Embodied Health

By Denver Clark, C-IAYT

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that”: – Dr Martin Luther King Jr

In honor of Dr Martin Luther King Jr and with respect to the myriad of emotions filling us all now in the United States, I think it’s time to consider what these words above actually mean.

What I find to be so interesting about spiritual leaders who move us like Dr King, Mother Theresa, Desmond Tutu and others is that their message is the same. Love concurs all. To make this message even more powerful, you should understand that ancient yogis have been spreading this message for over 5,000 years themselves.

In yoga philosophy, there are 9 emotions or Rasas that guide us though life. These are:

• Shringara: Love or beauty
• Hasya: Laughter
• Karuna: Sorrow or compassion
• Raudra: Anger
• Veera: Heroism or courage
• Bhayanaka: Terror or fear
• Bibhatsa: Disgust
• Adbhuta: Surprise or wonder
• Shanta: Peace or tranquility

Above all these emotions, Love is considered the most powerful as it connects us in unity with all beings, representing a state of pure bliss which is the doorway to the ultimate goal of yoga, liberation or “moksha.”

But what does it mean to truly tap into the emotion of love and to lead with love in all we do?

It’s not enough to say the word to those you meet as you bow with hands in prayer position. It’s not fodder for toxic positivity, meeting resistance or conflict with a forced smile and “let’s all just love one another.” The philosophy of yoga says there is much more.

Love has no conditions

In the yoga sutras of Patanjali, Sutra 1.33 states: “Infusing the mind with friendliness, compassion, cheerfulness, and uninvolved observation in relation to those living a happy, miserable, virtuous, and non-virtuous life respectively, results in reclaiming a pristine state of mind.”

“Uninvolved observation” is translated by many to connect us to Aparigraha or non-attachment. This means releasing our ideas of who people should be and how they should act. Many practitioners use Metta Bhavana or “compassion” meditation to help reach this deep state of compassion for those who our ego makes it difficult to forgive or accept.

Those who have hurt us, those who oppose us, those who have less than us, those who are different than us…. The person who came into class late and snapped their yoga mat open making a loud noise…. The neighbor who flies the flag of the political opponent……the categorization of “other;” These limiting beliefs exist in our ego-mind, the part of us that separates and divides. This division is for less-evolved, less enlightened minds, not those working on the yogic path. We cannot love only some in this world. According to the great sages, we must love all because all of us are connected in the grand vibration of life as one. Until we are practicing this universal love, we are not practicing yoga.

Love Harms no one – including us

This acceptance of all does not require us to sacrifice our health, safety or happiness because the first moral observance we learn in the 8-fold path of yoga (before even postures) is Ahimsa – to do no harm.

The practice of ahimsa asks us to be aware of not only how we treat others but perhaps even more importantly, how we treat ourselves. This is because our external treatment of those around us is the mirror of the way we treat ourselves inside. This mirror may be covered with the dust of our past pain and karmic actions or inactions. Through perseverance, learning about our own likes and dislikes, fears and patterns of behavior and dedicated work to release the self-induced suffering we create, we can reach a state of equilibrium where we walk the path that does the least amount of harm to us and by proxy, those we come into contact with.

Love takes dedicated work and sacrifice.

Think of the unconditional love and devotion a parent has for their child. Many parents have described this feeling of ultimate love for the baby they raise and yet, this child often brings more conflict into the home. Endless nights without sleep, hundreds of inconvenient messes, late arrivals, canceled plans and less money in the bank account. And yet, ask most parents if those things matter and they will tell you they’d do it a million times over for the deep connected love they feel for their child.

When learning to love ourselves or others unconditionally, sacrifices must be made. We are called to let go of the habitual patterns of thinking and acting that serve our small selves, trading convenience and comfort for moments that may feel less than glamorous. Learning we are wrong to believe a group of people is a certain way, asking forgiveness, swallowing our pride and doing better next time. These things require us to put our ego to bed and look sometimes less than perfect. They create moments where those around us become angry and may even cause old relationships to dissolve.

This kind of love requires that we listen more than we talk and walk with humility. In a world where image rules and external desires drive most people, it can be lonely to say no to appeasing the small self. And yet, to truly understand and live in love, it is absolutely necessary.

Love connects us with our deepest bliss

 “Love is the bridge between you and everything.” – Rumi

The 8-limbed path of yoga is designed to bring our attention inward through what is mentioned in the Vedas as the panchamaya kosha system of the subtle body. These 5-layers of increasingly subtle sheaths moves us from identifying with our body, to connecting with a sense of self-awareness beyond all physical, mental and emotional experience. When we treat our bodies with real love, embody love in every breath holding it energetically and understand how to release our ruminating thoughts and focus on pure love and light, we access anandamaya kosha – the bliss layer.

Leading with love is the only way.

“Love ultimately, is true love beyond emotion, it is the recognition of yourself in the other.” – Eckhart Tolle

And so, inspired by the many great teachers who have brought us to this point, I implore you now more than ever to open your heart to universal love. Do the work. Demonstrate for the world what real love is, for “All we need is love.” – The Beatles