There are not many plants I know that carry the promise of their flower on the tips of their leaves so abundantly. Whenever I see a poppy plant, I find it eloquent of its scarlet bloom. Every stage of its journey, from its leafy succulence, to becoming a bud that shelters its delicate petals, and its momentous unraveling, is laden with a thrilling wonderment. I wait to catch the first blossom. For me it is a sizzling remembrance of life. Strange that it is also an equally sizzling symbol of death.
Asana, A Promise
Asana, like the poppy, is an exuberance. It floods the inner space with divination of the self. Freedom from the body on one side and restfulness on the other, are its natural outcome.
Asana, An Infinitude
Asana, resonates with its infinitude. This Sanskrit word is plentiful in its etymological formations. If we break it up, the root word aas means affection, attachment, expectation, attraction, aspiration and na means no. Therefore asana means reaching a state of no desire, expectation or attachment. In other words, it means 'to sit on your posterior' or 'to come to rest'. Logically it can be derived that the aim of asana is to sit with no effort, in comfort and stillness, free of all conflict.
Asana, A Freedom
Asanas or postures, all 84,00,000 of them, are tools that help us navigate our inner space. Our body's changing needs toss us into unknown waters, we need to be well equipped to ride these waves. We will not always practice so many postures all our lives. The goal is not expertise in asana. The goal is freedom from the body, called asana jaya. It does not mean conquest of asanas. Asana jaya means freedom from the need to practice asanas. Here the discipline of practice is internalized and spontaneous.
Asana, Unveiling the Present
An asana rooted in steadiness and ease is established within as a state of being. Here, we live in the present. To hope, expect, or anticipate is to not be here. Awaiting an occurrence keeps us out of the moment, restless.
Asana, Establishing the Now
The journey lies not in striving to make the body more flexible, strong and stable in order to achieve comfort and mastery in the posture. It lies in exploring the asana just the way it is today, right now, living the present without judgment and expectation. It is only in the now that we can be privy to our inherent states of happiness within.
Asana, Ending Conflict
To be in enlightened purposelessness, not driven by any binding ambitions, free to give ourselves unto life's requirements at any given point of time, fully present and integrated with the moment, ready to respond without division or contradiction, is to realize the true joy of being in asana.
Asana, the Seat of Joy
Within and without merge into oneness. This is the result of ease and comfort experienced in the body. As is the leaf, so is the flower. As is the practice, so is the exuberance.
