Window into My Mind: How I Work Out Philosophical Dilemmas

(Paul Dallaghan in Yoga Nidrasana, 2nd Series)

I was just looking at Govindakai's photostream on Flickr. He has sets of Paul Dallaghan of Centered Yoga practicing the second and third series of Ashtanga Yoga. *sigh* I just realized that I'm going to be in pain for the rest of my life as I learn these poses, if I'm even able to get that far. There are 6 series' of Ashtanga, but most people spend their lives practicing the Primary Series.

...and the very fact that I'm bothered by the thought of that soreness shows how far I have yet to go in my practice of non-attachment. Two points come to my mind from my readings on yogic philosophy: that I should learn to not be attached to pleasurable times and that it is not me who will be in pain but my body.

(Paul in another 2nd series pose.

Does anyone know if this is still considered Scorpion or is it another pose?)

In the search for enlightenment, the yogi should not be attached to things and times that are pleasurable. Time, like everything, changes. As things change, they will undoubtably be less pleasurable at times. When this happens, this "loss of pleasure" will bring pain and disturbance for the yogi, who will be distracted from his search for bliss. If the yogi learns to not grasp for the good times, he will know that good times will come again and will be able to weather the not so good times undistracted.

I'm still pondering the second point. I understand the philosophy that I am not my body because my body is a creation of nature while my Self is a part of the Creator and but a witness to creation. I'm just thinking though that while it's good that I won't be in pain, I wonder if I shouldn't want to save my body from the discomfort as well?

(Paul in Durvasana, 3rd series)

Ok, I just remembered that there are 2 kinds of actions: those that don't cause pain and those that do cause pain. Eating too much at a great buffet is pleasurable, but it eventually brings suffering when you're so bloated that you can't walk and feel nauseated. That action causes pain. Studying and practicing asana as in the Ashtanga series' maybe painful initially but it eventually helps the body feel good after practice and helps the yogi on his way to enlightenment. By this analysis, this action wouldn't cause pain. So I guess my body has to go through it.

On a third point (this is no longer yogic philosophy but my own), I mentioned in yesterday's post how I sometimes look for the soreness when it's not there. Yes, I'm a masochist, I know. I still believe that masochism is caused by faulty wiring in the brain (did you know that the same part of the brain processes both pleasure and pain?). So there. Masochist me should enjoy the soreness of it all. So why am I not looking forward to feeling the soreness in Setu Bandhasana tomorrow?