a brief musing by Mike Nixon
That’s right, its not going to make you famous, rich or help find the perfect partner of your dreams.
You might even find the opposite for a while… if you really connect with your talents, life’s work and destiny, and take up the challenge. You might be a nobody, poor and without a partner!
However, you will find a richness, a fullness, and good people in your life that are far more valuable and sustaining long-term than all the money and fame in the world.
Whatever else has happened, good or bad, yoga practice has been the cornerstone and the reference point, ever since I took it up almost 30 years ago – thanks to Pam Crisp in Wellington for that gift.
I’d like to finish with a famous quote from Sri K. Pattabhi Jois.
Do the practice and all is coming.
This is so true in my experience, even while I have been writing this!
My interpretation is to do your yoga practice whatever form it is, regularly and with sincerity.
Be present, completely present, forget about the past, don’t worry about the future, just do your practice, no more , no less.
I believe that we are masters of our own universe so I refuse to accept that their is no future in Yoga. Whatsoever a man thinketh, so shall it be.
Absolutely! I’ve been saying Love is the path to God but I’m glad that I sought the Truth at the same time. With the two there are no limits.
For me being “masters of our own universe” is being present at the centre of the universe, fully present , neither THINKING about the past or future, nor for that matter , the present
.Its a new age cliche , “masters of our own universe ” the idea of being a master or having our own universe doesn’t resonate with me .
Through regular yoga practise , one can have a great future , but thats not an idea I am thinking about when practising , so there is no Future in Yoga if you are thinking about the future while practising.But I am no master, thats what I think.
MIke, I didn’t know that is what you were referring too. As a matter of fact, I wasn’t paying attention to who the author was. I know that Kara-Leah had recently posted an article about the “donation” based model. I actually thought she had written the post and had started to loose her faith in teaching yoga! I was trying to encourage her! I thought the article was about teaching yoga not practicing yoga. LOL… Anywho. Now since I know where you were coming from, I agree with you.
Hey Shanna,
I wondered if you’d read the article properly when you left the comment. I had a good giggle when you came back with this second comment!
I agree completely Mike. It’s about living life for the one to enjoy. A life of interest and love and happiness without considering wealth or poverty. Poverty isn’t a issue of confinement is the point I was making
Hey Mike,
I love the way you take something and twist it around to show a truth. So often we do think that yoga is going to “give us something in the future”, but like you say, this is just an idea and there is no “future” to speak of…
So in the end, we practice because of what it brings us here and now, without holding on to any ideas of what that might be…
Powerful indeed! Thanks for contributing to the website!
No problem, thanks for a great web site Kara-Leah . I can’t help thinking who am I to say something about yoga , just a student, a learner , but the truth is , if it encourages someone to carry on their practice, or think about how they do practice, well that’s not time wasted !.
Hey Mike,
Who are any of us? All we can ever offer up is our perspective, which is such a valuable thing because we are the only one who ever sees the world exactly that way…
Hi Mike,
I am reading your article after 4 years. In this materialist world I guess 99.99% of the people think of money, fame and all other personal benefits. I even guess most of the people who practice yoga or want to practice it, think of using it as tool to perform better in their area of interest (again money, fame etc…). And most of the yogis and people who practice yoga always advice other people by telling the benefits. But I sincerely appreciate your article because you say just do it and do not look for any benefits.
Thank you Chetan