Keep the faith!

First of all I think we should take a quick look on Patanjali… Who is Patanjali? Good question! :)

Patanjali is the compiler of the Yoga Sutras, the most important collection of aphorisms on Yoga practice.

Often called the "father of yoga" Patanjali codified his thoughts and knowledge of yoga. In this work, Patanjali compiled 195 sutras or concise aphorisms that are essentially an ethical blueprint for living a moral life and incorporating the science of yoga into your life. Although no one is sure of the exact time when Patanjali lived and wrote down his sutras, it is estimated this humble physician who became one of the world's greatest sages roamed India somewhere between 200 B.C. and 200 A.D. But it is still hard-fought that Patanjali was a person at all or a group of yogis or gurus who are lived in different times and used the same name as a heritage…

Anyway, in the Yoga tradition, Patanjali is a revered name and has been deified by many groups. It is claimed that Patanjali is an incarnation of Adi Sesha who is the first ego-expansion of Visnu. Thus may Patanjali be considered as the one incarnation of God defending the ego of yoga.

In one popular legend, Patanjali was born to Atri and his wife Anasuya. According to this tradition, Anasuya had to go through a stern test of her chastity when the Trimurti (Brahma, Visnu and Shiva) themselves came as Bhikshuks. She passed their test by accepting them as her children and fed them. She got the boon where all the three Murtis will be born to them. They were Patanjali, Dattatreya, and Durvasa.

Regarding to another tradition from around 10th century Patanjali learned Yoga along with seven other disciples from the great Yogic Guru Nandhi Deva.

Although my favorite explanation is the following: pat means fallen in Sanskrit and Anjali is the mudra of praying (divine offering) so these sutras are for the fallen who are praying for help! How nice it is and how true, isn’t it?! If you dig in the deep of yoga sutras, I am sure you agree… :) All of us fall sometimes and the sutras can be light in these dark moments.

In a world where we reduce nearly everything to quick tips and sound bites, Patanjali seems to fit right in with his brief 195 guidelines to enlightenment. But in the case of Patanjali, simplicity is deceptive. In fact, scholars still don't agree on what Patanjali meant in some of his sutras. But I do believe that they do not have to! Everybody have the freedom to find the meaning of each sutra. Exactly what you need in that moment! It is not so important what others say… just what the message is for you. Do not forget that if you maybe read further! :)

So, now having these important information in your pocket I guess I can share with you one of my favorite sutra (I know, all of them favorites! :)), 1.20.  In this sutra Patanjali gives you the keys of yogic practice, which are ladies and gentlemen the following:

Faith.

Strength.

Memory.

Contemplation.

Discernment.

Just briefly, faith must be there – or at least courage. You must be strong. You should have a good memory of all the mistakes you have made and lessons you’ve learned so a not to fall back into the worldly root again. And, of course, there must be contemplation or Samadhi, as Patanjali has been talking about all long. Finally we need discernment or rather discrimination between the real (Self) and the unreal (Prakriti).

Yes, of course we are going to talk about all of them. You even don’t have to ask. :)

But let’s talk about ‘just’ faith for now. How faith relates to your yoga practice? What does it mean? I should turn back the question… How could you practice yoga without faith? How could you practice life without faith?

So what is faith? Your inner belief. Your inner light. I have really good news for you: All of us have that. You are shining!!! I usually experience my inner belief like a beautiful and calm lake inside me. Waves like doubt, despair, fears can come… but my lake still there! What a fortune! :)

How can you practice inner belief in yoga? First of all believe in yourself! :) Each day, as you step into your mat, accept and be glad where you are right now. You are exactly where you have to be now! With this acceptation open your heart for your practice and be brave to try new things! As you can build walls as you can destroy them. Burn out yourself through practicing and find something new with the faith inside you. See scary things and problems as possibilities. See the possibilities as a new born baby look out the world. Just as the first time you were practicing yoga without the prejudices like this asana is hard… that’s too difficult for me… I don’t like that… I am always getting tired of these, etc. Be curious. Be brave. Keep the faith that every asana, every movement, every practice brings changes and services your development.

It is always your choice to take pleasure in small awakenings. But never forget that you need courage for take choices. Remind yourself that your lake is always there. Look your fears in a face. Look your choices in a face. Look yoga practice in a face. Look life in a face. That’s it, that all. :)

You can start it right now with your favorite inversion! Yes, you know what I mean… :)  Keep the faith (as George Michael sang in my teenager years) and legs up to the sky! New aspects. Headstand, handstand, forearm stand, shoulder stand, etc… Because you believe in yourself and opened for what comes. Because that is a possibility. Because never know when it happens. Because now really means now! :)

My new favorite is Pincha Mayurasana. What’s yours???