Mythology Inspired Yoga Practice | Video

Posted on by Khushi Malhotra

This class is inspired by my lecture given at Yoga Alliance on Mythology (please see previous post for free replay). I am happy to share with you some of the stories behind the poses we do all the time, and what the energy of the asanas relate to in terms of Yoga Mythology. For Parts 2 & 3 of the asana series, you are welcome to subscribe to my online full class library where I offer dozens of classes taken at your convenience for an affordable monthly investment: https://khushyoga.com/classes/zoomclasslibrary/

The Tale of Angulimala |Article

Posted on by Khushi Malhotra

The fantastic story of Angulimala from the time of the Buddha is one that children across India know. I got to  know the story on my first Vipassana meditation retreat, and years later it continues to fascinate me. Angulimala's tale is all about the potential to rise out of our suffering and ignorance and into the light of wisdom. How a good, honest person, given the right circumstances, can be corrupted. And how a bloodthirsty maniac, given the right circumstances, can become one of the most compassionate liberated beings on Earth. It is both a tale of caution and deliverance... (Excerpts taken from Lives of the Disciples by Hellmuth Hecker) Angulimala's story begins on the day of his birth in the kingdom of Kosala to his parents Bhaggava Gagga and Mantani, both members of the royal court. His father consulted a jyotish or astrologer to have his chart cast and the astrologer revealed that the boy was born under the "robber-constellation" of the planets. This indicated that the boy would have within him a tendency to commit robbery and murder. Both parents were beside themselves both with grief and bewilderment over the news. What to do with this innocent newborn? They decided to protect their son from these evil tendencies by ensuring he was raised in an atmosphere of strong morality and good education. Perhaps then he would follow a good moral life and the prediction of his chart could be curtailed. They named their son "Ahimsaka" which means Harmless in the hopes that upon hearing this name countless times he would grow up to be a gentle creature of this world. As he grew up, Ahimsaka proved to be a well-mannered, strong and intelligent boy, which pleased his parents immensely and made them forget about the prediction of long ago. When he was of age, they sent him to the renowned university of Takshishila to study under a foremost teacher.  Under his guru, Ahimsaka surpassed all other students with his bright and intelligent nature, and served his teacher with the utmost humility and love. Very soon, he became his teacher's favourite student, and was even invited to their home for meals. As is true of human nature, the other students became very envious and jealous of Ahimsaka's exalted position in their Guru's eyes and hatched a devious plan to separate devoted student and teacher.  Three sets of students, all on separate occasions, went to their teacher saying that they had heard some terrible news - that his own very dear Ahimsaka was planning to plot against him to usurp his power as Guru. And would even go as far as to kill him. Their guru, at first dismissed them with severe reprimand, but as one after the other group came with the same news, the poisonous seed of doubt began to grow in his mind against his beloved Ahimsaka. The Buddha says that of the 5 enemies of a meditator (doubt, agitation, sloth, craving and aversion), it is doubt that is the most nefarious ringleader and can bring down a man. The guru began himself to hatch a plan to stop his student from killing him. While he knew that he could not overpower such a strong man, nor could he kill him for fear of losing his social reputation, he came up with a clever idea.  As Ahimsaka's studies were coming to a close, it is a common tradition in India that the student give his Guru a gift of honour in exchange for all that he has learned (dakshina). One day he called him over and asked for this very dakshina. Ahimsaka replied he would be happy to give whatever his Guru asked. The guru then said, "You must bring me a thousand human little fingers of the right hand. This will then be your concluding ceremonial homage to the science you have learned." His teacher knew that very soon, he would either be killed or jailed for even attempting this task, and he would then be free of his fear. Ahimsaka was shocked, tried to protest, but eventually conceded to his Guru's request because of his deep trust and devotion to him.  One of his motivations may have been that an unquestioning obedience to the guru appeared to him as the first duty of a pupil, this being an echo from his earlier way of life that was governed by higher principles. But the stronger factor in his decision will probably have been that his hidden dispositions had actually emerged in his mind when vistas of violence were evoked by his teacher's words. He may have felt attracted by a life of violent adventure. Tradition tells that in one of his former lives he had been a powerful spirit, a so-called yakkha, who used his superhuman strength to hurt and kill living beings to satisfy his appetite for human flesh. In all his past experiences that are reported in the Jatakas, two traits are prominent in him: his physical strength and his lack of compassion. This was the dark heritage of his past which broke into his present life, submerging the good qualities of his early years. So, in his final response to his teacher's demand, he did not even think of the alternative, to gather the fingers from corpses thrown into India's open cremation grounds. Instead he equipped himself with a set of the fivefold weaponry, among them a large sword, and went into the wild Jalini forest in his home state, Kosala. There he lived on a high cliff from where he could observe the road below. When he saw travelers approaching, he hurried down, slew them and took one finger from each of his victims. He would hang the fingers from a tree, but birds would eat the flesh and the bones would drop to the ground. He then decided to string the little fingers one by one on a garland around his neck which he wore and would count. Thus, he was given the name "Angulimala" or "one who wears a … Continue reading The Tale of Angulimala |Article

Rishi Angiras

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Rishi Angirasa is one of the Saptarishis (Seven Immortal Sages) and the Manasaputra (son born of the mind) of Brahma, and is one of the Projenitors of humankind. Many verses in the Vedas are attributed to Rishi Angirasa. He, along with sage Atharvan, are said to have composed (heard) most of the Atharvana Veda. Through his tapas, Rishi Angiras came to be known as Angira, "shining like fire". In the beginning of time, Rishi Angiras, at the behest of Bhagwan Sanatkumara, built the ancestral Himalayan cave in the region of Mt. Kailash where Lord Shiva resides, guiding aspirants along the path. Sage Angirasa and Saunaka, the Householder One of the stories related to Rishi Angirasa is mentioned in the Mundaka Upanishad. A householder by the name Saunaka carried his firewood and reached the forest where Rishi Angirasa was. He approaches the Sage reverently and beseeched “O Holy Sage, teach me that through which the whole universe can be known.” Rishi Angirasa goes on to explain the two different kinds of knowledge on this Earth. The lower knowledge he stated, are the sciences, hymns, rituals, grammar, poetry astrology etc. The higher knowledge is that which leads a man to that which never dies. The Indestructible. Rishi Angiras explained this further says “This body is like a tree in which two birds live. They look alike. The lower bird is tasting the fruits of the tree and some are sweet and others are sour. The higher bird is just watching the lower bird.  One day the lower bird is tired of everything and starts to weep. The lower bird sees the higher bird which is calm, unattached and at peace. The lower bird hops towards the higher one. It suddenly realizes that the upper bird is also just himself, his true Self . Knowing this, his grief disappears. He realises that the Ego was not real, the Self was real, the observer of all."

Narada and Bhakti Yoga

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"He who hates none, who is the friend of all, who is merciful to all, who has nothing of his own, who is free from egoism, who is even-minded in pain and pleasure, who is forbearing, who is always satisfied, who works always in Yoga, whose self has become controlled, whose will is firm, whose mind and intellect are given up unto Me, such a one is My beloved Bhakta. From whom comes no disturbance, who cannot be disturbed by others, who is free from joy, anger, fear, and anxiety, such a one is My beloved. He who does not depend on anything, who is pure and active, who does not care whether good comes or evil, and never becomes miserable, who has given up all efforts for himself ; who is the same in praise or in blame, with a silent, thoughtful mind, blessed with what little comes in his way, homeless, for the whole world is his home, and who is steady in his ideas, such a one is My beloved Bhakta." - Swami Vivekananda on Krishna's teachings The following is a beautiful story about the nature of devotion and Bhakti that one must give in their practice. Krishna, in the Bhagavad Gita, extols the importance of following the path of devotion in the Kali Yuga as the most direct way to reach your own Divine potential. As a Bhakti, one must offer all the fruits gained from the external world and practice to that inner light, and learn to trustfully surrender, expecting nothing in return...only then does the flame within ignite. There was a great god-sage called Narada. Just as there are sages among mankind, great Yogis, so there are great Yogis among the gods. Narada was a good Yogi, and very great. He travelled everywhere. One day he was passing through a forest, and saw a man who had been meditating until the white ants had built a huge mound round his body - so long had he been sitting in that position. He said to Narada, "Where are you going?" Narada replied, "I am going to heaven." "Then ask God when He will be merciful to me; when I shall attain freedom?." Further on Narada saw another man. He was jumping about, singing, dancing, and said, "Oh, Narada, where are you going?" His voice and his gestures were wild. Narada said, "I am going to heaven." "Then ask God when I shall be free." Narada went on. In the course of time he came again by the same road, and there was the man who had been meditating with the ant-hill round him. He said, "Oh, Narada, did you ask the Lord about me?" "Oh, yes." "What did He say?" "The Lord told me that you would attain freedom in four more births." Then the man, enraged, began to weep and wail, and said, "I have meditated until an ant-hill has grown around me, and I have four more births yet!" Narada went to the other man. "Did you ask my question ?" "Oh, yes. Do you see this tamarind tree? I have to tell you that as many leaves as there are on that tree, so many times, you shall be born, and then you shall attain freedom." The man began to dance for joy, and said, "Oh thank you Lord! Thank you that it isn't all the leaves of all the trees in the world! I shall have freedom after such a short time!" A voice came, "My child, you will have freedom this minute." That was the reward for his perseverance. He was ready to work through all those births, nothing discouraged him. But the first man felt that even four more births were too long. Only perseverance and patience, like that of the man who was willing to wait aeons brings about the highest result.

The Teacher is in All

Posted on by Khushi Malhotra

This is an excerpt of a story taken from Krishna's final teachings in the Uddhava Gita about a young avadhuta ('pure one') who enlightens a Yadu King on the nature of the Teacher: And the young avadhuta said to the Yadu King: 'Hear me well, O king, as I tell you what I have learned from these my teachers. From the earth I learned to remain undisturbed even while being oppressed by those under the sway of their own destiny. The earth taught me not to deviate from the course I set for myself ~ just as it does not deviate from its path around the sun. As a disciple of this earth I learned from its lofty mountains that my movements should be guided by the service and care of others. As a disciple of this earth I learned from its upright trees that my life should be spent in sweet dedication to the welfare of others. From the air I learned what it means to be an ascetic: to take only what is needed to keep body healthy and mind balanced, and that more than that causes mind and body to waste away. From the air I learned what it means to be a Yogi: to move about freely in contact with all things but attached to no thing; to be the breath that comes and goes unconcerned with reward and punishment. From the air that moves I learned that the Yogi comes and goes through many bodies, yet remains in untouched stillness ~ just ike the gentle breeze that carries fragrances from place to place. From the vast space spread out as the air all around us I learned of my true identity. I learned that though clothed in a body of one form or another, all things, moving and unmoving, are without boundaries: for the unlimited Self is present everywhere in everything, just as air is present everywhere and in everything. From space I learned that the Self remains untouched by the form it takes on, whatever that form may be ~ fire, earth, or wind ~ just as the space remains untouched by the clouds blown by the winds. From the water I learned that the sage must be transparent and like the water we must be sweet, always offering purity so that others through our company may be cleansed and purified. From the fire I learned how to burn brightly through the power of practice. From fire I learned we need only the food that the belly can burn now. From fire I learned to accept what is given to me, and to let the fire of my practice transform what is impure and make it pure. From the fire I learned that in order to teach the sage must sometimes be hidden and sometimes be visible. In this way, like fire, the sage can grant blessings, in which all transgressions are burned. I learned that just like fire that has no shape of its own, but to reveal itself takes the shape of the log being burned, so are we. Whatever our form, whatever our history, the Self reveals itself in all forms over and over again. Time and its passage belong to the body ~ not to the Self of all bodies. I learned this by watching the moon, which remains the same even while it appears to change with the passage of time. Through the power of time death follows birth and birth follows death. Yet the Self does not observe these changes ~ just as the observer does not see each flame of the fire being born, taking shape and dying, to be born again. From the sun I learned non-attachment. The sun draws water up into the atmosphere and then returns it as the gentle rain. This is surely what it means to live as a Yogi ~ accepting the experiences that are freely offered, and letting them go when they are withdrawn. Like the sun the Self is one. But like the sun reflected on moving water the Self appears to be broken into many forms. But I learned from the sun not to mistake the image for the reality...'

A Favorite Tale of Krishna and Radha’s

Posted on by Khushi Malhotra

Uddhava, the apprentice of Krishna, one day expressed his dissatisfaction to Krishna that in-spite of studying all Vedas, Upanishadas and Sutras, he still was not recipient of the title “Maha-Rishi”, meaning the great sage. He indirectly suggested that Krishna should use his weight in the council of wise men to honor him with the title. Krishna sensed the ego and pride of Uddhava. He smiled and asked Uddhava if he thought his study was complete. Uddhava answered a confident yes. Krishna did not say anything. He just told Uddhava to come and see him the next day. The next day Krishna asked him a for a favor. He asked Uddhava to visit Vrindavan, where Krishna’s soul mate Radha resided, and to give her a message. Uddhava gladly agreed. After all, getting to do a special assignment for no one else but Krishna, the divine one, was an honor. When he was ready to leave, Krishna smiled and waved him goodbye. Uddhava asked about the message and Krishna said he had none. Uddhava was surprised. He sat in chariot and started on his way, but he could not help wonder what would be Radha’s reaction. He was sure Radha would be very angry at this. He did not want to see a problem in Radha and Krishna’s relationship. So just before he entered Vrindavan, he got a parch-paper and wrote a hi-hello message to Radha and forged to look like it came from Krishna. On reaching Vrindavan, he did not have problem finding Radha’s house. She gave him a warm welcome. After he settled, he handed over the message, hoping she would not examine the message in too much detail. For a moment Radha stared at the parch-paper and then she started laughing hysterically. Uddhava was confused. He asked Radha what was the matter. She said the message Krishna wrote was funny. Uddhava pretended surprise and asked what was the message. “The message says Uddhava’s study is still not complete.” replied Radha. On listening this, Uddava was stunned. ‘How could she have known this?’ he wondered. Radha calmed him down. “I love Krishna and trust Krishna in ways beyond you can imagine.” She said “We are two bodies but same soul. There is nothing to be said in between us. We have walked the path of trust, love, devotion and sacrifices for so long that there are no boundaries in my being and his. He does not need to send me messages. He is my message. He is my love letter from the universe.” “But Uddhava, you have not learned to trust Krishna. You have not learned to give up your self, your ego, and stop your manipulating mind. You ego stands between you and the truth. Between you and the supreme awakening.” “Erasing the sense of duality and being one with the universe, being one with the one who beholds universe, is this not the jist of the sacred ancient texts, Uddhava?” Uddhava was speechless. Within a minute, Radha had explained the the deepest mysteries of life. He just wanted to stand there and listen. He spent the whole day at her house. She talked about life in layman’s terms of love and truth. But Uddhava found answers to his most profound questions in philosophies he learned all this life. “How did you get so much knowledge staying in this village and living life doing chores?” He asked. “Each moment makes you take sides. If you always take side of truth and love, you will gain insights. Each insight awakens you from the illusion and takes you a step closer to the supreme awakening.” “How can you be in Love with Krishna and still remain free from bonds of life ?” “There is distinction between the love that results from insecurity and the love that results from faith. The former results in bonds. The later results in freedom. The former gets lost, the later transcends. The former leads to fear of death and abandonment. The later leads to Nirvana, to enlightenment that is death of death, to realization that Radha and Krishna are just ripples and love is like the water, eternal and infinite.” “How can you get awakened without leaving the society and becoming a monk?” “Where a man reaches by renouncing the world, a woman reaches by embracing the world in its wholeness.” Said Radha. “Is there no point in pursuit of knowledge? Then what is the meaning of life?” “Your ability to give it any meaning, is the meaning of life. ” Ansewred Radha. “And about the pursuits, pursuit of currency is not the same as pursuit of wealth, pursuit of sensation is not pursuit of happiness, pursuit of titles is not pursuit of knowledge. These pursuits are in synergy for some time, and they are at conflict later. You must wake up, and open your eyes.” Radha’s answers turned all of Uddhavas learning upside down and inside out and presented to him as a paradox, a paradox his doubting mind could never grasp. Uddhava’s ego surrendered. The constant chatter of thoughts at the back of his mind stopped and he saw a totally new world at the same place. An eternal, peaceful world where everything seemed OK. On his way back to Dwaraka, Uddhava sensed a big change within him. He sang to himself. He offered lift to a sick man. He appreciated the sunset in the Western sky. He did not feel rush to get home and work on getting his title. Next day he met Krishna. Krishna sensed the change too. Krishna smiled and said “So let’s talk about your title Maha-rishi.” “I am not that interested in the title anymore. ” replied Uddhava and bent to touch Krishna’s feet. Krishna rose from his throne. He hold on to Uddhava’s shoulders and smiled at him. ” Your journey is complete. You have arrived. Uddhava, I bestow you the responsibility of writing down my teaching in simple language for all those who do not … Continue reading A Favorite Tale of Krishna and Radha’s