INSPIRATIONS
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Quotes
Faith
The Choices of
Merimac Foxburr of Loamsdown
Observations In A Yoga Class For Students With Multiple Sclerosis

Paramahamsa Satyananda Saraswati & Paramahamsa Niranjanananda
Saraswati during Sat Chandi Mahayajna, Rikhia Peeth '06.
Quotes
"This
is the concept of faith in Yoga; humbleness, simplicity, awareness
of higher realities and surrendering oneself to the supreme energy."
Swami Niranjan in the March issue of "YOGA" magazine, 1992.
http://www.yogamag.net/archives/1992/bmar92/sat292.shtml
"Similarly, faith is not something you can conceptualize or
intellectualize about. It is something you have. Just as you are
endowed with life in this body, you are endowed with faith in this
body. Life itself is faith. No one is born without faith. You live
because of your faith. ... Faith
is an expression of your innocence combined with wisdom and trust in
something. That trust has to be in yourself, because trust in
yourself is trust in the qualities you have inherited and are
cultivating and developing." Swami Niranjan in the January issue of
"YOGA" magazine, 2004
http://www.yogamag.net/archives/2004/ajan04/expyoga.shtml
"Man's
biggest strength is not intellect, it is faith and trust. If faith
and trust become solid and stable, then they switch on God's power.
A lot of people are intellectual; they ask question after question,
they follow mathematical logic, which does not help here. Faith and
trust are not only the basis of a bhakta's life, but they form the
very foundation of human life."
"Without faith and trust, man would not survive even for a single
day. If these qualities are channelled properly towards God, life
will be full of bliss and wonder, and the journey of life will be
completed successfully."
Sayings of a Paramahamsa, Swami Satyananda Saraswati
in the January issue of "YOGA" magazine, 2003
http://www.yogamag.net/archives/2003/ajan03/say103.shtml
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
"No word or action that is undertaken
with shraddha can ever be a waste.
If not today, you will
get the benefit tomorrow."
http://www.amritapuri.org/teachings/qualities/shraddha.php
________________________________________________________________________________
FAITH
by
Robert Rietema
I was asked by someone:
"And what about Faith?" My reply was that I
don't generally deal with faith, but that I was faithful to my wife.
This because I am a wisecracking wit, or maybe twit.
The next day my chattering
mind asked me
"Are you really without faith?"
My reply astonished me. I
said I am a container filled to the brim with faith. In me there is
a deep, deep ocean of faith. In the abyss of this ocean many
wonderful unique creatures exist. They are the mysterious, unspoken
thoughts of my universe of faith. This is where my faith dwells.
This faith is mine and mine alone.
Other people also have
their abyss of faith. Their faith is theirs and theirs alone.
My chattering mind asked
me
"Can you share your faith?" And I answered that I find that
impossible. And I wish it were otherwise.
You see every time I drag
these faith thoughts to the surface with words; they are distorted
critters, half dead and meaningless in this world. They don't belong
here.
Sometimes I drag a corset,
or straightjacket to the surface. I feel constrained and wished I
could burst out and be free again. I say the words
"I believe in..."
Which really means my belief is restricted. It rejects any other
belief.
Sometimes my faith comes
to the surface as a sock with huge holes in it. I mend the holes
with threads of half-truths and straight out lies.
FAITH FLOWERS
Visualise
a field with wild flowers of every shape, size and colour. Every
flower is different. What do you see? A daffodil, a rose, lotus,
tulip, magnolia, or any other flower of your choice. There are big
flowers, small flowers, pungent flowers, nicely scented flowers,
vividly coloured flowers, and delicately coloured flowers.
Every flower represents
somebody's faith. They are all different. Some are
seedlings, just starting out on their
journey through life. They need careful nursing. Some are
in full bloom.
Some are wilting. Some have changed into fruit
with seeds in them.
Visualise your faith
flower,
what
stage is it at and what
condition is it in?
How the stamen of my
flower longs to be fertilised by the pollen of another type of
flower. But that so rarely happens. Wished it were otherwise.
We all have our own unique individual
faith, and seldom are we understood or included in someone else's
faith and beliefs. Wished it were otherwise.
______________________________________________________________
The Choices of
Merimac Foxburr of Loamsdown
By Sannyasi Samadhimurti
Merimac Foxburr of Loamsdown was not exactly a
hobbit even though he looked a bit like one. But whatever his looks
were, one could tell straight away that Merimac was an advanced
soul, as these can easily be recognised because they practise and
teach Yoga. He had been doing quite well with his sadhana and steady
progress was his reward. Currently, Merimac lived with his companion
Mantsari, the cat, and the 108 bats in his comfortable cave that had
been in his family's possession for many hundreds of years. His life
was easy and joyful and maybe that's why he knew that he had to go
and spend some time with Master Monsoon. The plan had been
formulated and put into action and the time set to leave by the end
of the year in search for the Master. There were just a few more
things to tidy and do, such as carve out the cave extension for his
Yoga classes /sadhana room as well as find somebody to come in and
feed Mantsari and the bats.
One of the hardest things to leave behind
would be his bat-breeding area. It had been his mother's idea to use
the lower part in the back of the cave to breed the rare magic bat.
The creatures had free access to the area and were enticed to stay
because of the cosy conditions and delicious food supplied daily.
Not only did he enjoy the bats' company at night, but the flying
friends kept the memory of his mother alive in him. How he wished he
could take that part of the cave with him!
At the time of the New Year, which starts with
the new moon after the miraculous Pleiades star system can first be
seen in the night sky, Merimac had a big party, not quite the
farewell yet, but maybe the last time he and all his friends would
be together. It was a merry affair and everyone enjoyed the
performances of the eight dancing bats and the twenty diving ones
very much. Each person was aware that a fresh beginning was drawing
near, and things would never be the same again.
And then, one week later, disaster struck:
twenty days of hail topped by an earthquake. Luckily, Merimac and
Mantsari had been visiting friends on the next hillside at the time
of the earthquake and were well but quite shocked to find the cave
was in shambles; rubble and rocks everywhere, pictures of the Master
fallen to the ground and smashed. And even though the entrance was
still usable, it was pretty hard to get past the chimney. The
kitchen was fine, only a couple of cups broken. But worst was the
bat-cage, it had been rendered unusable. Fortunately none of the
bats had come to harm, thanks to their ultrasonic abilities. But
what a mess the earthquake had caused here, this could not be
cleaned up or repaired, it would need complete rebuilding!
How interesting that it had struck hardest
what he loved most, while other areas like the kitchen were hardly
touched. The cave itself was fine, in fact the newly created window
(by the earthquake!) in the northwall was wonderful; Mantsari had
come up with the same innovative idea just a few weeks earlier. But
who would want to come and live in his cave now while he was away,
looking after pot plants and cat and bats? What transformation would
come from this disaster?
So Merimac set to work and all the inhabitants
from Loamsdown turned up and helped, it was great! Rubble and rocks
were cleared, in fact someone built a beautiful, arty rock wall
around the entrance garden from it. The chimney was stabilised and
the broken cups replaced. And with much care and effort from twelve
wonderful craftsmen the bat cage was rebuilt exactly as his mother
had designed it, down to the smallest adornment in the black lattice
and with the same colour and hue originally used. Nobody would have
been able to tell the difference. Mantsari told the bats about the
reconstruction. They had shifted into several caves along the
western slope of the hillside after the disaster, and every one of
the 108 magic bats moved merrily back into Merimac's new old cave.
And things were just like they had been before. Merimac carved the
extension for the new sadhana-cave out himself and his old school
mate Losdoc, who had lost his own cave in the disaster, moved in and
took care of everything when Merimac left to find the Master at the
end of the year. Unfortunately, this was not how things were meant
to happen, and Merimac never found the Master. Instead he missed
Mantsari, his bats and all his friends so much that he turned around
after one month of fruitless search, turned around too quickly in
fact, fell into a ravine and died.
So Merimac set to work and all the inhabitants
from Loamsdown turned up and helped, it was great! Rubble and rocks
were cleared, and someone even created a beautiful, imaginative
statue near the entrance from it. Once the area of the bat cage had
been tidied, it revealed itself as the best place for the new
sadhana room. Why hadn't he thought of that before? The bats seemed
happy enough in the caves along the western slope of the hillside,
where they had moved after the disaster, and Mantsari agreed that it
was a good idea. So, that's what they did. The new sadhana room was
expertly designed and carved by expert-designers and carvers and the
result was stunning: walls and ceiling had the colour of iridescent
charcoal and the floors glowed like the reflection of an open fire
on chocolate. Merimac left as planned at the end of the year after
having found a fellow advanced-soul to take over his Yoga classes,
be good company for Mantsari and feed the bats. But that was also
not what was meant to happen, and Merimac searched and searched for
the Master, and as far as we know he is still searching today ...
So Merimac set to work and all the inhabitants
from Loamsdown turned up and helped, it was great! Rubble and rocks
were cleared, and several sharp-thinking citizens even created a
beautiful hexagonal forecourt from the debris. Merimac decided that
really it was not very useful to start building a new sadhana room
now, when he was on the verge of leaving and instead rented the cave
out for the years to come. The bats were moved to his old school
mate Losdoc's place but never felt really happy there and eventually
left Loamsdown for good. Merimac went in search of the Master, and
ultimately found him years away from home, however he arrived too
late as the Master had just died the day before.
So Merimac set to work and all the inhabitants
from Loamsdown turned up and helped, it was great! Rubble and rocks
were cleared, and someone even created a beautiful almost life-like
statue of the Master in the centre of the cave from the debris. The
kitchen was completely taken out and the chimney straightened. Once
the area of the bat cage had been tidied, it revealed itself as a
great place for an altar and a new picture of Master Monsoon was
lovingly placed on this. And all of a sudden the whole cave turned
into a sanctuary! The floors shimmered in a transparent black and
the walls sparkled like pearls. Merimac understood that his cave now
belonged to all the people of Loamsdown and that they would take
good care of it and the bats for ever after. He felt great
liberation and lightness at heart and left as soon as the opening
ceremony was completed. He found Master Monsoon within weeks, lived
with him for many rich years and ultimately reached enlightenment.
The End.
An almost
true story from New Zealand, 2007.
©Arbana Levande 2007
____________________________________________________
Observations In A Yoga Class For Students With Multiple Sclerosis
By Sannyasi Samadhimurti
Description of Multiple
Sclerosis
MS (Multiple Sclerosis) is
a progressively degenerative, auto-immune disease of the nervous
system in the brain and the spinal column. The myelin layer that
usually protects and supports the nerves becomes inflamed, damaged
and eventually completely destroyed. The communication through the
nerve impulses may break down. The course of the disease can be
different for each person, often people will experience attacks of
varying duration (days or months or even years) followed by a
restoration period where functions will improve again, to then
experience another relapse years or even decades later.
All parts of the individual that are
controlled by the nervous system can be affected including functions
of vision, hearing, speech, walking, writing, and memory. Muscle
weakness and spasms, fatigue, numbness, and prickling pain are
common symptoms. Decreased concentration, attention deficits,
depression,
manic
depression,
and paranoia can be part of the mental changes.
As the disease worsens,
patients may experience sexual dysfunction or reduced bowel and
bladder control[i].
Symptoms can vary during different phases and among different
people.
It is estimated that there are approximately
4000 people living with MS in New Zealand. Unfortunately, as Medline
Plus[ii]
state, "there is no known cure for multiple sclerosis at this time.
However, there are promising therapies that may slow the disease.
The goal of treatment is to control symptoms and maintain a normal
quality of life."
The Happy Families Website[iii]
describes that Yoga and Tai Chi are good for stretching and a sense
of well-being.
A study[iv]
in 2004 in the US showed improvement in fatigue in the groups that
exercised and practiced Yoga compared to the control group that
performed neither. No effects on attention or alertness or any clear
changes in mood were noted.
Professor Burk[v],
a leading neurologist in the USA, suggested that people with MS:
-
utilise available
resources,
-
have a good
relationship with their health care professionals,
-
educate themselves -
find out more through MS support groups and own information
library,
-
learn to say "no" to
work and family commitments when not well,
-
maintain a healthy
lifestyle including healthy diet, exercise, and adequate rest,
-
take up recreational
activities and hobbies that give positive support,
-
reduce toxins: alcohol
and tobacco and negative friends and family,
-
reach out to peers with
MS to share common issues, and
-
be an advocate for MS
causes.
Implications for a Yoga Class
The above information
suggests that Yoga (asana, pranayama, meditation and Yoga Nidra) can
benefit people with MS by improving health and wellbeing on the
physical, energetic, mental, emotional and spiritual levels. In
fact, Yoga is an excellent complementary therapy for people with MS.
Practising Yoga in a group environment on a regular basis allows
clear instructions and assistance from the Yoga teacher as well as
encouragement and support from the peers. When people with MS take
up Yoga, they need to be especially cautious with balance and
standing movements, as well as aware of their own limitations as not
to overdo the physical (and other) aspects. A Yoga class therefore
needs to be gentle and flexible to cater for each person's different
abilities.
Observations in a Yoga
Class for students with MS
Because students with MS
tire easily the class is only one hour in duration. We meet once a
week in the gym where exercises are practiced on other weekdays. The
group is small at this stage, only five regulars come: three women
and two men, all over 50. They have agreed to start the class
sitting up, even though one participant cannot do so for extended
periods. People either lean against the wall or sit cross-legged
without any other support during stages 1-3 of Kaya Sthairyam
followed by chanting of the mantra Om three times and the peace
invocation of Om Shanti.
Often, it is a struggle for
everyone to be ready on time for an already short class. Some of the
students may take several minutes to move into any of the base
positions. Because most students cannot stand or are unable to stand
without support, asanas are restricted to those starting from
sitting, lying on front or back, Vajrasana and on all fours. An easy
flow of postures has been created to save time by avoiding
unnecessary changes in base positions: this flow moves from sitting
asanas to postures on all fours and/or Vajrasana, to postures
starting from lying on the front, then rolling onto the back and
finally completing the class with Yoga Nidra in Shavasana for the
last 15 to 20 minutes. In each session some movements from the
Pawanmuktasana (PMA) part 1 are practised while still sitting up,
sometimes one of the first three PMA part 3 is added. Favourites
from Vajrasana include Shashankasana and Ananda Madirasana.
Marjariasana and Vyaghrasana are practised with varying outcomes. On
the front, asanas like the flying locust or half locust as well as
simple backward bends play an important role in keeping the back
flexible and strong. Lying on the back, all asanas that strengthen
the abdominal muscles are particularly important and as well as
spinal twists. Recently padma pushpam was added with great success.
The class finishes with
Yoga Nidra to counteract any fatigue that may accompany the physical
exertion of getting to class, onto the floor and then performing
asanas. Rotation of consciousness especially supports the growth of
new neural pathways, and the breathing will sustain a sense of
well-being and connectedness, in particular as usually pranayama -
other than Yogic Breathing in Shavasana just before Yoga Nidra -
falls prey to the time shortage.
A little while back, we
introduced Ashwini Mudra, then Vajroli / Sahajoli Mudra the
following week and Moola Bandha a fortnight later. Within a month
the feedback from the students was that urinary incontinence had now
been mastered without drugs. This possibility had not been known
before. Originally the mudras were introduced in preparation for
Moola Bandha, which was to be taught for pain control as well as
energy preservation.
The willingness of the
students to try new asanas keeps astounding me and often the result
is much more encouraging than expected - by me. We have done a Vipareet Karani asana variation against the wall, where apart from
getting the legs there; the main problem was to keep the legs from
slipping back down. We have given Hasta Pada Angushthasana and Meru
Akarshanasana a go and performed a TTK variation sitting up against
the wall.
The students are a chatty
bunch and focus continues to be a challenge for some. The mood is
always cheerful before, during and after class. People are
determined to see the good in the situation and make the best out of
life, as Brendon says: "The word 'giving up' is not part of my
vocabulary." The social aspect is important, and the feeling of a
support group shows when a cup of tea and biscuits are enjoyed after
class.
The students report feeling
great and relaxed at the end of the Yoga class and finding the class
generally enjoyable and the effects remarkable. Brendon comments:
"Yoga and exercise complement each other. Since I started practising
both several times a week, I have been able to do things again I couldn't before. It's a pity not more people attend."
Brian explains: "Without
Yoga and Gym I wouldn't be able to walk now. The Yoga class
challenges me to give movements a go I wouldn't think of trying
otherwise."
And Diane observes:
"It
makes you feel good, the stretching is so good for our
bodies, and we don't get it like we do while doing Yoga, also the
breathing is really great, especially for an Asthmatic like me, it
also has enabled my to be a much better sleeper. I relax more fully
and concentrate on the eyebrow centre and can then drift off to
sleep which has been a God sent when the pain is really bad. Also I
love finishing off with the Yoga Nidra; it is so good."
[iv]
Randomized controlled trial of yoga and exercise in multiple
sclerosis.
Neurology. 2004 Jun
8;62(11):2058-64 ,
Oken BS,
Kishiyama S,
Zajdel D,
Bourdette D,
Carlsen
J,
Haas M,
Hugos C,
Kraemer
DF,
Lawrence
J,
Mass M.
[v] MS Waikato Trust
Newsletter April 2006 Snippets from Professor
Burks'
Talks Hamilton: MS Waikato Trust
©Arbana Levande
2007