Intro Video:
The story of the Buddha is an excellent model for us as we move forward. Essentially the Buddha spent years seeking the answers outside of himself and one night he sat under a tree determined not to move until he was free of suffering. He declared that there was no place better than where he stood and proved that happiness and freedom are real and attainable goals not just for him but for each and every being. He touched the earth and said “I’m going to awaken right here”. He finally understood that the freedom he was seeking was within, but in order to access it, he had to include the pain of being human. He included our flaws, he included our suffering into the beauty of life. And when he was attacked for this declaration he just sat. He did not move. He justified his right to be sitting there, to attain understanding, by his existence.
As the story goes he was enlightened that night giving us permission to not only seek happiness, joy, freedom and love in our lives but to include all the wild unruly parts of ourselves that we wish were different. His example teaches us a way to be with our suffering rather than trying to escape. His example gives us a new definition of perfection, one that is inclusive of our whole selves.
The practice of yoga then gives us a roadmap to accomplish this and helps in our understanding of why we suffer and what we can do to ease the pain of being human and to have compassion for the sweet self we see in the mirror.
Much love,