to go out or not?
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 spangled |
Re: Moderation | ||
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Posts: 3448 (07/28/04 07:30:31) |
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bayouhudson |
and what's wrong with..... | ||
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Posts: 67 (07/28/04 08:22:42) |
What's wrong with drinking the Ashtangi Koolaid?
Not a damn thing. Oh, my friends and co-workers think I'm totally obsessed with doing a six day a week practice, but then they've never seen me look so radiant and healthy and bursting with life. You have to admit that after some time you start to get perspectives on your friends/relations.....etc....you hear more loudly their complaints about being over worked, stressed out, drinking too much, over eating, smoking too much, too much this, too little that, blah, blah, blah....yet, you're considered obsessed with yoga by doing something 6 days a week that alleviates allot of the aforementioned crapola? Funny..... I guess daily  practice quiets your inner crap so you can listen to everyone else's!
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orbyroy |
Moderation | ||
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Posts: 634 (07/28/04 08:50:58) |
 You bring up many good points Paul... Though moderation is subjective, that's part of it's purpose I think. The asana work I do 5 or 6 days a week is peanuts to some people, and way over the top for others. Btw...If someone is hobbling around, or being repeatedly injured, or in constant pain from their practice, there's a good chance they are engaging in excess. It could come from 1 day a week excess, or 6 day a week excess. Not only do I consider moderation to be subjective, I think its also a a tool for self evaluation. Think of the crack comments above in the light of All things in moderation. What is taking crack? Engaging in recreational drugs, correct? So evaluate the correct doing. Moderation in recreational drugs probably doesn't include smoking crack. (I know it was intended as a joke). It can also be considered to be an irresponsible action, for the harm that can come a result of doing it. Spending money on frivolous things is also irresponsible...though I would suggest more moderate than smoking crack...I think I'm going to get that iPod after all.  All things in moderation is not a license to do, or try anything, but an opportunity for self investigatin. Not unlike yoga imho. peace roy |
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cobragrrl |
all things in moderation... | ||
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Posts: 265 (07/28/04 13:22:34) |
hmmm...so if you eat excessively healthy you should moderate by throwing in a bit of junk food? you should do things in moderation if you're likely to go overboard when you're in a complete state of denial. but if you actually have the will and discipline and don't feel denied when doing healthy things, which practicing yoga,eating well, and other practices are, then don't be moderate. you should moderate on the things that might kill your body like drinking alcohol and smoking. i think on a spiritual path it takes a lot of effort, more than we realize, and you better be excessive about it if you want to make progress.
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VindictiveCynic |
Re: all things in moderation... | ||
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Posts: 51 (07/28/04 14:21:51) |
you should moderate on the things that might kill your body like drinking alcohol and smoking.
A serious Yogi ( not the pseudo ones who just practice Asanas to remain healthy) should abstain from all forms of intoxicants including but not limited to caffeine, choclates,sodas. Can you do that ? 
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Mr Donutsu |
Re: all things in moderation... | ||
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Posts: 200 (07/28/04 15:04:24) |
A "serious yogi" would abstain from internet discussion boards too.
Paul |
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susiegb |
Re: all things in moderation... | ||
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Posts: 289 (07/28/04 15:08:37) |
Sometimes I think that if we spent as much time just *being*, as we spend obsessing about the minutiae of stuff that is, in the end, just detail, we'd probably all be enlightened beings by now!!
It's not the rules, it's the practicing that teaches. It's not the mind but the heart that we need to listen to ... (sorry, I couldn't help myself <grin>) |
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elegant homunculus |
Re: all things in moderation... | ||
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Posts: 3496 (07/28/04 19:23:53) |
A "serious yogi" would abstain from internet discussion boards too.
Got any links to back that up? |
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dalikiefer |
Re: Moderation | ||
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Posts: 45 (07/29/04 00:12:55) |
I think the issue here is whether or not your practice - whether it is six days a week or not - is an escape from life and 'issues' or a means to live fully and scorch those samskara-s.
If it is an escape then in many respects it will be as destructive in the long run as any addiction and will alienate you from people. Astanga should never do this - although I know the lifestyle is alienating is some respects. After reading HH the Dalai Lama's Art of Happiness I was inspired in practice to do this because it makes me happy - which then rubs off on the people I care about. However after speaking to my teacher - who spent many years working with Richard Freeman - I am trying to revise it so that I am doing this FOR the people I care about. Easier said than done I know - and in many ways my practice can be an escape but this is what we're supposed to be undoing. We can't use this as an excuse for inaction - othwise we would never get anywhere. Cheers |
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Mr Donutsu |
Re: all things in moderation... | ||
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Posts: 200 (07/29/04 05:00:57) |
"Got any links to back that up"
Um, perhaps something like this: "...he must avoid the following as much as possible: mixing with vulgar people; going to crowded areas for recreation; reading vulgar books which disturb the mind; going to theaters and restaurants; and conversing secretly with strangers of the opposite sex." Now you might argue that applying this to the Ezboard here is a bit of a stretch of the original intent, but perhaps not? And also, we have the problem that the yogi who wrote this is a known coffee drinker (doesn't even try to hide it!!!), so can we truly trust any of his proscriptions. Sigh, I guess we'll have to wait for the VindictiveCycnic to set us straight.
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spangled |
Re: all things in moderation... | ||
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Posts: 3448 (07/29/04 05:09:03) |
At my stay at Swami Satyananda's Alakh Bara ashram we had coffee once a week. And the Gulab Jam was the best I've ever tasted.
There are two issues here - does the substance interfere physically with whatever practice you undertake, or is liking a particular sensation the same as having an attachment for it? There are also two strands of yoga - the path of asceticism and denial (tapas), and the path of embracing, most familiar in tantra. |
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bayouhudson |
ashtanga escapism? | ||
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Posts: 67 (07/29/04 06:43:08) |
"I think the issue here is whether or not your practice - whether it is six days a week or not - is an escape from life and 'issues' or a means to live fully and scorch those samskara-s." -------
I thought by it's very nature the ashtanga practice doesn't allow escapism (if practised as prescribed) in that the practice transforms/trans-mutates any intentions of escapism (conscious or not) into something else, over time? You know, jungle physician kicking the ass of delusion thingy....???? |
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JitKaur |
Dancing: The Solution | ||
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Posts: 71 (07/29/04 10:00:52) |
Instead of club dancing, take up swing dancing. The gigs are earlier in the evening, the crowd is populated by people who work hard at their own practice (swing dancing,) and the majority of dancers drink water throughout the night.
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elegant homunculus |
Re: Dancing: The Solution | ||
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Posts: 3496 (07/29/04 10:25:00) |
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dalikiefer |
Re: ashtanga escapism? | ||
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Posts: 45 (07/29/04 22:13:41) |
I completely agree - Astanga when practiced with faith and ardent energy does transform everything in time. But letting go of the ego is a continuous effort and for many I think that their can practice in fact have an opposite effect. For example by enforcing and creating more illusions rather than dissolving them.
For me its important to realise why I practice - and I try to cultivate the Yama and Niyama with as much effort as Asana and Pranayama to keep that ego in check and to bring what I learn from the practice into my life. |
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yogavajra |
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Posts: 105 (05/22/08 02:05:28) |
...hmmm, this one is close to my heart (no pun intended)!
I have always been a part of the pub/club culture here in the UK. I think it would be arrogant to presume that we know better just because we practice yoga. I have met some of the wisest and atoned people over a pint. 
I think you would have to question your motives for NOT 'going out'. Is it because those smelly drinkers don't understand you and your agenda - arrogant? Is it because you think that you can somehow avoid your personal karma by being clean and healthy - naïve? Or is it because for you it may be demonstrative of weakness and something that you need to address? Complex enough for there not to be a simple answer, only you can get to the bottom of this one. Me, I gave up beating myself up about my social life a long time ago. If I wanted the body of a god I wouldn't ever neck a pint or smoke a 'rolly'. However, been there and (sort of) done that - and to be honest I felt myself becoming pre-occupied with the physical to the detriment of my other practices...maybe thats just my pathology though. Good luck and have a pint for me! Tony... |
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mysore101 |
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Posts: 2 (06/16/08 03:57:57) |
Verse 61. Do Not Associate With The Ignorant
Explanation: People need companions. But if one does not find a person who is better than, or at least equal to oneself, it is better to be alone rather than keep company with foolish people. There is no profitable companionship with fools. |
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YogaVane |
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Posts: 869 (06/16/08 04:03:08) Lady Governess |
It might help develop compassion!
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amechan |
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Posts: 24 (06/17/08 18:12:51) |
yogavane makes a good point! i think the danger in the interpretation of this verse is a kind of self-righteousness or smugness. however, certainly one might
not want to spend a goodly amount of time with individuals who might encourage destructive behavior, for instance. i think perhaps it might be best to find a
balance between the two extremes?
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Floss |
Prem's Rules | ||
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Posts: 18 (06/17/08 20:16:34) |
Quoting from Anthony 'Prem' Carlisi's book " The Only Way Out Is In "
'As you have probably already guessed, I have no "rules" that I live by in regards to sex, ganja, coffee, alcohol, food, sleep, or other lifestyle choices. I live by the "guidelines" laid out by these systems of Yoga, Ayurveda and Tantra, as a reference, yet I have my own "internal barometer" to guage whether something works or not. My main criteria is if something takes me "in" or "out". That is, if I'm feeling clear, at ease, present, joyful, playful, I know I am on the right track. If I feel tight inside, heavy, confused, spaced out, serious, depressed during or afterwards... I know I am off. I am no longer afraid of anything in life for it's not the outwside thing to be aware of, it's the internal reaction to it. For everything on this planet to me is considered divine. So I advise you to do the same. Don't take all this "spiritual" stuff so seriously and box yourself in with a lot of unnecessary rules and regulations.' |
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