Yoga Dogma Before discussing dogma in yoga, it is worth stepping back to create a level of abstraction that allows us to view the yoga community in the context of social organizations. We note that every “successful” religion or social organization is defined by indisputable rules, or dogma. For the purpose of this discussion we will use evolution for the model of success, i.e., an organization that has survived the test of time likely is defined by rules that aided in its endurance. Note also, that frequently, those who dispute the indisputable rules end up leaving the organization to define a new one complete with its own rules & customs. “Meet the new boss, same as the old boss…” If we look at the rules familiar to us from our own social context, we note that they can be classified into the following categories:
community behave in a similar way. It breeds familiarity, and common expectations. Note that full compliance with rigid rules creates uniformity reduces creativity and flexibility, and eventually leads to stagnation and obsolescence. It is important to note, that for the most part rules are pragmatic and useful if understood within the historical and cultural context within which they were created. If the logic behind the rules is not understood, it is difficult to gage their relevance. In today’s Western society our lives are governed by several sets of rules. First, there are the laws of the community within which we live: everything from traffic laws, to taxes, and non-harm to others. Then there are the laws of the religion within which we were raised. And finally, there are cultural rules of behavior that may not be hard coded anywhere, but nonetheless are well understood. So when we as western adults embrace yoga as a way of life, or as a component of our spiritual practice, we are taking on a new set of rules. We quickly find that there are several sets of rules: The Eight Limbs, the rules for Hatha Yoga, and the rules associated with our particular brand of yoga. If the rules were simple and few, we could all follow them without a second thought. But this is not the case, and so it behooves us to examine the rules carefully, attempt to understand their origin & purpose, and then decide which rules to implement in our own lives. This is not heresy, the Buddha is famously quoted as saying: “Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense.” When examining the rules of yoga, it is important to remember the context within which they were created and for whom they were intended. The Hatha Yoga Pradipika is a Hindu text written by Swami Swatmarama in the 15th century CE, i.e., about 600 years ago. This is before modern science and medicine, before viruses and bacteria were understood, before electricity, plumbing, and refrigeration. These rules were defined for a select & secretive group of reclusive men. These facts do not diminish the value of this text, rather they emphasize that careful examination rather than blind adoption are prudent. You likely wouldn’t adopt a text written for 15th century Catholic monks without deliberation, or would you?
guru we instantly become part of a community and acquire an identity. We follow the instructions attributed to the guru, and marvel at their wisdom. If we’re lucky, we may have the opportunity to embrace them or kiss their feet, thus allowing some of the dust that has accumulated on their feet from the path of wisdom to rub onto us. Yes? No? Maybe? Perhaps we imagine the guru as a father figure. Someone who will embrace us as a child, and teach us everything we need to know about yoga in particular and life in general. Our only requirement is to surrender: suspend our disbelief, and follow instructions faithfully. Perhaps such a scenario occurs, as some have related, but other scenarios are more common. A guru is someone who is able to relate a life principal in a manner that can be understood personally and experientially. This is different from the type of intellectual understanding that can be gained from reading books or studying philosophy. There is no requirement that the guru be a teacher, and certainly, not every teacher is a guru. Your guru may be someone you met briefly, unintentionally; someone whose name you can’t recall, but they forever changed your perception of life. My father-in-law says Jesus is his guru. A guru may elicit anger or disappointment in you. A friend once described to me how he had just spent an hour sharing his personal anguish with his teacher. When he finished, the teacher replied, “I don’t care about any of that stuff, and neither should you.” A tough lesson to swallow, but an unforgettable one. The classical theme of the guru-student relationship is that the guru says something brief and ambiguous, almost non-sensical, and the student is required to ponder for months or years determine its meaning. Some noted examples are: “Take your reason and look”, or “Whatever happens has its meaning”. But the right question to the right student will bring the attention to the key point. The indirectness of this approach forces the student to work at uncovering the meaning, and hence makes it both real and personal. There is no substitute for the teacher within. Our own teacher is capable of guiding us most of the way, provided we cultivate an ability to listen. We may come across problems that we think we can’t solve, or obstacles that we think we are unable to overcome. With such a difficulty well defined we can then seek the messenger who will deliver to us the answer. The messenger may be a teacher, a stranger, one sentence in an 8 hour recorded lecture, or whatever. Since we are honed on finding the answer, it is instantly clear when we get it. Your yoga teacher is a person just like you. This is true even if they’ve been practicing for 35 years, have written 14 books, have been on the cover of Yoga Journal 5 times, and exude confidence and accomplishment that you only wish you could mimic. If you put your teacher on a pedestal and worship them, you are cheating yourself out of a healthy student-teacher relationship. Sooner or later, they will fall off the pedestal, and you will be left disappointed. Teachers are not meant to be worshipped. You may be grateful that a teacher is sharing their wisdom and experience with you. Indeed, this is their greatest gift. In return, you will share your knowledge and experience with others, so that the tradition may perpetuate. |
"Although devotion is to be given to many institutions and teachers, the essence is to be taken
from them all, as the bee takes the essence from many flowers." Yoga Sutras, Book IV.13.
from them all, as the bee takes the essence from many flowers." Yoga Sutras, Book IV.13.
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