Koshas of Faith

 

II Corinthians 4:16-5:1

So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure, because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal. For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heaven

This passage strikes me as a simplistically beautiful tale of faith.  It talks about outer and inner natures and that the outer nature is wasting away.  I think of this as being our physical body.  In yoga therapy we consider all beings to have five bodies or Sheaths, we call them Koshas: Physical, Energetic, Mental, Wisdom, and Spiritual. These five sheaths intertwine into a primordial soup that makes us who we are: our body and mind, and the awareness of the body and mind. The last sheath of Spirituality challenges Christians to look beyond the outer nature to the inner nature (or sheath) and know that heaven awaits us. And our inner nature goes on through our impact on the world. And perhaps some might call this reincarnation, nirvana, or joyous heaven. Alleluia!

 

https://yogapractice.com/yoga/the-koshas-5-layers-of-being

God the Teacher

Numbers 21:4-9

From Mount Hor the Israelites set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; but the people became impatient on the way. The people spoke against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we detest this miserable food.” Then the Lord sent poisonous serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many Israelites died. The people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned by speaking against the Lord and against you; pray to the Lord to take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. And the Lord said to Moses, “Make a poisonous serpent, and set it on a pole; and everyone who is bitten shall look at it and live.” So Moses made a serpent of bronze, and put it upon a pole; and whenever a serpent bit someone, that person would look at the serpent of bronze and live.

 

John 3:14-21

Jesus said, “Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

“Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.”

I, like many people, feel that God the Father of the Old Testament is much like a Father of young children, teaching by setting down rules, boundaries, and teaching how to do things.  Compared to God the Father of the New Testament who develops more of an adult relationship with us, his children.  I see both of these teaching methods reflected in the above readings: Numbers: Old Testament and John: New Testament.

In this Old Testament reading we are taught how to repent from sin and pray. All of this is taught through the use of a serpent or snake.  There is a parallel to yoga here. Kundalini Yoga uses the idea of a snake coiling to represent the energy in our bodies rising via the spine or chakras. Medical Doctors also use two snakes intertwined in the Staff of Hermes as their logo. Snakes are not always the enemy. In the Numbers reading today we do find snakes biting and killing. The Israelites believe it a sign of their sin and ask Moses to ask God for help.  God then teaches. In simple, childlike terms, he has Moses create a Gold Serpent to be used as a single point of meditation.  In yoga a single point of meditation is called Dharana. This meditation could be considered the beginning of learning to pray for forgiveness of sins.  The single point of meditation is the sin itself, in Numbers this is represented by the golden serpent. Focusing on that that troubles us, rather than ignoring it, takes it’s power away and allows us to move, with mindfulness, into a new space of forgiveness. Some might even call this Kundalini rising.

In the New Testament reading John builds on this idea of forgiveness of sins.  In the most famous John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” This reading goes on to compare a world in sin or evil to darkness, and truth to light. The belief in God that we first see in the Israelites in Number, that belief that sent them to Moses for further instruction is present here too only it goes further into eternal life.

Literally just prior to reading these scripture readings a question was posed by one of my college students on life after death. My reply was as follows, “For me as both a scientific minded and spiritual minded person, and one that has experienced cadaver dissection, I cannot believe that all our thoughts, consciousness, personality, etc. All that energy, all the koshas suddenly end with death. It has to go somewhere. I believe in the possibility that there is more than we can see. And although I will be cremated eventually on death, I have strong feelings about waiting at least three days to give the whole time to transition (I haven't decided about donation yet).” God teaches us in marvelous ways.  

 

video from : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WX9rSY9yXo

 

Photo from: https://freesvg.org/1470446546

 

 

 

Yoke - a

This week I am going to focus on the last 3 verses of the Gospel reading from Matthew 11:28-30

“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

What is meant by “yoke” here?

As defined in various ways by Merriam-Webster Yoke means:

1a : a wooden bar or frame by which two draft animals (such as oxen) are joined at the heads or necks for working together

b : an arched device formerly laid on the neck of a defeated person

c : a frame fitted to a person's shoulders to carry a load in two equal portions

d : a bar by which the end of the tongue of a wagon or carriage is suspended from the collars of the harness

e(1) : a crosspiece on the head of a boat's rudder

(2) : an airplane control operating the elevators and ailerons

f : a frame from which a bell is hung

g : a clamp or similar piece that embraces two parts to hold or unite them in position

2 plural usually yoke : two animals yoked or worked together

3a(1) : an oppressive agency

(2) : servitude, bondage

b : tie, link especially : marriage

4 : a fitted or shaped piece at the top of a skirt or at the shoulder of various garments

yoke as a verb yoked; yoking

1a(1) : to put a yoke on

(2) : to join in or with a yoke

b : to attach a draft animal to also : to attach (a draft animal) to something

2 : to join as if by a yoke

3 : to put to work

: to become joined or linked

As a yogini I am drawn to the word yoke as it comes up frequently in yoga. The definitions of yoga that I have heard over my time in this community include union and yoke.  I’ve even seen yokes as decorative additions to yoga studios.  In the yoga sutras we discussed last week Patanjali in sutra I.2 speaks of Yoga “yogah-citta-vṛtti-nirodhaḥ.”  As interpreted by BKS Iyengar:

Yogah means “union or integration from the outermost to the innermost self, that is, from the skin to the muscles, bone, nerves, mind, intellect, will, consciousness, and self.”

Citta means “Consciousness, which is made up of three factors: mind, intellect, and ego. Citta is the vehicle of observation, attention, aims and reason; it has three functions, cognition, conation or volition, and motion.”

Vrtti means “state of mind, fluctuations in mind, course of conduct, behavior, a state of being, mode of action, movement, function, operation.”

Nirodhah mean “obstruction, stoppage, opposition, annihilation, restraint control, cessation.”

Taken together as sutra I.2 one could think of it as the same thing Jesus is saying in Matthew 11:28-30.  Integrate your body at all levels (Koshas: physical, energetic, emotional, wisdom, spiritual) by stopping the fluctuations of the mind and body and rest or meditate in the stillness. Lighten the burden and the yoke becomes easy to hold. Yoke your body mind and spirit together. Moving your body physically in yoga simply prepares it for stillness, breath and meditation. That is all the physical practice does.  As Raffi likes to sing we have to “Shake our sillies out.” Then stillness can follow. We can move into the mind and spirit. One could say the movement (asana) can make us weary and ready for rest, as Jesus says.

This can happen in many ways.  One could hike, garden, do a hard workout, etc. When the physical work is done we need rest.  In that rest that follows hard work clarity can appear in the stillness.  Sometimes in that rest we just want to be held, Jesus offers to hold us in his gentleness and humble heart. What more do you need?  Mediation could be as simple as the Jesus prayer, “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, Have mercy on me, a sinner.”  Jesus’ reply is to give us mercy and rest.

Namaste

 

Image in public domain http://www.clker.com/cliparts/e/b/3/8/15162426261077900509yoke-clipart.med.png

Light on the Yoga Sutra by BKS Iyengar

Ezekiel, Lazarus, Jesus, and The Koshas: Lessons in a Pandemic

For years I have been asked: How do you reconcile what you do for a living, yoga, with your Christianity? I understand the root of where this question comes from.  Many feel that yoga is a Hindu or Buddhist practice. While it can be true, as yoga finds its root in India where these religions are prosperous, it can equally be Christian or “spiritual but not religious,” etc. I find that the more I learn about yoga, and particularly the philosophy of yoga, the deeper my Christianity becomes. In the middle of the COVID19 pandemic I find peace in today’s philosophical discoveries and intersections.  The readings at my church, the Episcopal Church, on this Sunday (Lent 5 Year A) found me exploring the Koshas in my head while listening to them being read at a social distance.   

Kosha means Sheath.  These five sheaths are different versions of the body.  Anna Maya Kosha is the physical systems of the body.  Prana Maya Kosha is the energy or breath body.  Mano Maya Kosha is the emotional body and thoughts, real or imagined. Vijyana Maya Kosha is the Wisdom body that is discerning. Ananda Maya Kosha is the Bliss or Spiritual body. These sheaths are normally shown as layers around the Self or Atman which is in the middle.  They are typically shown as every expanding, like the layers of an onion one completely inside of the other.  But this is not completely true.  All of these representations of our body(s) can and do interact with each other. Koshas are more like spaghetti and less like an onion. Personally, I think of them as being more of a Venn diagram with the Atman/Self at the center.

As the world strives to deal with the COVID 19 virus the readings in the Episcopal church focused on stories of bodies in various forms or koshas. 

The old testament reading was from Ezekiel 37:1-14, the Dry Bones.  The physical body (Anna Maya Kosha) is obviously present within the bones, “as I prophesied, suddenly there was a noise, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone. I looked, and there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them; but there was no breath in them,” Missing was the Energy of Breath (Prana Maya Kosha). Then he said, “to the breath: Thus says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.”  I think we too often leave this story right here but it continues, “Then he said to me, “Mortal, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are cut off completely.’ Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord God: I am going to open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people; and I will bring you back to the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people. I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you on your own soil; then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken and will act,” says the Lord.” Those souls raised in the bones were lost in their untrue sad thoughts (Mano Maya Kosha) that God had abandoned them. But the prophet continues his work letting the bones know that they will know that I am Lord (Vijyana Maya Kosha) when I open your graves.  (This happens in today’s gospel reading about Lazarus.) Finally putting the spirit in them (Ananda Maya Kosha) so they can live, sin and all. There is an aspect of the messiness of the Koshas here.  All five show up in this story perhaps in a somewhat organized fashion like an onion.  But this is an old testament reading, which I personally find to be much less deep and more elemental than the new testament. 

In the Psalm for today 130 there is an emotional (Mano Maya Kosha) element to the waiting for forgiveness and redemption.  These thoughts, prophesy, may or may not be true. But through faith (Ananda Maya Kosha) and intuition (Vijyana Maya Kosha) they wait. No body or breath need to be present only the soul. In pandemic times such as these there is comfort in knowing we go on even if the Anna and Prana Maya Koshas should stop…

1 Out of the depths have I called to you, O Lord; Lord, hear my voice;
*let your ears consider well the voice of my supplication.

2 If you, Lord, were to note what is done amiss, *O Lord, who could stand?

3 For there is forgiveness with you; *therefore you shall be feared.

4 I wait for the Lord; my soul waits for him; *in his word is my hope.

5 My soul waits for the Lord, more than watchmen for the morning, *more than watchmen for the morning.

6 O Israel, wait for the Lord, *for with the Lord there is mercy;

7 With him there is plenteous redemption, *and he shall redeem Israel from all their sins.

In the Epistle reading is Romans 8: 6-11 this idea of soul without body is explored even further…

“To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For this reason the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law–indeed it cannot, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you.”

Comparing Physical Body (Anna Maya Kosha) to the Soul (Ananda Maya Kosha) via Wisdom (Vijnyana Maya Kosha). This speaks of the interconnectedness of all sheaths or bodies.  But that the most important is the soul Ananda Maya Kosha or Bliss/Spirit.  Without Soul the Physical (Anna Maya Kosha) cannot live.  Without the physical the Soul lives on. We are more than our physical bodies. We are all five of these Koshas. We will survive this pandemic, one way or the other.

In the Gospel reading from John 11: 1-45 we hear the story of Lazarus. This is the culmination of all of the prophecy of Ezekiel and Psalm 130. The saving of our souls. “So the sisters sent a message to Jesus, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” But when Jesus heard it, he said, “This illness does not lead to death; rather it is for God’s glory, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” Jesus is confronted with emotion (Mano) of love and the wisdom (Vijyana) of the completion of the prophesy.  It continues with Jesus saying, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going there to awaken him.” The disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will be all right.” Jesus, however, had been speaking about his death, but they thought that he was referring merely to sleep. Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. For your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” Thomas, who was called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.””  Some of their thoughts (Mano) here are incorrect.  But Jesus’ Wisdom (Vijyana) moves them through their faith (Ananda) to the peace of following Jesus even to death. Then, “When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, while Mary stayed at home. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.”” Martha is in emotional (Mano) distress but even in that her faith (Ananda) is high. Then Jesus says,” I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.” All Koshas in one small passage! Resurrection and life of the physical and energetic through belief/spirit and wisdom teaching in an emotional time. This passage is true even today.  We all live on even if we die.  Through our children, the gifts of our life shared with others, the mark we leave on the world, good bad or otherwise. I take comfort in that during this turbulent time. But then “Jesus weeps”, showing us a human side in his emotion (Mano) “he was deeply disturbed in spirit (Ananda) and deeply moved.” Jesus knows (Vijyana) that if he saves Lazarus it seals Jesus’ own fate; The Pharisees will view this miracle as a bridge too far and will kill Jesus. He has so many reasons to weep. As do we today. As Lazarus rises from the dead more believe in Jesus (Ananda). Jesus knows that in doing this he has exchanged his physical (Anna) life for Lazarus’ life. He has exchanged his life for ours. His Anna Maya Kosha may not be visible, but through the other Koshas he lives on every day as the resurrection and the life. Take comfort in the Lamb of God who takes Away the Sins of the World.  He will show mercy on us all.

Namaste and Amen