The Plight that is Teaching

I finally did finish that yoga book.  Finally right!?  Upon completion, I realized that I didn’t learn who my true self was because I already knew who I was.  Needless to say, I definitely came up with a few conclusions of my own.  However, instead of boring you to death with my epiphanies or “A HA” moments, I’d rather talk about the following quote which hit me like a ton of bricks.  Well, at least that’s what it felt like.

“As soon as we begin idealizing our teachers, craving their powers, wishing to participate in the glow of their sidhus**, it wont be too many months or years until we begin to devalue them.  If we make them into gods, we will eventually see them as devils.”  (©Stephen Cope: pg. 294)

The fact of the matter is that this underlying truth resides within the yoga world and in the real one.  Think about it, how many of us instantly devalue someone on top because of a simple and small mistake? It’s mostly people in power and, to most of us, these authority figures are our teachers.  Let me clarify what I mean when I say “teacher”.  Our teachers aren’t just the ones found in a classroom. Oh heavens no. In fact, they reside in the most obvious places like our very homes or just down the street.  You see, learning doesn’t JUST happen in a school, but with those who share in the experiences we have while living.  Therefore, teachers could be anyone who we learnt something from.  Kind of a “duh” definition isn’t it.

The problem arises when we start to idolize them, putting them on a pedestal because of their apparent “perfection”.  I’m sure that everyone’s heard the saying “no one’s perfect”, and yet we tend to think that way regardless of how many times that expression is drilled into our heads. It’s the scariest thing when you suddenly realize that, hey, everyone has his or her own flaws.  You want to know what I think?  I know you do.  I honestly believe that we want to emulate that “perfect teacher” in our lives because we strive to be that picture of perfection.  The sad part is that when that picture crumbles, when that teacher fails us, we completely rip them away from us.  That is when they get the worst press, their lives dragged through the mud because of a terrible blunder on their part.  It’s like they say, those who are at the top usually fall harder.

The trick here is to not equate them to gods, to not put them on a pedestal.  They will err, they will trip and fall, but the important thing is that we learnt something important from them.  The lesson needs to stand on its own, personified and separated from the teacher in order to learn.  If we start associating one with the other and as a result idealize that teacher, there presents that risk of turning our once admired teachers into little devils.

**In yoga terminology, sidhu powers are achieved once the mind is focused on elevating oneself on the chakra ladder so to speak.  

Time and Place

This is the thing with my father, conversations with him usually lead me to insights that I then translate in my blog.  Not that I’m saying that EVERY post is all him, but quite a few have been sparked because of something he has said.  Why?  Because, in my eyes, he’s right.  You can guess how it was like growing up with him.  We didn’t fight by any means because we didn’t have to.  His reasoning was enough for me and trust me when I say that he had them for everything.  I am serious when I say that I agreed with them (and still do by the way).  So now, as I am accustom to, I want to share the most recent and one of the most drilled in discussions between me and my father:

“There’s a time and place for everything.”

… can you see what I mean?  You can’t fight that!  Well, I can’t and don’t want to because this makes sense to me.  If you think about it, there are many experiences that happen at a specific time in our lives, but if attempted later will not be the same.  A prime example would be going to university when you are fresh out of high school vs when you are older.  It wouldn’t be the same experience if, later on in life, you decide to go back.  Most likely, you will be doing it for different reasons… am I right?  Now, just hold on for a second, in no way am I trying to dissuade those who are going back for further education and qualifications.  All I am pointing out is that your perspective and experience will differ from those dewy-eyed 17 year olds.

I’ve had this discussion with my father throughout my life and you know what, I definitely grew and gained some insight on life and living it.  There are other examples I have which further proves his point, I really do.  But, at risk of this post becoming an essay and quite possibly a lecture, I will leave it to you to decide if you want to take the time to think about your experiences, their time, and their places.

Toast to the New Year

A thematically inspired post is very much called for in honour of the bittersweet end of 2011 and of the new, fresh beginnings that 2012 promises us… don’t you think?  Have you noticed the huge apocalyptic theme shadowing the New Year?  I sure have.  With all these movies, books, and other such media all based on the impending doom and gloom, it’s kind of hard not to.  It’s a pretty scary notion to think about, the fact that the world will just end one day and death will come on swift wings to all of us.  Let me share one of my favourite paragraphs in Steve Jobs’ Biography.  It’s Steve’s thoughts on dying… I promise that this is relevant:

“He admitted that, as he faced death, he might be overestimating the odds out of a desire to believe in an afterlife.  ”I’d like to think that something survives after you die,” he said.  ”It’s strange to think that you accumulate all this experience, and maybe a little wisdom, and it just goes away.  So I really want to believe that something survives, that maybe your consciousness endures.”  He fell silent for a very long time.  ”But on the other hand, perhaps it’s like an on-off switch,” he said.  ”Click! And you’re gone.”  Then he paused again and smiled slightly.  ”Maybe that’s why I never liked to put on-off switches on Apple devices.” (© Isaacson: pg. 571)

Yes, this quote focuses more on death itself rather than the end of the world, but isn’t that what The End entails?  The earth stops turning and we stop living?  If we really think about it, our lives are just an accumulation of experiences.  We either grow from them, or shrink because of them.  Laugh, or cry.  Forgive, or dwell… see the dichotomy I’m hinting at here?  We know no other way of life, hence the fear of the unknown that The End will bring.  However, instead of being consumed with the idea of The End, why not just live?

“If the world is ending and you’re planting a tree, finish planting the tree.” – Prophet Mohammed (sws)

It’s so simple, yet so hard when The End is all you think about.  This quote was brought up in a recent conversation with a good friend of mine.  Take one guess as to the subject of this conversation.  Give up?  The End.  When he responded to my worrying about what 2012 will bring with this quote, it was like a slap in the face.  Why not just finish planting my tree without worrying about what the future might bring?  Water it, watch it grow and maybe, just maybe, it will bear fruits before The End.

Oh the Lessons of Life

Stop spending time with the wrong people.  Life is too short to spend time with people who suck the happiness out of you.  If someone wants you in their life, they’ll make room for you.  You shouldn’t have to fight for a spot.  Never, ever, insist yourself to someone who continuously overlooks your worth.  And remember, it’s not the people that stand by your side when you [are] at your best, but the ones who stand beside you when you [are] at your worst. [They]  are your true friends. Stop being jealous of others.  Jealousy is the art of counting someone else’s blessings instead of your own.  Ask yourself this:  “What’s something I have that everyone wants?” [Note from me: Steer yourself away from this. Do not even dwell on what you have vs what they don't.  Dwelling on this will only feed their green eyed monster and your pride.]  Stop letting others bring you down to their level.  Refuse to lower your standards to accommodate those who refuse to raise theirs.  It is not difficult to be a better person.

- Anonymous

Wow.  Well, at least that was my expression when I first read these words.  They still resonate in my head. In fact, I was compelled by these very words so much that I felt the need to write about them.  They are universal truths that hold true, especially in the most dire and dismal social situations.  We are constantly wrapped up in the motions of life that we sometimes need a little reminding of these rather simple and obvious lessons.  It is natural for us, as human beings, to get caught up in this infectious green monster and the other six deadly sins.  But, it is those who overcome these major obstacles that truly learn how to live in and at peace.  It’s not easy though, is it.  I hate to remind everyone of the obvious but… there is no escape!  There will always be that coexistence of the good, the bad, and the ugly in all walks of life.  However, it is your attitude and apptitude that will steer you either towards being mentally consumed by the bad and the ugly, or towards being mentally free of them.  I know which path I want to steer myself towards, but the question is which path will you pick?

Healthy Living Putting a Dent in Your Wallet?

Healthy living is definitely becoming a must in every household. The masses are encouraged to join expensive gyms and, of course, to buy only the most natural products on the market despite the costs.  It has completely surpassed being a fad, becoming a craze that has swept through the Western Hemisphere… with the affected not pausing to think about how much money is flowing out of their wallets.  Who can blame them with the countless articles, blog posts, and books dedicated to exposing the harmful toxins appearing in everyday products and on the benefits of a well balanced lifestyle. I am most definitely guilty of partaking in fueling this wild fire as I posted about harmful toxins and beauty products, but it has to be done!  It is pretty scary stuff!  However, even though I am one of those who are becoming conscious about consumer products and produce, I personally feel that this scare is being exploited by businesses out to squeeze every last penny out of us.  You have to admit that there is some truth to it.  How could they not jump on this rather lucrative market fueled by fear?!

Now that I’m funding my own groceries and being health conscious at the same time, it’s easier to notice the price differences between the healthy and the unhealthy. It appears that all the healthy greens, fruits, proteins, and grains are ridiculously expensive in comparison with other unhealthier options.  Let’s not even start on the exorbitant prices of healthier snacks, like granola.  The pinnacle of healthy eating is, of course, consuming the organic options.  In fact, there is a monumental demand for organic produce and products, but the fact of the matter is that not a lot of people can afford this beneficial lifestyle choice.  I mean, who wouldn’t want to consume foods grown without harmful pesticides sprayed on them?

With the economy on the decline, more and more people are dipping below the average household income.  It’s like you are stuck between a rock and a hard place.  The rock? Choosing to spend a sizeable chunk of your money on organic options and live a relatively healthy life.  The hard place?  Not opting for the organic options, therefore potentially decreasing your life span and increasing the likelihood of you getting cancer (well that is the fear, isn’t it?).  There is another scenario, but you aren’t going to like it.  You could spend all that money on these healthier options in hopes of living a healthier life, living well above your means and becoming broke in the process.  I told you that you weren’t going to like it.

This got me thinking, can only the rich afford to be healthy?  Seems a little unfair.

Size Matters… or Does It?

As of late, I’ve become a health nut (more so than usual), recording what I eat to track calories (being aware of sugar percetages etc) and, of course, making sure I feel as guilty as hell for eating unhealthy food.  I frequent the gym, doing hardcore self designed workouts, and attending a couple classes.  Long story short, I’ve become more in-tuned to the fitness world. 

One of the classes I partake in is Yoga, a test of flexibility and concentration… which means naturally I struggle at it.  Sue me, I’ve never done Hatha Yoga before!  I consider myself to have a petite body type (although not so tiny mind you), and you would think that I’d be more flexible.  Umm, not so much!  The instructer was taller and larger, but she was so flexible, floating her legs while in perfect balance on her two hands in the firefly pose.  It was incredible!  All I could do was sit and stare!  I’m sure I wasn’t the only one! 

This whole experience got me thinking about the countless magazines and do-it-yourself books on fitness and health on the market.  Most depict the idealistic body types of both men and women, with their rock hard abs and toned bodies.  To be quite honest, (and I hate to sound like a realist/pessimist here but…), it seems a tad bit unrealistic.  Us humans do not all share the same body type, we are not a cookie cuttered race of beings.  We all have different body fat percentages and BMI’s, different shapes, and different sizes.  However, one could argue that these images provide motivation to those aspiring to loose a couple pounds and tone up.  The downside?  Some people might hop off the fitness bandwagon if they don’t get results like those in the magazines, completely ditching healthy nutrition and exercises.  This train of thought brought me to this conclusion (specifically relating to women):  We tend to associate the epitome of fitness and health with skinnier body types.  Please correct me if I’m wrong as this is problematic on so many different levels.  But, can we blame ourselves?  Not really.  Most print and television media put both images of health and idealistic body types side by side, saying, “what do you think?” (Russel Peter reference).  I am certainly not implying that this is the absolute truth as there are obvious exceptions to this rule.  I just think there should be more. 

I am now seeing celebrities being bashed for being too skinny and bigger women gracing the print adds about healthy weight loss and nutrition.  Ladies, we are on the right track here!  I hope that this snowballs into the mainstream culture, where every shape and size is celebrated.  Being healthy should be the only thing that matters. 

***

… Thought I’d be talking about THAT size didn’t you, DIDN’T YOU?!?!  Busted!  *gigles wildly*.  *Ahem*

 

 

The Curve Ball

Things have been a little dry in blog world, my mind a jumbled mess of different ideas, all loose and not tangible in the least. A certain event has gripped me tight by the shoulders, shaking me so hard that my mind has scrambled. My last post should at least hint to this dismal event that has clutched my family.

So, dear readers, please forgive my sudden dry spell. I have a new post in the works, so it shouldn’t be long before everything is back to normal again.

Mortality

As we go about our daily lives, how many times do we really think of how fragile we are? With one wrong swerve of the car, with one wrong step, with one severe illness or with being in the wrong place at the wrong time, we could depart this world… and yet, this thought barely crosses our mind. We forget that we are mortal beings bound to this plain for a short amount of time, and one day it will all just end.  It really doesn’t matter what background or religious affiliation you associate with, death is one thing we all share in common.  It is just what happens afterwards that differs.  But, that’s not the point I want to write about.

This fragility makes me wonder, what do we leave behind? Is it our material wealth, the relationships we make, or our reputation?  I believe the “duh” eliciting answer is all three, however it is my opinion that not all are equally remembered.  The legacy (no matter how small) and your reputation that the person has left behind will be remembered the most.

Ask yourself this, will your loved ones remember the good times, or talk only about the ill treatment they suffered by your hands (if you indeed did so)?  I wonder what I will leave behind… what will you?

A rather morbid thought isn’t it…

What’s in a Blog… and What Shouldn’t Be

I had stumbled across a blog post titled “You blogged about what?!: Or do you draw the line?” a while back as a dewy eyed, newbie blogger searching for good posts to read.  It really helped me in choosing what topics to write about and what not to.  It is easy to get consumed with the idea that we could potentially write about everything, not realizing the consequences. However, re-reading this post has definitely put things back into perspective again.  It is indeed hard to filter, but it is a necessary and important part and parcel of a blogger/writer.  In wanting to be taken seriously, slandering and exposing people is not the way to go.  Bloggers have the power, but the question is how should we use it?

What Sara (the blogger of this post) says is true, we have to keep the audience in mind.  No matter how small or how big, this audience has different ways of viewing the world and thus could take posts the wrong way, even if that is not the intent.  This reminds me of a quote I had heard a long time ago, which is something that everyone should take into consideration when doing anything in life:

“The worst thing can be done with the best of intentions” - unknown

I am 99.9% sure that I heard it in the third Jurassic Park movie… but that’s besides the point.  It is most definitely not my intent to do so, so lines must be drawn in order to survive the blogging world AND the real one.  As this quote from the blog in question so eloquently puts it:

… “don’t write anything about anyone on your blog that you wouldn’t say to their face in a crowded room.”…

Inescapable Judgment

We are all guilty of making judgments based on quick glances and on their actions before we even get to know them.  It’s a social faux-pas, and yet that does not stop us in the least. We’ve been conditioned to behave in a certain way, but no matter how hard we try to drill into our brains to not be judgmental, we still judge.  Why?  I think it is a part of our instinct that our over-reaching intellect has not been able to completely squash down.  Think about it, I mean REALLY think about it.  When we enter a new environment, we are vulnerable.  So in order to feel safe and secure, we quickly determine what and who are safe based on judgment.  It’s called being street smart, knowing your surroundings and responding to them accordingly.  So there is indeed a method to the madness.

However, judgments become problematic when it is not used as a survival mechanism, but instead used as a tool to belittle and socially segregate another person.  Yes, this is indeed a problem.

Instead of making this personal I want to make this post more relatable to you, the readers (hence the editing).  As I said before, judgments become a problem when they severely hinder another person, intentionally segregating them.  It is my belief that judgments affect people more who belong to a collective, whether that be a religious, cultural, or other such strong affiliation.  This is because we interact with them (affiliated community) on a regular basis.  They, in turn, interact with the other people within the collective.  However, the danger lies when they are influential.  Their intent might be to dissuade the one “bad egg” from spoiling the rest.  But, I believe that these people need to approach this in a different way.  Rather than spreading malicious rumours -which will only hurt your cause-, show the collective’s strength by welcoming them with open arms.  It might be difficult to fathom how this will help, but look at it this way.  They won’t turn away from the collective, thus becoming comfortable which could result in a behavioural change. We learn about it in history, when conquering Europeans conform to the native village they were sent to infultrate or were captured by (… and no I’m not talking about the movie Pocahontas!). So is being judgmental even worth your energy?

Before I stray from the core subject of this post, I will conclude with this. Judgment does have its merit, but at what point does it become overwhelming and cruel?