Seven Secrets To Living In Infinity: San Diego Yoga Festival
By Dana Lee
It's just about past half way through the San Diego Yoga Festival and so far I've hugged about 15 people, danced with a 92-year old Master Yogi in the warm sand, and shared a golden sunset with a new friend.
Shawna Shenick, founder of the festival, had a vision during a drumming meditation to bring the ancient healing wisdom of yoga to the world amid the paradise of Ocean Beach. She wanted to share the vibrant possibilities of life living free from the chains of negative influences. As I reflected on the beauty of her vision, seven secrets to living in infinity emerged by the day's end. As I wrote this for you, a hummingbird hovered nearby like a guide, sampling the nectar of a bright blooming coral flower quivering in the ocean breeze. It became clear to me that life is a fragile gift of magical proportions, and sharing this day's wisdom with you is my life's blessing. How closely we feel the magic of the present moment determines the level to which we can live in infinity. Here are seven secrets to living in infinity gleaned from the teachings of the San Diego Yoga Festival.
Primal Scream – A good primal scream regurgitates all our pain, anger, hurt, longing, and despair. One of the most basic acts of survival is to regurgitate poison. It saves us, even as we resist with all our might against the distaste of actually doing it. We try to avoid this unpleasant experience most of the time; however, it is Nature's most efficient and foremost means of survival. Dr. Mandan Bali, a 92 year old Master Yogi with over 45 years of yoga experience, advocates utilizing the primal scream as one of the most healing ways to release negative memories and emotions which linger like mortal poison in our psyche and manifest as chronic illness and depression. Dr. Bali has years of success working with cancer patients and others suffering from chronic illnesses. Clear your path to infinity with a primal scream from deep inside.
Forgive – Forgiveness releases us from holding on to crippling pain. When you are ready to be free from suffering, you can forgive yourself and others and move forward in the light of love. Those that do not forgive are weighed down by the anchor of holding on, drowning in the pain of the past and separated from the divine nature of our being. One way to help foster forgiveness is to place your hand over your heart and picture a radiant white light surrounding you engulfing you in safety and love, offering you a space from which to release your suffering. Many spiritual traditions say, “Empty thyself and I shall fill thee." What this is saying is to allow yourself to empty of the negative so that you may be filled with the divinity of infinite bliss.
Breathe – There's nothing more loving and nurturing than your own breath. It is your first lover, and friend, and it will be your last. Engaging in a regular practice of meditation, prananyama, or simply focusing on your breath for a sustained period of time while imagining cellular regeneration can help you to get out of your logical brain and into your creative, healing brain. It brings you into the present moment, where you can appreciate life and release anxiety, depression, and discover your bliss.
Believe – Your thoughts determine your reality. I used to be skeptical of the notion of intention until I started journaling. I realized that the things I believed deep inside actually came true (like being here right now in San Diego). Believe in healing, in the power of your thoughts to bring you happiness and joy, and start living in the light of your highest purpose.
Witness – You do not always have to act, talk, or do. Bearing witness to life without becoming overly attached to outcomes helps you to live a life focused on the things that deeply matter to you. For instance, when I watched the hummingbird enjoy the beautiful ocean flower, it brought me the inspiration to write this for you. I did not have to engage with the hummingbird. She was busy loving the sun and the flower, floating free from the bounds of gravity and living in her own kind of infinity. You can quietly bear witness to the suffering and joys of life without always having to “do things”. It is a poverty of our modern life that we continually litter our minds with input, messages, negative distractions, and the need to always be doing something. . . bear witness to life once in a while rather than always reacting.
Move (with feeling) – Yoga is not a competition to see who can put their legs around their neck without passing out. Learning to move with feeling is fundamental to survival and regenerates your life. Your body wants to heal, and indeed, it has been doing this job for you with precision since before you were born. Awaken to the miracle that exists in the trillions of cells in your body. Every morning, let your movement be your prayer of gratitude for the journey your body has given from the first day to this moment. Let this be your dance of light. If you move with complete commitment to feeling and honoring your body and breath, you have accomplished yoga. You have joined your body, mind and spirit to the divine in the infinite moment.
Love - We were born to love one another. You can find the divine in those around you, and in yourself, if you look through the eyes of love. As Dr. Bali said today, “When you dare to open your heart, you are living in infinity. . . is there any other way to live?” If you can find gratitude in the moments of your life, you have found love. You have already begun to live in infinity.
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