The descent into the heart

 

Nondual Kula Yoga Fall Retreat 2007

The meditative, somatic approach to Yoga,
featuring

the inquiring practice of Yoga Nidra

 

Yoga Nidra is derived from the nondual wisdom traditions of Yoga and Tantra (yoga = embodying what is + nidra = across all states of consciousness) and leads to psychological, physical and spiritual healing.

 

Yoga Nidra and the Koshas

During the practice of Yoga Nidra we set ourselves up in 'Sthira Sukham Asanam' (steadiness and ease in a pose - Yoga Sutra II.46) so that we may be alert, aware and present to everything that is unfolding.

In Yoga Nidra we examine and move through the six sheaths of identification (koshas) that are responsible for our belief in being a separate, limited 'I', or Œme¹ who is born, dies and experiences dissatisfaction and suffering.

These sheaths include:

The Physical Sheath - Annamayakosha

The Energy Sheath - Pranamayakosha

The Emotional / Feeling Sheath - Manomayakosha

The Mental Sheath - Vijnanamayakosha

The Sheath of desire / joy - Anandamayakosha

The Sheath of Awareness - Asmitamayakosha

By exploring these 6 sheaths of identification we are able to relinquish, or disidentify from our conditioned patterns of thought, emotion and behavior that no longer serve us.

This practice is designed to free us from from the past and return us to our inborn ability to spontaneously recognize and engage in authentic behaviors that are appropriate to each life situation and circumstance.

(See article on Ramana Maharishi.)

This retreat we will shine a spot-light on the Anandamaya level - Desire / Joy - fulfilling the heart.

This is the dimension of ourselves where our passion, longings and potential for happiness and joy reside.

Developing Ananda through relationship

This ananda level is refined and cultivated through relationship with:

Inspiring People
Nature
Sublime concepts (ie the infinite reaches of space)
An emotional quality - love, generosity, courage
A value such as honesty, integrity
A form of the Divine

At the level of personal practice it is important to become progressively more aware of what can help to remind us of our highest potential and to orient our lives toward letting go of activities that get in the way of accessing spontaneous intelligence.

Sometimes this process is called ³the descent into the heart². Therefore the purpose of practice at this level is to strengthen our connection to that source of inspiration that takes us beyond our own self-importance and that reminds us of our higher aspirations.

One of the methods we will use on this retreat to realize such aspirations can be collectively understood as personal ritual.