It feels almost as though time is standing still. The experience I am growing through since my father's passing is the total embodiment of the practice of Yoga, living in the present moment, embracing the Unknown and letting life unfold one breath at a time.

At times I feel as though I am having an out-of-body experience wondering how it is I am making it through the days, fulfilling my responsibilities and accomplishing what life is asking of me. And yet, I am managing to do it. Since last weekend, it seems I am able to feel pretty strong for a couple of days, and then, inevitably, I find I hit a wall that has me stop and feel and go into an entirely therapeutic place of total rest and complete withdrawal from everything. I am learning what it means to embrace and let go into Childs Pose, Fetal Pose and Savasana. These are the poses of rest, nurturing and restoration in Yoga. In the past I have felt somewhat guilty for spending "too much" time in those places, but not anymore...this experience is teaching me how essential it is to embrace our healing process and to let go of feeling guilty about taking the time we need to rest...

Speaking of OM, for the last few years I have been aware of what the OM symbol represents, but for most of us, this is not something we grasp overnight. Through continuous meditation and repetition of the OM sound, we gradually begin to awaken to OM. Here is some information which I found to be particularly helpful on clarifying the significance and meaning of OM, and what each aspect of the symbol represents. I hope you enjoy this. It may not all sink in at once, but eventually you will find your states of Consciousness are not so differentiated, but merge, and merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily...life is but a dream.

The Picture:

Visually, OM (as pictured to the right) is a mystical symbol and shows us a lower curve 1 which symbolizes the conscious turned outward through the gates of the senses. The larger size signifies that this is the most common state of the human consciousness.

The upper curve 2 denotes the state of deep sleep or unconscious state. This is a state where the sleeper desires nothing nor beholds any dream.

The middle curve 3 signifies the dream state. In this state the consciousness of the individual is turned inwards and the dreaming self beholds an enthralling view of the world behind the lids of the eyes. These three curves, the three states of a person's consciousness, together represent the entire physical phenomenon.

The semi circle symbolizes maya and separates the dot from the other three curves. It is the illusion of maya that prevents us from the realization of this highest state of bliss which is represented by the dot above the semi circle. The semi circle is open at the top and does not touch the dot. This means the highest state is not affected by the by maya. Maya only affects the manifested phenomenon. The dot signifies the coming to rest of all differentiated, relative existence. This utterly quiet, peaceful and blissful state is the ultimate aim of all spiritual activity. This absolute and non relative state illuminates the other three states.

The Sounds:

In Sanskrit the vowel 'o' is a diphthong compound of a +u; therefore, OM is representatively written as AUM and carries four sounds with it. The first sound "A" is pronounced at the back of the open mouth and is said to be included in every other sound produced by the human vocal organs. The second syllable is "U" and is sounded in the middle of the mouth, between the roof of the mouth and the floor of the tongue. The third sound "M "is at the front of the mouth and closes the lips. This last sound, known as ma or maker, when closing the lips is said to be like locking the door to the outside world and instead reaching deep inside our own selves, in search of the Ultimate Truth.

The fourth sound is the invisible fourth dimension, the soundless silence that follows the uttering of AUM. This space produces a quieting down of all differentiated manifestations and an emergence of the non-dual state. This peaceful and blissful state is symbolized by the dot in the traditional iconography of AUM.

According to Indian spiritual sciences, God first created sound and from these sound frequencies came the phenomenal world. Our total existence is constituted of these primal sounds which give rise to mantras when organized by a desire to communicate or manifest. Matter itself is said to have proceeded from sound and OM is said to be the most sacred of all sounds. It is the syllable which preceded the universe and from which all was created. It is the root syllable, Mula Mantra, the cosmic vibration that holds together the atoms of the world and the heavens. The ancient texts of the Upanishads say that OM is God in the form of sound. Thus OM is the first part of the most important mantras in both Buddhism and Hinduism, for e.g. Om Namoh Shivai and Om Mani Padme Hum.

Another ancient text equates OM with an arrow, laid upon the bow of the human body (the breath), which after penetrating the darkness of ignorance finds its mark, namely the lighted domain of True Knowledge. Just as a spider climbs up a thread and gains freedom, so the yogis climb towards liberation by the syllable OM. "Thus OM is the best of all essences, deserving the highest place" As stated in the Ancient text of Chandogya Upanishad. - http://www.yogagainesville.com/aboutyoga/meaning_of_om.asp

I will be back shortly to share more on the intention of Yoga. What I love about this description of OM, is it is in complete alignment with what I recently learned the true intention of Yoga is when I studied with Rod Stryker.

So many of you have asked me how I am doing and that is such a difficult question to answer since every moment is different. Overall, in the big picture, I feel very optimistic, about my own experience and the direction we are flowing in collectively. In the here and now, there are obviously difficult moments, but I feel tremendously grateful to be connected to such amazing people through my work. So, please know, you all mean so much to you. I can feel your loving care and support and it helps to sustain me through the hard times. I will be back soon...

Namaste...
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