Abhijata was an inspiration!!! Her stories as the grandchild of Guruji are heartfelt and you can imagine yourself right there. Here are some tid-bits from my notes, which were hard to take because I didn't want to miss hearing anything, she was so engaging! [Some of the quotes may be not exactly word for word]
Yoga cannot be explained by words, you have to experience it. Yoga cannot be explained or understood by words only. Guruji went from "Experience to the word, not word to experience."
"If you are honest with your approach, the goal is near." -Abhijata
Guruji said "The body is universal, the mind is individual."
"I am not a genius, I am common sense." -Guruji
Abhijata explained that Guruji defined Yoga in 5 ways:
1. Snia (?) Vritti Nirodhah-Each fiber is held, each organ, all is involved
2. ? Vritti Nirodhah-The interior connections of the body from skin to Self and from Self to skin. Guruji talked about how we take holidays then come home and say we need a vacation from our vacation. Guruji said "my holiday, my work, my sadhana is in my practice"
3. Dukha Vritti Nirodhah-Dukha is complaints, these stop you from seeing what truly is. Abhijata was excited to do sirsasana for 20 minutes and she was excited to tell Guruji that she did it. He then asked her what she did while doing it. She said she did sirsasana! He said, no what were you doing in it? If you are focused on ending the pose or not paying attention because of pain or thoughts, then you are wasting time. Guruji fell and hurt his knee, Abhijata told him to stay home from teaching the Medical Class. Guruji would not stay home, he said "My body has pain, but I am alright." He said his students needed him.
4. Samskara Vritti Nirodhah-Why do we do yoga and our partners or friends do not? It is because we have a deep samskara (imprint). Abhijata was having trouble with her sacrum when she was trying to do backbends, it was really stiff. Guruji saw and told her to stand at the end of the trestle and turn her feet out like "Charlie Chaplin." She was scared and didn't want to do it because the feet are not 'supposed' to turn out. She did it, then asked Guruji why it helped and he said because the sacrum moves better that way; simple answer-This is de-conditioning!
"Transformation can only happen through practice. Without being watchful, there is no sensitivity" -Abhijata
5. ? Vritti Nirodhah-Pure head + Pure heart=Kriya Yoga, total surrendor
"Without intelligence, there is no sensitivity. Without sensitivity, there is no intelligence."-Abhijata.
Sensitivity to reflection, not the action.
Discipline and purity should come from within
Yoga is for the culture of the mind
Be aware of every pose
Kriya Yoga-Union of a Pure head & a Pure heart:
1. Tapas-PROCESS-hard work, heat, burn, shine, fire=gives the bright light of wisdom & purity. Teaches the conduct of life. Abhyasa prepares us for tapas.
2. Svadhyaya-STATE-When you are with yourself, you do not have to add things-get this or that, need this or that. Create awareness. Once an action is done, don't be attached to the action! Guruji said "I do not act for the action."
"Life means to be alive, problems will always be there, navigate with yoga through them." -Guruji
3. Ishvara Pranidana-EMOTION-This cannot be taught. Action is the closest to being yours, we don't own the breath, it is borrowed from the cosmos, we do not own this body, it belongs to God. This is an offering to God.
....At the end of Guruji's life, he was asking God to take him, this made Abhijata sad. She told him that if the work is never ending, then he doesn't have to go. He replied that he taught everything he can. He had no anxiety, no worry, no attachment to living.
"Yoga is like Space" -Abhijata
Yoga cannot be explained by words, you have to experience it. Yoga cannot be explained or understood by words only. Guruji went from "Experience to the word, not word to experience."
"If you are honest with your approach, the goal is near." -Abhijata
Guruji said "The body is universal, the mind is individual."
"I am not a genius, I am common sense." -Guruji
Abhijata explained that Guruji defined Yoga in 5 ways:
1. Snia (?) Vritti Nirodhah-Each fiber is held, each organ, all is involved
2. ? Vritti Nirodhah-The interior connections of the body from skin to Self and from Self to skin. Guruji talked about how we take holidays then come home and say we need a vacation from our vacation. Guruji said "my holiday, my work, my sadhana is in my practice"
3. Dukha Vritti Nirodhah-Dukha is complaints, these stop you from seeing what truly is. Abhijata was excited to do sirsasana for 20 minutes and she was excited to tell Guruji that she did it. He then asked her what she did while doing it. She said she did sirsasana! He said, no what were you doing in it? If you are focused on ending the pose or not paying attention because of pain or thoughts, then you are wasting time. Guruji fell and hurt his knee, Abhijata told him to stay home from teaching the Medical Class. Guruji would not stay home, he said "My body has pain, but I am alright." He said his students needed him.
4. Samskara Vritti Nirodhah-Why do we do yoga and our partners or friends do not? It is because we have a deep samskara (imprint). Abhijata was having trouble with her sacrum when she was trying to do backbends, it was really stiff. Guruji saw and told her to stand at the end of the trestle and turn her feet out like "Charlie Chaplin." She was scared and didn't want to do it because the feet are not 'supposed' to turn out. She did it, then asked Guruji why it helped and he said because the sacrum moves better that way; simple answer-This is de-conditioning!
"Transformation can only happen through practice. Without being watchful, there is no sensitivity" -Abhijata
5. ? Vritti Nirodhah-Pure head + Pure heart=Kriya Yoga, total surrendor
"Without intelligence, there is no sensitivity. Without sensitivity, there is no intelligence."-Abhijata.
Sensitivity to reflection, not the action.
Discipline and purity should come from within
Yoga is for the culture of the mind
Be aware of every pose
Kriya Yoga-Union of a Pure head & a Pure heart:
1. Tapas-PROCESS-hard work, heat, burn, shine, fire=gives the bright light of wisdom & purity. Teaches the conduct of life. Abhyasa prepares us for tapas.
2. Svadhyaya-STATE-When you are with yourself, you do not have to add things-get this or that, need this or that. Create awareness. Once an action is done, don't be attached to the action! Guruji said "I do not act for the action."
"Life means to be alive, problems will always be there, navigate with yoga through them." -Guruji
3. Ishvara Pranidana-EMOTION-This cannot be taught. Action is the closest to being yours, we don't own the breath, it is borrowed from the cosmos, we do not own this body, it belongs to God. This is an offering to God.
....At the end of Guruji's life, he was asking God to take him, this made Abhijata sad. She told him that if the work is never ending, then he doesn't have to go. He replied that he taught everything he can. He had no anxiety, no worry, no attachment to living.
"Yoga is like Space" -Abhijata
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