Imperfect Devotion - Ishvara Pranidhana

I John 1:1-2:2

We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life-- this life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it, and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us—we declare to you what we have seen and heard so that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete. This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true; but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

 

There is nothing more frustrating than hearing someone say. “Why do Christians bother to be good when Jesus already forgives them?” or any version of this you might imagine.  Jesus’ atonement for our sins is not a get out of jail free card that many think It is.  We are tasked in this passage from 1 John to walk in the light, imperfectly, but always trying to do good.  And we will fail, oh we fail big time! But that doesn’t mean we don’t try and try and try and try.

As an iRest meditation teacher I am always struck by opposites and in this scripture there are some opposites: light - dark, truth – lie, and no sin – sin. But what does light mean if you have never experienced dark, or no sin mean if you haven’t experienced sin? The full appreciation of a life well lived is in its imperfection and the knowledge that even if we fail, God still loves us.  This is a gift undeserved yet freely given. The inmate on death row, and the disobedient child both deserve God’s forgiveness. But only if confessed truthfully, if we lie and say we are without sin then how can we be forgiven? We are called to follow Jesus’ example of how to live, knowing we will fail, knowing we can try again, surrendering to God’s will for us.  In Yoga this surrender is called Ishvara Pranidhana.  

Surrendering to a higher power simply is the recognition that we are imperfect. That through releasing power, engaging in the right action, accepting what is, and devoting ourselves to always doing better in the honor of the divine we are on the path to perfection or nirvana.* This path does not include recklessly sinning but constant trying to do better and asking for forgiveness when we fail.

 

*Adele, Deborah – The Yamas and Niyamas

 

 

Jesus’ Birth and Burial

Luke 2

7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

Luke 23

52 This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 53 Then he took it down, wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid it in a rock-hewn tomb where no one had ever been laid. 54 It was the day of Preparation, and the sabbath was beginning.

We read St Mark’s version the passion today or the story of Jesus’ death and it led me down this rabbit hole…

Perhaps this is old to you but, I never thought about the birth of Jesus as a prophecy for his burial. But today it really hit me, so I went looking.  I only found mention of Jesus being laid in a manger in Luke none of the other books specifically mention this part of Jesus birth story.  Since Luke was written after the events took place and not by one of the original 12 disciples, it could embellish Jesus’ birth story to add this element of prophecy to the narrative. Both Mark (read today) and Mathew mention the linen cloth and hasty non-traditional burial in their accounts of Jesus’ burial. Perhaps the idea of laying down, wrapped up, at the times of the opposites of birth and death goes deeper than we can see.

But as an iRest Yoga Nidra (sleep) Meditation practitioner and instructor I see these opposites as relatable. We help our clients to lay down or sit wrapped up comfortable as they meditate. We encourage the opposites through the expansion of the mind, thoughts, beliefs, emotions, whatever is present, beyond the body, while still staying in the experience of the body. (Perhaps this could be thought of as birth and death, or just another set of opposites.) This can reveal positive and negative experiences.

Through the act of meditating on the negative thoughts, beliefs, and emotions and soothing them with selfless love and joy we can come to equanimity. It is through this levelheadedness that we experience pure peace. Inside the greatest challenges lies the greatest strengths sent as messengers from which to learn. These experiences of opposites show both good and bad must coexist. Without one it is impossible to understand and appreciate the experience of the other; What does happy mean if you have never been sad?  Luke’s addition to the happy birth story of Jesus was a messenger of his sad burial and death.

The Adoration of the Shepherds, Gerhard van Honthorst, 1622, Public Domain

Burial Picture: Título: Jesús es sepultado. Año: 2018. Técnica: Óleo sobre lienzo, 81 x 116 cm. Descripción: XIV Estación del Vía Crucis para Guatemala.

 

 

My Smiling Heart

I Corinthians 4:3-6

Even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’ sake. For it is the God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

 

This week I read the part in italics over and over again.  It was a strange moment. I didn’t at first understand why I was doing it. But sometimes in moments like that I just go with it, perhaps its some spirit led moment, perhaps its my brain trying to make sense, or perhaps it is God calling me to a deeper understanding.  Maybe all three. 

The more I read it the more I found it to be a parallel to the ninth stage of iRest meditation – Joy. This comes right on the heels of the intense work exploring opposites in feelings, emotions, and beliefs. “Letting light shine out of darkness” could be another way of expressing these opposites. Often when calling clients to Joy, after the deep mindful exploration of opposites, we use the metaphor of the “heart smiling” letting that simply be another way of saying joy or finding that inner joy. Certainly, this heart smiling could be for the followers of Christ a shining “in [their] hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

But as I explore this statement further it draws me to the first part of this Epistle. Knowledge, and it’s opposite: veiled blinded minds, these are what separate the believers from the unbelievers, another opposite. They further proclaim believers to be Slaves to God, not Gods, again opposites.

These opposites are hard to comprehend.  In iRest this work is taken further though.  Clients are invited to feel into the somatic (bodily) sensations that come up when thinking about one opposite and then the other one. Then move back and forth between them, then hold both at the same time. In this case when you think of “knowledge” where do you feel that in your body?  Same with “Veiled blinded minds.” Other sets of opposites within this biblical writing include are “Believers” and “Unbeliever.” “Slaves” and “God.” “Light” and “Darkness.” Where and how do you feel these in your body? Move back and forth between these sensations. Can you hold them both at the same time?

I’ve had many discussions about this process with other meditation leaders.  Some feel that moving between the opposites takes away their power over us, some feel that we come to understand that both can exist at the same time, some feel that we come to understand that we can only experience one at a time.  Personally, I think it depends on the situation.  But what works for me is not important for anyone except for me, when I’m leading another person the practice is theirs alone.

I’m always thankful for the positive ending of these meditations when we move to Joy. My heart smiling is normally like a sun and the rays of light filling my body with warm golden light.

“The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord; and the blessing of God Almighty, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost, be among you, and remain with you always. Amen” BCP

 

Picture from: https://www.officeholidays.com/holidays/colombia/sacred-heart