Good & Great Non-Commandments

One of my great teachers, Daniel Orlansky, quoted another great teacher, Osho, and I was reminded of my first great teacher, Helen.  They have all said or demonstrated the same profound rule in different ways, but when something is completely true, it is true for all time and in all circumstances.  This is one of the few times you can write, ‘always.’  Osho’s first rule of his ‘non-commandments’ was, “Never obey anyone’s command unless it is coming from within you also.”  It’s right up there with, “Love thy neighbor as thyself.”  Good and great for all time.

There are few commands which remain immutable, whatever the circumstance or age.  What grows interesting is how we choose to hear, and use the wisdom of the iconic.  We change and hopefully how we hear and use the tried and true, changes.  When first hearing the first rule; do not surrender, never obey, unless it comes from deep inside Self, I thought well that’s easy.  I don’t like anyone telling me what to do anyway.  Many years later upon hearing this, I recognize the inner layers that must be attended and heard in order to know if it is coming from within me.  Am I mirroring someone else?  Am I reacting in rebellion? Am I taking the easy way out, sliding along with the group?  What is my true voice in this moment?  Where is my courage to stand up for that voice?

I also question the synchronicity of when old and loved things in our life re-appear.  Is it by happenstance?  Or is there some personal wisdom needed at this time by this seemingly random event?  The age-old question of fate or accident meet to be met only in my choosing.

In case you have not seen Osho’s list of ‘non-commandments’ here they are.  Which are your favorites?  Why?  What do you see in this moment that is re-appearing, or coming around again from your past? (Mercury retrograde)  Do you have a favorite that is not on this list?  “I’m listening.”

Osho was listening as well, for when someone asked him for ten commandments he said,

“You have asked for my Ten Commandments. It’s a difficult matter, because I am against any kind of commandment. Yet, just for the fun of it, I write:”

1.  Never obey anyone’s command unless it is coming from within you also.

2.  There is no God other than life itself.  (Today, this is one of my absolute favorites.)

3.  Truth is within you, do not search for it elsewhere.

4.  Love is prayer.

5.  To become a nothingness is the door to truth. Nothingness itself is the means, the goal and attainment.

6.  Life is now and here.

7.  Live wakefully.

8.  Do not swim – float.

9.  Die each moment so that you can be new each moment.

10 Do not search. That which is, is. Stop and see.

(Numbers 3, 7, 9 & 10 were underlined by Osho in his original letter.)

Pose With Seasonal Energies

Asana: Pincha Mayurasana/Peacock, From Down Dog, bend the elbows, pressing them inward until they line up under the shoulders, spread fingers wide,            Keep back long, lifting tail bone, pressing heels down, breathe into the back, shoulder blades lengthen toward tail bone, head between upper arms, not touching    floor.  Feel the joy of lifting energy skyward through your toes as you extend one leg up, and either kick, or lift the other to create a single powerful line between          toes and elbows.  Gaze is the elbows, or lift chest and head, gaze at fingertips.

Just as we need the practice to follow inner wisdom, we need practice being courageous to go upside down. Pincha Mayurasana/Peacock requires lots of practice.          If the arms are not yet strong enough to hold the pose, practice with head on the floor between the forearms. Line the back up to the wall, lift one leg, using the abdominals, then either kick bottom leg toward extended one, or lift up.  Later, with more courage, practice kicking both legs up together. Strapping the arms           above the elbows, and or placing a block between the hands are both helpful when learning this pose.

* photo of Allan C. in Pincha.  Nice.

Health Notes: This pose strengthens arms, and back, stretches hamstrings and Achilles. Improves digestion, calms brain and helps with depression, and   insomnia.  It helps relieve symptoms of menopause, and menstrual pains, especially when head is supported.  Relieves headaches and backaches, is good                      for sciatica, and asthma, and improves high blood pressure. When we enter into the pose, playing with possibilities, listening to the voice of our body, we                     are in the truth of our Practice.

Astrology Notes: These are the closing days of Leo energy.  The Sun changes to Virgo August 23rd   Enjoy the best of Leo’s sunny disposition, the drive for significance, for this is the place where the Sun is happiest, at its fullest expression.  Pincha Mayurasana is a perfect Leo pose, for it creates endorphins, it               shows us off to powerful advantage, it calms the brain, which can be fired up on too many cylinders and become too demanding when Leo is adamant.

Mercury remains in retrograde until August  27^th. Enjoy these waning days of review, and reflection. Try not to force a new path out into the world just yet.           Perhaps an old commandment will appear again, to be re-claimed, and re-invigorated?

Ayurvedic Notes: Many bodies suffer from allergies at this time of year.  Ayurvedically, the constitution predetermines diseases.  Those who suffer summer allergies are often strongly pitta: hot, sharp, penetrating and volatile, whose dosha is out of balance.  Pitta people are prone to pitta disorders, such as inflamation, rashes, and infections, with over-active nervous systems, which in this pitta season are prone to greater imbalance- because like increases like.  It makes perfect sense to eat cooling foods, and have a slow, cooling Practice to balance the pitta over-drive and internal heat for perfection.