The
one thing certain in life is that everything changes. So it has
been said. It is a keystone of Buddha’s teachings, it is part
of many other philosophies and even modern physics certifies it.
“Ch-ch-ch-changes”, sang David Bowie in his rock classic,
eulogizing on the temporary nature of all he was experiencing, through
fame, success and then trying to find himself. It seems everyone
in their life reaches moments of ‘transition’, a shift
from what they’re doing now to something they might wish to
be doing. Many students of yoga find themselves in a transition
that very often is brought on by the process of yoga itself. In
fact the majority of students I have come across in trainings state
they are “in transition”.
What does this transition, change, transformation mean? Roget (thesaurus
and dictionary) defines it as “the process of passing from
one form, state, stage to another”. The world is described
as transitory, an adjective of the noun transition. Everything is
in a constant state of flux. So this world and all we know of it
is constantly changing, every second. Yet, as Bowie puts it, “the
days flow by but still they seem the same”. In a sense letting
us know how little we actually observe and see. Continuing “time
might change me but I can’t change time” is the plight
of us all once opportunity has passed us by.
Transformation takes that even further. It is defined as the action
of “changing form, appearance, condition, function, especially
in relation to potential or type”. This would imply a certain
level of involvement in the ‘transition’ process.
Taking the perspectives of ancient philosophy, the Buddha’s
teachings and even modern poetic rock ‘n’ roll we can
perhaps gleam a few nuggets to help us:
- change is inevitable, “pretty soon now you’re going
to get older” (Bowie)
- transition then is continuous, lifelong
- we can, and even should, participate in the changing process,
the transformation
- the best way to engage in this transformation is to be in the
moment of each activity or thought we have.
Yoga philosophy has recognized this fact of transformation and offers
tools to enable it. The philosophical base of yoga is in Sankhya.
It gives the word “parinaama” for transformation, meaning
a change occurs such that there is no going back to that previous
state. In practical terms the behavioural patterns of an individual
have been so affected via change in the nervous system (due to correct
practice and living) that this person’s outlook and behaviour
is so altered or changed that they consider themselves grown or
changed. It seems while this is going on and while each individual
is trying to come to terms with the changes they are experiencing
they call it “being in transition”.
The other major philosophy out of India, Vedanta, uses the word
“vivarta” to define transformation. As the basis of
the belief here is that our essential true nature is divine and
can never be touched or changed it is thus only this illusion that
appears as changing, merely superficial changes that one experiences
as their transformation.
Taking this further then we can fairly state that there is a divinity
to all of us, that is never lost or gone, just the association occurs
with the temporary. Yet in practical terms it is this temporary
we are dealing with. So we can keep in mind that we are divine and
part of the Divine, yet, as the science of yoga offers, this ‘temporary’
is something we can work with to change and affect our growth.
This is really what is behind yoga; affecting a positive and uplifting
growth in an individual so the association with the true inner self
is closer at hand, regardless of whether one subscribes to ‘all
are one’, ‘this being an illusion’ or ‘this
is nature that we must work with’. From day to day we need
to apply the practical in order to help us. Yet this must go hand
in hand with the constant reminder of our true divine nature.
Many religious festivals are built around this process of transformation.
In Christianity there are Novenas, nine days and nights of prayer.
In India the celebration of the Holy Mother is focused around the
Navaratri (Nine nights) festival. The first three nights of this
are focused on removing the old, that which is stale, stagnant,
of no use to our growth (tamas). The second three nights focus on
the building of the new, raising a new level (rajas). And the final
three nights are the result, which is transformation (sattva).
I have always found this description as an ideal way of describing
the process in yoga. Initially there is a period of cleaning and
clearing out, provided we’re also not adding more rubbish
to the pile. This could go on for years. Yoga students feel it as
aches, pains, emotional outbursts, in class or later, toxic release
from the body. It is best handled by understanding there is a process
of clearing and to watch it, let it happen, and continue with practice
and the appropriate teacher’s guidance. There might be times
for modification as things become intense but again this is where
the guidance should help. When much of the old stagnation decreases
there is room for growth of the new, rebuilding as such. This is
also experienced in form of delicate nerve changes causing temporary
trembles throughout the body. As it continues it gets more and more
subtle and sensitive before one becomes or feels more durable. One
can feel the movement of prana, energy, throughout the body and
one can see what is happening on the mental level. Depending on
how one lives this could go on for years or even lifetimes till
the result of complete transformation is experienced, which is simply
a return to our true nature. However, along the way one can identify
some key spots where we can ‘stop’ and say “I
have transformed”. We are saying I am not the person I was.
My behaviour has changed, my outlook is different, my heart is bigger,
my mind is clearer.
Nature provides the best example. A garden uncared for grows wild
and full of weeds. We then participate in its development to cultivate
it. First removing the weeds. As the weeds start to clear out new
flowers and plants can start to grow. A new life is experienced
in the soil. Along the way a section of the garden will look transformed,
beautiful, but still the work goes on till the entire garden is
transformed and reflecting a beauty only nature can offer.
As we have said, change, transition, is inevitable. Yoga says participate
in it fully. What is the alternative? Leave a box of books in a
room for a year. Come back and you’ll find them tatty and
old, stained even. No one touched them yet decay a la natural forces,
gravity, sets in. Leave some vegetables on the counter for a few
days and they become inedible. Even the garden left untended grows
weeds, a plant in its own pot left abandoned will wither. Thus,
without any direct participation the outcome follows a downward
path, one of decay. Though it is true our bodies will age and deteriorate
it need not be the case for our heart, mind and soul, really our
essential nature. Thus the teaching of yoga is saying, participate
in your growth and here are the tools to uplift you, to experience
‘you’.
To highlight this I see my teachers in their 70s to 90s, mentally
and spiritually fresher than most 20-40 year olds I know, though
their bodies have aged yet gracefully. Then I look to where I live
or grew up and see how life has dragged the mind down with the aging
body by some in their 70s and more, where life just went on and
no effort was made in early years to look in to oneself, to work
on oneself.
It is not an easy process but is anything worth ‘having’,
worth growing, easy? Let it be earned through a level of self effort.
Then the hand of grace joins it to reward such an effort. As you
feel yourself in “transition” then embrace it. Learn
the practices in a correct way. Give yourself to them. The only
way is up!! Embrace your growth. Participate in it. And do so by
being with each breath, by being tuned into every little thing that
you do. Be in the moment and do your best. Each day get up and again
do. You will get stronger, the feelings of insecurity pass, a new
inner light starts to shine within, you experience your “transformation”,
bit by bit. And above all, be grateful for what you have, every
day the opportunity to participate in this change and growth. Think
and thank each day the source of the practices you have been given
that help you through this transition. Love the process, the doing
and the ‘change’.
