Tat Twam Asi

This past year in reading one of Swami V's books, I came across the mantra:
Tat Twam Asi


Though translated in various English phrases, "That thou are", I didn't really understand what I was supposed to understand about who That and Thou are.

And when I can't understand something, I don't force my way to the path, but I do open up the lines of communication to get to the path.

I read the phrase over.
And over.
And over.
I put it on my phone, so there it was/is--along with the picture of my family.

I let it happen.
And finally it did.

I read somewhere else a different sort of translation--
Tat: My soul/atman/innermost being connected to the
Twam: Braham/God/Universe
and bringing it all together in this great big connection is
Asi: Union

And  there you go...I got it.
Well, at least for now--a beginning of an understanding,
that may or may not be how I interupt it tomorrow.
:)
Om xoxo

Word of the day: kula

I don't remember if it was my family, teachers or both, that instilled the idea of learning a new word a day.

It seems the concept should partner people together, but I suppose it doesn't matter, because in the end--I still-- almost at 40-- try to enhance my vocabulary.

So my word on Monday was kula: meaning family or group.
If you look up kula via wikipedia, you'll discover it means different things in different languages.
I am interested in the Sanskrit interpetation of the word, even though according to the New World Encyclopedia it is a difficult word for English interpretation. 

Personally, I don't see the difficultly in it.
I know there's the saying we can pick our friends, but we can't pick our family.
First off, I don't buy that saying.
I think we come to this place, this space, choosing our family and friends to love and learn about and from...but if not--then at what point do we acknowledge our family brings us lessons and ideals to learn positive and negative from?

Ok. Then there's this looseknit idea of 'family' --the people we mean to spend our time with.
On purpose.
With intention.
Friendships.
Relationships.
Working relationships.
Spiritual community.
Our kula.
Tightknight group of folks who love each other or at least tolerate.

If we are fortunate, we have a supportive immediate and extended kula.
And if we don't--we should honor our inner light, to place our Being towards the highest.

On Monday evenings class, I threw out the word kula while they were in childs pose, explaining the meaning of family.
I don't get into my personal beliefs too much, but try to share philosophy and ideas that correlate to the practice.  One thing I did say was that when dealing with our kula, our family--our base--we can use the chakras or energy centers in our body that coincide with words and ideas, to help us.

Our base chakra or muladhara chakra is said to reside at the base of our spine.
It's what keeps us stable in relationships, work, family.
And seeing how we're coming upon the holiday season, this chakra can take a beating...dealing with positive and negative past family baggage or even work that we're trying to accomplish before our time off.

That's when we need to ground ourselves.
So--Mondays class was full of grounding poses.
Heart opening poses through grounding poses, that hopefully offered insight or thoughtfulness.

I enjoyed Mondays class because I realized I spoke as I usually write.
There's a true gap between what I physically say versus my written word.
I feel more comfortable writing, sharing what may or may not be accepted.
But what I've been striving to find in my teaching is this voice I carry through writing, into my real-life teaching.
And what I feel comfortable in doing is sharing words.
Sharing stories.
To me these are real 'things' that people can carry in their heads in a positive way.

Sharing with their own kula.
Family.
Om

Saucha

On my hands and knees, mopping my floors, the word 'saucha' popped into my mind.
Saucha is one of niyamas in yoga philosphy, meaning purity or cleanliness.  Dealing with my household,
I find it the most difficult.  Once upon a time, my girls were young- I was married and worked very part time. 
My household was never perfect, but it was much more tidy.
Then my girls grew alittle and I was no longer married, working two full time jobs.
My household was less than perfect and hardly tidy.

And then yesterday, with my youngest at home sick, I took/take such joy in being able to clean--truly clean.
Not the surface wiping, but getting into the corners and delving into the practice--delving into saucha.
At a certain point, I remind myself--this is not permanent...the cleaning, the messiness--the moment.
Soon there were a housefull of girls rearranging any order I may have illusioned myself into creating.
And then that will disappear too--but I will have the thought and the word to ponder on:
Saucha.

Plus, I have other positive purities within myself--my household that I can see the abundance in and appreciate. It is a constant practice. Much love.
Om.
xoxo