Yes, it’s true I love, love, LOVE IRONMAIDEN. How do you think I came up with the name Yogamaiden. Surprised?!
Iron Maiden is an English Heavy Metal band from Leyton in the East End of London. The band was formed on Christmas day in 1975 by Bassist Steve Harris. Iron Maiden is still one of the most successful and influential bands in the Heavy Metal genre, having sold over 80 million albums worldwide without mainstream or radio support. Gotta love it!
Sign of the Cross, Rock in Rio 2005
Recently, I’ve met with a series of Life’s challenges; which accounts for me not posting anything until now. I feel through these events, I have finally attained some understanding to Life.
Difficulties are a part of Life. When we least expect, Life will give us a swift kick. It doesn’t matter when they come or even how often. What matters is how we react to them. So many times we ask ” Why is this happening to me”? or ”Why should I keep on trying when I’m just going to fail again”? This is truly the incorrect attitude to have when faced with a challenge. We all need to look into the difficulty and find the lesson. All adverse situations have a lesson. I now realize that difficulties are a great opportunity for self- discovery, growth, and are meant to make us stronger.
May all beings everywhere be HAPPY and FREE !!!
OM PEACE – PEACE – PEACE
Lokhaa Samastaa Sukhino Bhavantu
Om Shantih Shantih Shantih
Chapter 16 sholka 1 of the Bhagavad Gita , Translation by Winthrop Sargeant
SriBhagavan uvaca
Abhayam sattvasamsuddhir
Jnanayogavyavasthitih
danam damasca yajnasca
svadhyayas tapa arjavam
The Blessed Lord spoke:
Fearlessness, purity of being
perseverance in yoga and knowledge
giving, self restraint and sacrifice
Study of sacred text, austerity and uprightness.
The first attribute Lord Krishna gives in chapter 16 – sholka 1 , is Abhayam, Fearlessness. This is a magnificent quality. Being with fear is a lack of faith in yourself and the Lord. I lingered in this place for some time and now it is behind me. Students of yoga must not allow themselves to be consumed with fear. Krishna says to have complete faith and you will never know fear. Become and know Abhaya now.
My Teacher would often ask me, ” What’s the rush? “. Then I thought, what does that mean? I didn’t understand what he was really saying. It took me months to figure out the lesson in the question. Impatience is himsa. My impatience with my asana practice was an act of cruelty toward my Self. I now understand. The mat is a mirror. A reflection of our progression on the path. If we are truly to progress we must sincerely want to look into the mirror. We must make a choice and select the act of ahimsa. We must then choose to be kind and gentle with ourselves. This act on the mat will overflow to our life off the mat, which is where yoga is really practiced.
