I had the opportunity to slow down this past weekend and enjoy a wonderful Restorative Yoga retreat in Asheville, NC. I was feeling ready to immerse myself into a weekend of restful yoga. I could feel my body had begun storing up tension and my mind was full of anxious chatter. I noticed I wasn't able to really take a full breath in. When I arrived at the studio and placed my mat down and laid back on two bolsters and a blanket, I exhaled completely. Ahhhh...perfect. This word kept resonating within. We had a break between workshop hours and I decided to take an Anusara yoga class. Guess what the theme was? Purnatva. I told myself, "this I must share with the group." :)
Purnatva is a sanskrit word that means "perfect fullness." It is the experience of feeling perfectly contented with existence, of receiving what is exactly needed, no more or less, in any given moment.
Purnatva describes the perfection that is the essence of all things. Because Spirit is so full and completely perfect. The yoga philosophy teaches us that since we are all an expression of the Spirit, then we are an extension of the perfection that is Grace.
I'm looking forward to our next gathering. During our next weekend, we will be exploring the final limb of Patanjali's Eight Limbs of Yoga: Samadhi, which means a feeling beyond the senses and in that moment there is no desire to be someone else or to be anywhere else on your path.
Perfect.
See you soon. Om Shanti.
Vicki
Ladies,
ReplyDeleteI am going through a difficult time right now. One of my professors from USCB is dying.SHe has 3 days to live. In this time of grief I just want to express my love for each of you. I talked with Vicki today about detachment. Marnie, its difficult, but what I have realized is more of the tantric philosophy fits in here. This pain is REAL. I am feeling it and dealing with it appropriatley. There is a blog set up for friends of my proffessor. I have been reading all the comments that keep pouring in, she inpsired so many lives. Touched so many deeply. Today, I found a poem posted that fits so well with philosophy, and I realized that to me it is no longer philosophy, but the TRUTH. I truly believe, and I wanted to share the poem with you. Marnie, it really made me think of you in light of our conversation at lunch, cut and paste and save it....
Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glint on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you wake in the morning hush,
I am the swift, uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circling flight.
I am the soft starlight at night.
Do not stand at my grave and weep.
I am not there, I do not sleep.
Do not stand at my grave and cry.
I am not there, I did not die!
~Mary Frye
OM SHANTI
Jana,
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry about the very sad situation with your professor. She must be quite a person to be loved by so many. I am with you ... she will always be with her loved ones and friends - just on a different level ... different form - same beautiful spirit. The poem you shared was so profound and moving. I will keep this poem to refer to when life/death periodically confuses and torments me. Thank you for sharing:) You are quite a special and mature young woman. I am very proud to call you my friend.
Peace to you,
Nancy
I have a little book I read each morning called Meditations from the Mat. It has a quote followed by some commentary. I had to share this morning's quote because it seemed so profound. " The ego asks a thousand questions for which there are no answers". We can allow ourselves to be drained and distracted by doubts and questions or just know that things are going to turn out ok. I've been having such a monkey mind lately-asking so many questions and experiencing fear, anxiety and hopefulness (all at the same time!). Today's quote really helps me put things in perspective. Hope that you find it helpful as well. See you next weekend!
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