Yoga Story 9. Hanumanasa (The Monkey God Pose )

                                            

This yoga story is continuation from the long overdue Yoga Story series that was last left at June 2011.  I won’t give any excuses for the disruption, but, just let me continue…

The hanuman pose, or Leg-split, is one of the most difficult yoga poses to master.  The hamstring muscles attached at the back of thighs are like the most stubborn bull.  It won’t budge one bit no matter how hard you try to pull it.  Attached like layered thick bands, hamstrings also work much the same way.  Even you succeed to stretch it a bit today, it goes right back to where it was yesterday when you wake up next morning.  The hamstring muscles are also the dumbest ones, because unlike other muscles in the body it doesn’t remember what it did before.  Every day is a new day, so you just have to stretch it every day for some years if you want to split beautifully.  That is with faith and courage like the Hanuman in the story of Ramayan.

Hanuman who is the son of Vayu (the Wind God) and the mortal woman Anjana, forgot his divine origin while leaving with the monkeys in the mountain, after the curse of the Sun God Surya.  As the son of the wind, Hanuman could do anything.  He could grow very large or very small, move mountains, and even change his shape all together.  But he was constantly forgetting his divinity.  The curse was to be relieved when he meets King Ram (the cosmic Lord Vishunu incarnate) to serve him as the main warrior in the war between Ravana (the bad guy who abducted Ram’s wife Sita) and Ram.  Sita was hidden in a secluded place of the island kingdom of Ravana.  While Ram was building bridge with his army to cross over the ocean, Hanuman was to jump over the ocean to confirm the safety of Sita, at the same time, to inform her Ram’s rescue is being on the way.  However in front of this important task, Hanuman again forgot his orgin.  So he turned to his faith, shraddha in Sanskrit, to give him the confidence to do what he knew mush accomplish.  With prayers, he was able to remember his powers and grew very large instantly.  As he flew over the ocean toward his destiny, one of Hanuman’s feet reached forward and one foot reached back like the Leg-split, hanumanasana. 

Many of us shrink before impossible tasks, even tasks that are just a bit hard, because we are just like hanuman.  We easily forget that there is a part of us that is also divine and can accomplish the impossible.  And we forget about the element of shraddha, which is ingrained in every human heart, just as it was within Hanuman’s.

Throughout human history, there has always been some form of prayer to give human beings the space and time to grow that element of faith within their hearts.  It is with faith and hope that we can go forth with confidence and leap across oceans, change the world, or simply fall back in love.

This story was somehow difficult for me to write…maybe I too wanted to forget for a while of writing too holly-molly God’s story only.  Instead, I turned to write a Korean book about Malaysia.  After devoting for solid 6 months to write, publishing it becoming another mountainous task…with high costs and work it needs…so I am turning to my prayer, shraddha…hoping Him to show me the way…for it to find its way to the deserved readers…

Helping to Lie

There once was a nobleman who liked to tell lies, but sometimes he got stuck.  Once he wanted to hire a new servant.  When one came to offer his services, the nobleman asked him if he could lie,

“Well…” he said, “If I have to, then, it’s got to be!”

“Very well!  I sometimes get stuck telling lies.  Then you will have to help me.”

One day they were in an inn, and the nobleman was as usual telling lies. “Once I went hunting and I shot three rabbits in the air.”

“This is not possible,” said the others.

“Then you better ask my coachman, to bear witness.” he said. 

They brought him in.  “Johann, listen, I have just been telling these gentlemen about the three rabbits I shot in the air. Now you tell them how that was.”

“Yes, sir!  We were in the meadow, and a rabbit came jumping through the hedge, and while it was jumping out, you shot and it was dead.  Afterward, when it was cut open, there were two young rabbits inside.”  Of course the others could say nothing to this.

On their way home the nobleman said that it was well done.

“Well, sir,” said Johann, “the next time you tell lies, try to keep out of the air.  On firm ground it will be easier for me to help you.”

Of lately, I had been through some heartache caused by my own foolishness—my age-old naivety to easily believe whatever others say rather than believing what my heart says.  Since small I can’t tell very well between lies and truth.  So my hubby and son often make good fun out of me with their cheeky jokes.  I have tendency to believe what others say in face value, then, I would agonize over days and nights, sometimes for years, when my expectation of others to follow up their words-to-words fails miserably.  I thought I become better by now, but no…I was not any better at all even after all these years…I still fall for their words while ignoring what my heart is whispering inside…in the end, I made a fool out of me…

A skywalker…that was what one psychic lady used to describe about me years ago.  Too much cheap words and unkept promises are all over in the air…sometimes I get teary when I can feel the weights of those lies and deceptions…and yet, after one class of Yoga, affirming the firm ground under my feet, I am still  an optimist of our higher nature rather than a pessimist to stay stuck by our lower nature.

And yet, I become sad…whenever I come across with ingenuineness…Maybe I needed to do more Yoga to ground me down…

Geocentric and Heliocentric

Everybody knows that the Sun is at the center of the solar system, and the planet Earth in which we inhibit, is circling around the sun, not the other way around.  However from the point where we live, it was more convenient to assume the earth is at the center, and the sun with the rest of planets, stars are circling around it.  The astronomical terms are “heliocentric” for the former and “geocentric” for the latter.  Though we know the “heliocentric” view is more scientifically accurate, in reality, the “geocentric” view is what appeals to us more real.  Thus, from our point of view, it is the sun that rises and sets every day whereas the earth beneath us stays ever so still.

There is nothing wrong in whichever view we take it for convenience sake as long as it serves us.  But it becomes problem when we hold onto the assumed truth for too long because we tend to lose a perspective with time.  The false truth that we are at the center of the universe, not the sun, turns into the truth, thus distorting our views to discern what is real from what is not, what is more important from what is not.  Thus we start to function based on many false assumptions not only in the astronomical belief but also in many other areas in life including taking our planet Earth for granted.    

In this Earth, there inhibit, billions of human being alongside with other species like animals, insects, plants, etc, sharing its eco system in perfect balance and orderliness that the Nature has designed and maintains it in perpetual equilibrium.  The Earth is the landlord and we human and other species are the same co-tenants sharing its compartments in different tenancy terms.  Different life forms come and go in constant flux, so are our human lives on the earth.  But we assume as though human are the owners while other species are liabilities—abusing, destroying and manipulating it to suit our needs, as we like or dislike.  The sky, the sea, and the forests…they are ever being exploited by our humans’ insatiable greed.  Thereby the global warming phenomenon causing much unusual weathers patterns lately and frequent earthquakes keep erupting throughout different parts of the world. 

As much as we are concerned with the Earth’s health, even greater concerns are our failing morality, poor emotional intelligence which is the byproduct of the fast technological advancements in our society.  Thus creating much personal and social crisis by and large.  The computer has taken over much of others’ existence from the individuals’ lives, that, large portions of population are turning into extreme egocentrics.  

They think they are in the center not only of the earth but the entire society and the universe.  Everything revolves around the “me” and “mine.”  “I” am the most important and top priority above everyone else.  The each “I”s demands their every need to be met as soon as they want it as though the universe owes them a huge debt.  Or else hell breaks out with anger, frustration, disputes, often leading to personal crisis, family conflicts, social crimes or international wars, etc.  Living too long in the assumed truth like geocentric and heliocentric, we became terribly lopsided in our views and our collective sanities are reaching to much dangerous level.  Just open the daily newspapers.  See how crazy the world and people are these days? 

Because we have been living in a confined reality for too long, we have lost a perspective about wholeness and get preoccupied with too petty things in life instead.  Everyday most people’s concerns are revolving around what to eat an how to lose pounds, how to save my dollars while looking for anything better deals or free lunch opportunities, how to show off our aggrandized image with finest houses and furnishing, imported cars and branded items, etc.  Like a hamsters running in the wheel, like an ostrich who buries its head in the sand to escape from danger, doing the same things over and over again for days and nights and years… many just keep running because everyone else is running too.   They forgot they don’t have run if they don’t want to.  They forgot “I have no choice” is the assumed truth.  We just need to stop and turn around to see the real truth. 

Where are we going?  What are we doing?  Do you ever stop and think for a while?  The longer we live, the narrower and tighter our brain usage becomes.  Many are like psychos but they don’t know.  They are so mental, absolutely selfish and crazily obsessive about “what’s in it for me?” with not regard, no respect for others that it is almost nauseating.

Yes, ultimately all our lives are self-serving ones.  Without “me”, other people, other species, even the entire universe is no use.  Whether they will last for billion lights years or not, it doesn’t matter once “I” am dead.  It doesn’t matter whether some greedy developers and manufacturers are destroying the green forests or fuming out polluted gas in the air, or suicide bombers are blowing people and places away from somewhere else, as long as “my” living conditions, “my” securities are not affected or threaten by it.  It doesn’t matter how much others working hard or suffering in the neighborhoods, other parts of the country and the world as long as “I” and “my” family have enough food, clothing and shelters to keep us well and safe… that is how our limited mind functions.  When we don’t reflect regularly upon the big picture, to the Truth, we human beings can be really some egoistic, selfish or demonic creatures ever.  

As much as our family, property and happiness are important to us, so are to others, different species and our environments.  As much as our privacy, lifestyle is precious, so are to others too.  How can we wish for others to be nice and kind to us when we are not?  How can we blame others being selfish, greedy when we are only interested in ourselves? 

I feel immense pity whenever I see someone so preoccupied with themselves only, living in their heads while wondering why happiness and peace seem to be so difficult to get despite how hard they work for it.  What they don’t realize is that, supreme happiness and abundance are attainable only when one can switch one’s attitude from “what’s in it for me?” to “what I can contribute?”, moving from the self-centered mind over to the four immeasurable minds—loving kindness, compassion, joy and equanimity—towards oneself as well as others.  Only then, one can see the interconnectedness of not only humans but with all other beings in the world and the universe, like the difference between the assumed geocentric truth and the heliocentric Truth. 

How much do you uphold the Truth in your everyday lives?  Do you assume your life, family, health, job and fortune are sacrosanct?  Or are you afraid of losing them even a bit, is that why you hold your breath and fist so tight to work so hard day and night?  When is the last time you took the deep breath that reached down till your toes and fingertips?  When is the last time you saw the golden morning sun rays or the glittering morning dew in your neighboring park?  Or are you waiting until your retirement day to have enough time to enjoy those natural things around you because you are so busy at the moment…?

Time is fleeting through our fingers.  Our children are growing up fast and the crowfeet at the corner of our eyes are deepening by day.  Even the most wealthy and all mighty Madonna can’t do much rather than struggling to hide her sagging cheeks and wrinkles with airbrushes.  What to say the mere mortals like us… In fact Time was moving so fast that I stopped trying to catch them up.  Instead, I simply started to exist in the present moment.  Just living one day at a time, walking one step at a time and enjoying moment by moment…it has given me tremendous sense of freedom and joy.  There are still many things, projects that I have set out to accomplish but not done yet or some didn’t even started yet.  But I feel okay to live with those imperfections now.  

The contented Heart

I heard the following story from my Indian astrology teacher Mr. K.N. Rao. He belongs to an elite Brahmin caste who never been outside of the country until sixty years old.


When he first came to the US by invitation to consult and teach astrology, he experienced profound dose of cultural shock with the starling difference in lifestyles, people and attitudes. The severe discontentment, restlessness and loneliness in the US people’s hearts, despite of their affluences and advanced technology, were baffling him more than anything. In his home country, he said, even the simple hearted souls know better than them how to enjoy life happily and merrily despite their humble and poor living conditions.


The rich industrialist from the North was horrified to find the Southern fisherman lying lazily beside his boat, smoking a pipe. 

“Why aren’t you out fishing?” said the industrialist.

“Because I have caught enough fish for the day.” said the fisherman.

“Why don’t you catch some more?”

“What would I do with it?”

“You could earn more money” was the reply.  “With that you could have a motor fixed to your boat and go into deeper waters and catch more fish.  Then you would make enough to buy nylon nets.  These would bring you more fish and more money.  Soon you would have enough money to own two boats…maybe even a fleet of boats.  Then you would be a rich man like me.”

“What would I do then?”

“Then you could really enjoy life.”

“What do you think I am doing right now?”

Which would you rather have: a fortune or a capacity for enjoyment?

Wesak Day--In the memory of mother

It’s Wesak Day.

Millions of people around the globe are celebrating this memorable day, but, I am not writing this piece in the memory of Him. Instead, I am writing it in the memory of my mother.

Wesak Day brings up faint memory of my mother who had departed more than twenty years ago. My mother was not a devout Buddhist. She didn’t declare herself as a Buddhist either. But she went to temple once a year, in Wesak Day. So I consider her as such.

In Korea, large population do not really define themselves with any religion. It doesn’t mean they are atheists. But loosely consider as Buddhists if you try to nail them of their religious orientation. My mother was one of them.

Last dynasty of Korea was Confucianism based. So its influences are strongly embedded in every ways of life till now. Then, they do not consider Confucianism as religion, but, rather as a philosophy or a way of life. So subtract Christians or other new religions…the rest are Buddhists because Confucianism is still closer with Buddhism.

Every Wesak Day, she will dress up nicely and go to temple; lighting lamps, listen to chanting, participate in prayer, and enjoy temple vegetarian meals. Whenever she came back after that, there was special glow in her for days… That’s how I associate Wesak Day with my mother. Every Wesak Day, I remember my mother, rather than Sakyamuni Buddha. Because, it was one of rare days in her life that made her happy. Most other days, she was in pain. Her life was not an easy one. So in Wesak Day, I can remember my mother’s happy looks, instead of her sadness.

Of recently, one of my long time yoga students lost her beloved mother. I went to pay my respect. It’s never easy, no matter how old we are, to lose mother. Seeing her clad in nice costume in a coffin, I felt chill running through my spine, the same chill feeling I felt with my mother, and with another dear students moms one and half years ago. They departed the world, but, somehow they continue to live on in our daughters’ hearts no matter how long it had been. Maybe it’s special bonding between woman to woman that we girls only can understand… Thus, when I think of Sakyamuni Buddha, I relate more with his mother, Lady Maya, who had to depart the world just 7 days after giving birth to him. Her pain as a mother who had to leave her son is direr to me in Wesak Day….

Mother’s day is around the corner again… While millions of devotees celebrating the birth of Buddha, we yoga girls…why not we celebrate our mothers instead…? If they are still around with you, you are the lucky ones. If they are not, then, will you join me to celebrate Wesak Day in the memory of our mothers???

Happy Wesak Day!