  yoga of knowledge or Jnana.  It is the practice of Jnana  to question everything and then deeply absorb the self in gaining an understanding of the answer.  A typical practice for a person embracing Jnana yoga is to begin the morning meditation with the question, “Who am I?”  This puts you in a state of contemplation so profound breakthroughs are bound to happen.

Another practice is to question the existence of God.  Keep in mind yoga is a spiritual practice believing in the presence of one deity.  Keep in mind we practice yoga to slow the thinking mind to have a tangible experience of God.  Keep in mind every time you go to your mat you go to commune with that deity. Keep in mind the Vedas state that questioning the existence of God is silly as clearly matter cannot manifest itself and there is therefore a creative force.  Keep in mind I believe in God.   Still, questioning the existence of God becomes a powerful means by which to integrate the intellectual, the emotional, and the physical experience of God.  It actually deepens the experience of God. It also helps me relate to others who are in Shakti Pad (the test of the ego).  This is  a place of spiritual development where you quit, bounce, or become master.

This is very difficult for many with deep religious upbringing to understand.

As a teacher of yoga, it is my job to take a person to a space where they can go to their own spaces of understanding.  It is not my job to process my own processes with another.  And certainly on a bamboo floor it is not my job to teach yoga in any fashion that is dogmatic.  In my life it is my job to lead as example and simply let the teachings of yoga be my life, therefore inspiring others.  When questioning, when contemplating, it is really a personal thing.  It’s a question for God, not others.  All answers are revealed by God through deep introspection, meditation, prayer, and communion with nature.  Rarely are answers found through others with the exception of possibly the Guru.  And usually the Guru simply tells you to find your own answers by going within.

Please forgive me.  I lost myself.

OM, Pamela