Dear members

Since we have a bit of time to think about stuff around here (we like to
think of ourselves as not being on the treadmill every day), we got to
thinking about words and their meanings the other day. For instance, part of
the language of yoga is "mindfulness" - used extensively in Buddhism, the
concept underlies the physical and mental practice of yoga, whether it be
the postures, breathing or meditation. Developing a greater awareness of
what happens to you when you practice yoga, what messages are received from
the body, how that makes you feel, the state of your breathing - helps you
take that conscious awareness into the rest of your lives, striving to be at
all times aware. As human "beings" this is what we are made for - to live in
a state of "be-ing", no past, no future, only the "present" of the present
moment. So anyway, back to the tricky word of "mindfulness" - why not
" mindemptyness" or "mindlessness" if, after all, we pursue a state of
emptying the mind of thoughts? Because, like a glass that is emptied of
water but full of air or filled with water but empty of air, the mind that
is empty of thoughts is filled with something else. What? Well that should
be for each of us to discover because if you are told what to expect it is
likely that you would imagine just that: -

"I would rather you did the thing 'wrong' by yourselves, and learned from
your errors, then get it 'right' from the teacher, and atrophied your
initiative and your faculty of learning anything at all. The real object of
Asana is control of the muscular system, conscious and unconscious, so that
no messages from the body can reach the mind. Now it is necessary, in order
to hold a position, to pay attention to it. That is to say: you are going to
become conscious of your body, the student becomes aware of the minute
sounds which did not disturb him in his ordinary life. At least not when his
mind was occupied with matters of interest." *

There are many different words, traditions and techniques that are directed
towards the unification of mind and body. From trance ceremonies, drumming,
prayer to yoga, meditation and fire walking - all have their own validity -
helping to bring people to a state of "at-one-ness" or "at-one-ment" -
interesting word that - "atonement". The definition I like the most is "the
reconciliation between God and humans." Now that's something to meditate on.

On a same but different note we have decided to hold our first Moksha social
get-together to allow an opportunity for members to meet and get to know
each other with the idea of strengthening and expanding our community of
yogi's - and to share some words with each other. No speeches, no workshops,
no selling - just an hour or two of getting to know the person on the mat
next door. Please join us on Saturday 13th March for a juice and light lunch
at 12:30pm. Cost is R50 per person on a donation basis - if you want to give
less or more, feel free. For catering purposes please let us know before
Wednesday 10th of March.

Lastly, a quick reminder about our 2 workshops during March, the beginner's
course starting on 9th March and the Runners programme in April.

Regards,
The Moksha team

PS: we have some new clothes and mat bags from Glow so look out for those!
" Sit still. Stop talking. Shut up. Get out! The first two of these
instructions comprise the whole of the technique of yoga."

"There is more nonsense talked and written about yoga than about anything
else in the world. Most of this nonsense, which is fostered by charlatans,
is based upon the idea that there is something mysterious and Oriental about
it. There isn't."

"The principals of yoga and the spiritual results of yoga are demonstrated
in every conscious and unconscious happening. There is no sense of being
frightened of yoga, awed by yoga, muddled and mystified by yoga, or
enthusiastic over yoga. If we are to make any progress with this study, we
need clear heads and impersonal scientific attitude."

"In highly civilized communities like our own, the individual is constantly
being attacked by conflicting interests and necessities; his individuality
is constantly being assailed by the impact of other people; and in a very
large number of cases he is unable to stand up to the strain.
'Schizophrenia', is a lovely word, is an exceedingly common complaint.
At best, when a man says 'I' he refers only to a transitory phenomenon. His
'I' changes as he utters the word. But - philosophy apart - it is rarer and
rarer to find a man with a mind of his own and a will of his own, even in
this modified sense."

"The result of all of this is that all of you who are worth your salt will
be absolutely delighted when I tell you to scrap all the rules and discover
your own.
Sir Richard Burton said: 'He noblest lives and noblest dies, who makes and
keeps his self-made laws.'

* All quotes taken and edited from a series of lectures given by Sri
Paramahansa
Shivaji - Aleister Crowley