If someone wants to practice yoga because they think it looks cool, let them …
If someone wants to practice yoga because they think it looks cool, let them do it.
Meeting practitioners where they are matters. Both in a literal physical sense (at their schools, neighborhoods, work places) but also very much demonstrations and presentation.
I’m going to paraphrase and addendum a story i heard from @rupaulofficial — a retelling of a similar story from the Buddha:
Between two islands is a great body of water. The first island is the Island of Sleep, the second the Island of Awake. A young man on the sleepy isle wants very much to awaken, and as such he is inspired to build a raft to take on the sea.
Patiently and persistently, he fashions a raft to take on the sea. Astonishingly, he makes it to the other side.
Now, having made it to the Isle of Awake, he continues onwards. He makes his way about the island, running into an old man.
The old man is surprised to see him still clinging to his raft. “Why do you still carry the vessel, boy? Do you wish to return to sleep?”.
“No, but what if i need the raft?”” says the younger man.
“If you think you still need the raft, you don’t sound like you plan on staying. The purpose of the raft was to cross the sea. You have crossed the sea.”
“But what if i want to go back and help others find their way?”
—
For me the story is a reminder to let go of the dogma associated with all spiritual practice, that transcendence when it arrives really has arrived. That being said, what if the boy had never been inspired to build the raft in the first place? What good would he have been done staying on the island?
If you wish to help people across the sea, you better be a damn fine raft maker. And, if you don’t need the raft any more— good for you— but why not give others a hand?
Meeting practitioners where they are matters. Both in a literal physical sense (at their schools, neighborhoods, work places) but also very much demonstrations and presentation.
I’m going to paraphrase and addendum a story i heard from @rupaulofficial — a retelling of a similar story from the Buddha:
Between two islands is a great body of water. The first island is the Island of Sleep, the second the Island of Awake. A young man on the sleepy isle wants very much to awaken, and as such he is inspired to build a raft to take on the sea.
Patiently and persistently, he fashions a raft to take on the sea. Astonishingly, he makes it to the other side.
Now, having made it to the Isle of Awake, he continues onwards. He makes his way about the island, running into an old man.
The old man is surprised to see him still clinging to his raft. “Why do you still carry the vessel, boy? Do you wish to return to sleep?”.
“No, but what if i need the raft?”” says the younger man.
“If you think you still need the raft, you don’t sound like you plan on staying. The purpose of the raft was to cross the sea. You have crossed the sea.”
“But what if i want to go back and help others find their way?”
—
For me the story is a reminder to let go of the dogma associated with all spiritual practice, that transcendence when it arrives really has arrived. That being said, what if the boy had never been inspired to build the raft in the first place? What good would he have been done staying on the island?
If you wish to help people across the sea, you better be a damn fine raft maker. And, if you don’t need the raft any more— good for you— but why not give others a hand?
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