Your True Yoga Teacher

The mind, your mind, seeks the truth. That is the role and purpose of your mind. But sometimes it forgets about it's true purpose. And so your mind wanders off. You get confused. You suffer. And then you come back looking for the truth.

This quest for truth is the need to understand things as they are. What is the truth of your existence? For example, are you and everything around you simply manifestions of one supreme Beingness? Or are you separate and finite and distinct? What is your connection to the universe?

My view is that you are the stuff of the universe. You arose from it. The universe creates people. Indeed, the universe "peoples", just as the ocean waves. A wave is simply a momentary phenomena on the surface of the ocean. When the wave disappears, the ocean remains. You are the ocean, not just the wave. You are a unique and specific self-expression of the ocean, for sure, but you are still the ocean.

"Avidya" can be defined as "not being with life as it is". Avidya is not seeing things clearly, not seeing the truth. You need to see things clearly.

And this is why I like mirrors in the yoga room. This part Bikram certainly got right. If you're in a yoga studio with mirrors, use them. Look in the mirror. What do you see? It's you. Soak yourself up! Gaze at yourself. Intently. You might see that you're a wave, you're a part of everything.

There's a saying that the teacher will show up when the student is ready. Who's your teacher? How would you know when you've finally met? Well, look in the mirror. Guess what? You're the teacher.

I'm not the teacher when I'm standing in front of a bunch of yoga students. They are their own teachers. The purpose of yoga is to get into a deeper relationship with yourself. Or more correctly: with your Self. Your Self is your teacher. Listen to your Self.

Me and Erich at Kripalu, April 2011

And how the heck do you do that? Where do you even start? Well, I would highly recommend that you have a listen to Erich Schiffmann sometime. I've practiced with him, read his book, and gave him a big hug. If you've got 15 minutes of uninterrupted time available, then do yourself a favour. Let Erich take you on a tour inside: Erich leads you in meditation.

Peace.