The other day in yoga class I found myself tuning into the “sounds of Mexico,” which surrounded my studio. I then also realized that I was tuning in because one of my neighbor’s was using a table saw during class. My first thought was “This is annoying and I wish he would stop! NOW!” … I didn’t like it one bit and it got me thinking… How many times in our lives are we driven by likes and dislikes rather than what we want? So I don’t like the sound of the saw, but I do like the sound of doves; I don’t like the sound of a motorbike; but I like the sound of a donkey. Why is this? It’s my past programming and perceptions that find the saw and motorbike annoying but donkey and dove acceptable.
The Bhagavad Gita talks of eliminating likes and dislikes to remain even in all situations, and in that way we can find peace and freedom. But this is hard. The more I thought about what the Bhagavad Gita tells us, the more I realized acceptance is the key part of what can dissolve our belief systems. If I accept that saw as a part of my yoga practice experience, all of a sudden irritation — a distraction — begins to fade and so does the sound of the saw; at the same time if I accept the dove, the feeling of joy — also a distraction — begins to fade and so does the sound of the dove. And all that’s left is me and the sound within; the sound of truth and what is at this moment.
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Thank you and Namaste, Karen
