Down-and-Out Yoga and Flying High Yoga

[Shanti (Mahasweta)]

Thank you Yogani… you always have the right answers don’t you?

[Locrian (Paula)]

@david_obsidian

Shanti, can I let you in on a secret?
From the moment you were born, people have been telling you that they know stuff, and have been convincing you that you can too.
The truth is, no-one has perfectly-reliable vision. No-one. These human brains are not all they are cracked up to be, even those of ‘the greats’. Trust me on this. Other people here may tell you I am wrong about this. Trust me on this.

This is so true! Anything I see is running through this “I” as the filter. This has been a living truth which has brought with it what I will call “spiritual confidence,” meaning that I do not need it to conform to anything and I do not need others to see the same. It has been a very freeing understanding for me!

[Wil]

@Jim and His Karma

This is sort of resonating with the “Lost Soul” thread, also on this board.
A few years ago, I hit rock bottom. I did asana, and then AYP. As I was starting to feel really at peace, I read something from swami satyananda where he denigrated those who come to yoga from failed lives, seeking to escape their lot. I knew he was wrong, but I was EXTREMELY upset that he’d be stupid enough to write this. It came close to derailing my sadhana. I literally cursed him out out loud. And it gave me a slight complex. Was I trying to escape the maya due to bona fide spiritual pull, or was I just a failure looking for a “way out”?
Then things flipped me topsy turvy. I was, to a casual observer, an unquestionable success (unfortunately I’m experiencing some really tough times as a result…ironically worse than before, but am feeling fine about it, thanks to AYP). And shortly after this turnabout, I read some spiritual writer somewhere saying that spirtual dalliances by successful people are a cliche, and that it’s easy for someone doing well to accept and let go, having a cushion beneath them. I laughed and laughed and laughed.
Screw these writers, all of them. Please, whether you’re up or you’re down, just follow your bhakti. Both stances offer opportunities, and both offer traps. But cultivate and trust your bhakti.

Namaste Jim you have been calling me. I feel you (In an uncanny amount). Escaping the failure with yoga, that isn’t possible…and screw that writer who says that “spiritual dalliances” is a cliche endeavour to engage in when you have success enough to fall back on a cusion. I mean who wouldn’t be hopeful if Bill Gates or a handful of presidents practiced yoga? That would put a spin on things for the better, better as closer to what already is ofc