Intro Video: Who do you want to be now?

 Sharon Salzburg explains in her book “Faith” how Mara, the killer of life, the killer of virtue, attacked the Buddha the night he sat under the Bodhi tree seeking enlightenment. She says it is significant to understand that “her ultimate attack was on the bodhisattva’s faith in his own potential. In essence, Mara said, ‘Who do you think you are to be sitting there with that immense aspiration?”

When Mara asked the Buddha, “Who do you think you are?” It was said in a sinister tone. I’m so deeply familiar with this question and tone that when I hear it, I just wither.

What would happen if we removed that sinister tone, said it in a very neutral voice, and sat with the question? Who do you think you are? Then respond to it! We never respond to it; we just shrink. And what if we said, "Thank you for asking, what a great question! Who do I think I am? Well, I think I'm a child of God. Not sure, but I’m pretty sure. What do I think I'm doing? I think I'm teaching, writing, being in a relationship, cooking, working out. . ." What if instead of withering, we answered it? What if we said, "Thank you for allowing me to contemplate that."

The Buddha touched the earth, asking it to bear witness to his right to be sitting there. While I don’t know anything about enlightenment, I have witnessed fear subsiding in the presence of love. I’ve experienced the sinister tone diminishing, and curiosity, openness, and understanding surface.

Mara was vanquished and fled when the Buddha claimed his right to be sitting there; the killer of life, a killer of virtue, couldn’t hang in the presence of joy, freedom, and love.

The path of yoga not only identifies the problem of forgetting who we are (so we wither under Mara’s attack) but also gives us the key to the solution. The more time we spend in contemplation, on the mat, or in meditation, the more enthusiastic we become about being present. So enthusiastic that we eventually override the habit of escaping and overcome the pattern of constantly seeking outside of ourselves. And we eventually become unapologetic about who we are.

With love,

Cynthia

For this week’s practice you will want a block and a strap. If you don’t have a block use a stack of books. ENJOY!

Vision Meditation