Cocoon-ed

I remember Swamy calling me a caterpillar. He wouldn't explain why. I was extremely miffed - he wouldn't tell me what it meant, and I couldn't for the life of me imagine what he was talking about.

Had forgotten all about that until today. It's funny. Read this on the new Isha website.

There is a beautiful story about a caterpillar that lived much of its life believing that it had come into being only to eat and sleep and do what the rest of the caterpillars did. However it was unhappy. Somehow it sensed that its life had another dimension not yet experienced.

One day, driven by a strange longing, it decided to become still and silent. It hung from the branch of a tree, weaving a cocoon around itself. Inside the cocoon, although constrained and uncomfortable, it waited, sensing and aware. Its patience bore fruit, for when the cocoon burst open, it was no longer the lowly worm that went in, but a beautiful, resplendent, winged butterfly which dazzled the sky. It soared and flew, no longer limited to its worm-like existence, but free and unbounded. The caterpillar had been transformed into a thing of air and lightness, magic and beauty.

Once the transformation had taken place, it was impossible for the butterfly to return to being a worm. In the cocoon, the caterpillar had become one with its inner being and in this union it reached its ultimate nature. What happened in the cocoon can be described as yoga. Yoga is the path towards being boundless.

Yoga transforms and liberates human beings so that they can reach this unbounded state. Humans, unlike animals, are not merely existing. They are becoming. To evolve as a human being is to become aware of one's limitations; to strive, with intense passion, towards the transcendence for which we all have the potential.

Sigh.

Progress Report - 02

It's been a week since I finished my first program at Isha Yoga centre, and have been practicing everyday.

People have been laughing at me openly - some amused by the change, and some mocking. But a few seeing it and getting inspired.

The practice that they taught us has many benefits - physical, mental, emotional, and energy balancing. The benefits I'm experiencing already -

1. Physically - getting more flexible, feel more in shape, therefore not lazy or sluggy. Have been waking up early, the day is a lot more productive. My every morning nose cold and sniffling has gone away. Without planning to, I've not had chicken or non-veg food since the ashram. There was a time when I couldn't go a meal without chicken, and now I'm not dependent on it anymore and am relishing fresh food a lot more.

2. Mentally - feel very calm, memory has improved, focus on work is so much better. There was a time when I couldn't sit and do something that needed focus if there was noise or other people. But now I can meditate in a room right beside a racket created by 6 enthusiastic foosball players. Without feeling bothered. I can see things a lot more clearly than before, and my mind isn't cluttered by chaos that much.

3. Emotionally - Focusing on the present - not dwelling on the past, or worrying about the future. It's easier to be happy and relaxed. I've noticed an amazing difference in how I react to people - I don't feel impatient or annoyed. Nor do I care anymore about doing things just because someone else is.

4. Energy - Inner energy is the subtle force that keeps us alive - and is so subtle that we're not even aware of it, while being lost in our pursuits of physical and mental happiness.
I learned how important this energy is and I'm slowly beginning to see the difference yoga is making.

A video from the program