What do freedom and independence mean to you?
As Independence Day arrives, it inspires us to consider the significance of the celebration. What did our founding fathers really want for us? We know that they wanted freedom – freedom from tyranny, freedom from taxation without representation, and freedom to enjoy “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” They wanted liberation from Great Britain and the rule of King George III.
Not only are freedom and liberation important to framing our government, but they are also important for students of yoga, as they are the purpose of our yoga practice. Moksha or mukti, is a central concept of Indian philosophy. Moksha translates from Sanskrit as “liberation, freedom, emancipation, or bliss.”
When we practice yoga, we become aware that our minds are incessantly restless! There is constantly something happening in the mind – thoughts, worries, anxieties, likes, dislikes, emotions, negative feelings, positive feelings, planning, scheming …. and the list can go on. We practice quieting the mind by focusing on our breath and meditating. We practice freeing ourselves from the bonds of our own ego. We are learning to let go of what we think we know, and instead, we are cultivating a greater sense of who we really are. It is a state of spiritual liberation. It is not about becoming perfect; it is about being free. Moksha is a state of pure consciousness where there is no separation between the self and the divine.
Attachment, desire, and the inability to see or experience the oneness of all life bind us to this material world. The ancient yogis view this bondage as the primary source of suffering in human life. Moksha is the path of liberation from suffering and the attainment of self-realization.
On the 4th of July, we take time as a nation to let go and feel open and alive to possibility - and summer is the perfect time for this expression. Here on Pawleys Island, we breathe in the ocean air and our cells celebrate with vitality, animation, and freshness. We breathe out and mindfully release tension, tightness, stress, and old habits and ways of being that no longer serve us and that we no longer need as we continue this beautiful cycle of cleansing, rejuvenation, and restoration. Our bodies are warmed by the sun, encouraging us to relax and let go. The weather and the sea bathe us in openness, clarity, and freedom. We let go of our attachments to our schedules, work, and problems, and we find freedom.
Bob Marley wrote in his song titled Redemption Song, “Emancipate yourself from mental slavery. None but ourselves can free our minds.” We are slaves to our thoughts and only we can free ourselves from the bondage. Allow your yoga to be your personal revolution. Celebrate your freedom from ego, misapprehension, and your monkey mind (vrittis).
Do not allow yourself to be upset by the extra traffic on the roads, the noise of firecrackers, the long lines at stores and restaurants, or how crowded the beach may be. Instead, enjoy your freedom from ego and attachments by observing yourself, being present, breathing in the wonderful ocean air, absorbing the beauty right in front of you, practicing yoga or taking a mindful walk, meditating, and perhaps, enjoying a little Bob Marley.
Love and light and happy 4th of July!
Jeanne & John