The more I learn, the less I know
I’ve had long discussions with friends on what the ideal role is of classical Indian cultural/philosophical roots in modern yoga as practiced in the West. Big question. Short answer: totally dunno.
As mentioned, yes, I’ve read the texts (Hatha Yoga Pradipika anyone? Now that’s a page turner… 
and spent some time in India. But… but… better example: I moved to Tokyo with my family when I was ten years old & spent a better part of a decade there. As an adult, I lived in Germany for six years. Neither experience made me an expert in either place. Far from it. Rather, it taught me deep respect for all I DON’T know about other cultures, their histories, philosophies, and deep sense of ownership or identity.
I miss being 18 and knowing everything. I also miss being new to yoga & sure that there was One Right Way & if I just found it, I would be Magically Fixed. Yeah… flawed assumptions one & all. 
The lens through which I see & interpret the world is species American Redhead, known for its stubborn nature, bright plumage & sharp tongue. Best solution I have is to integrate all I can from ancient & modern resources, East/West/Middle Earth, if I could just get Gandalf to answer my emails.
Looking forward to teacher’s practice today & assisting again tonight. With gloves & love. And pretty sure that whatever tools show up, whether its cognitive behavioral psychology, physical or energetic anatomy, chakra or sutra or Ana Forrest quote, what I’m trying to express remains the same: my truth in the moment.
August 19th, 2009 at 2:03 pm
Awesome! The awareness that we don’t know- and don’t have to know- things is so freeing! What a gift to ourselves to simply accept that there are things we don’t know. On a bigger level- that there are mysteries we’ll never fully understand. And it’s all okay!