We Are All Ancestors
This morning with Prashant we did some work on “exercise-ology”, a way to approach asana and exploration through the lens of physical exercise. How we keep different parts of our embodiment “healthy” has everything to do with approach. It is not just “doing for doing sake”, but “doing with the purpose of learning”. So, how we breathe in a more physical way, how our mind approaches its health by working in different arenas, or how all the specific body parts become healthy in their own specific ways all fall under the idea of “exercise-ology”.
After this more typical approach to class, Prashant turned a corner describing a passage in the Bhagavad Gita about how “the soul is untouched by birth or death”. I am not sure why he transitioned into this, except maybe for all of our obsession with staying young and never aging – Prashant is often heard making the “joke” of Iyengar Yoga being “I-Younger” Yoga since we are so “gym-minded” in our approach. However, for whatever reason, I feel like the sentiment he shared with us is so timely in light of all that is happening in the USA (and around the world) at the moment.
Of course every religion and every culture has its “issues”. When humans are involved, things will never be “perfect”. But, Prashant’s point was that no one ever thinks deeply enough about this statement in the Gita – brushing it off as esoteric or out of reach – and it is very important for our life and our relationships within it.
In Indian cosmology there is a cyclical nature to the cosmos, with no beginning and no end. Within the process of that, our purusa (soul) is eternal and unchangeable and our Prakriti (changeable Nature) is temporary. Prakriti is made up of all the tools we use to realize and gain wisdom about the Truth of our Self and soul, and it is very important to continuing on a positive path of life in general.
How we look at our neighbors or enemies, lovers or parents, changes how we act in the world. And how we act in the world is what gets us closer or farther away from the Divine source – whatever that means to you.
We all can agree that we “have ancestors”. We can chart our family trees from generations back and see on paper that we “have ancestors”. But it never really dawns on us that we “are ancestors” too.
In this lifetime, your Prakriti presents as parent or a grandparent, daughter or son, with certain roles to play in family and legacy. But in regards to our soul’s lives, we have to take into account that “we” have been related in so many ways to so many others, and that for good karma’s sake, we must look at all humans (including ourselves) “as ancestors”. Your wife in this life, might have been your enemy in some past. Your enemy in this life might have been your mom in some past. So, how we treat each person as they stand before us requires presence and reflection in order to live out and be successful in fulfilling our karmas and dharmas (life’s purpose) time after time, life after life.
Looking at everyone in the world as a possible “ancestor” and acting as if you “are an ancestor” to all people is such a beautiful thought. We like to protect ancestors, love ancestors, and feel a connection to ancestors. There is no one “above or below”, no moral high ground to take or assumptions to make, no “bloodlines” to protect or kill for. The cycles of life are forever rolling, and we ride along on those loops, doing our work not truly knowing what “place” anyone is in. Our own work is our own work. Period. Where you are on your path all depends on how long and how fast you have been on the loops of time and how good your works are to get you closer to your chosen deity. With all this in mind, it is a good assumption to make to just be the best human being you can be. No harm, no foul. Literally.
I think we could all use a little of this world view right now. Your neighbor could have been your father. That immigrant could have been your daughter. Your enemy could have been your grandfather. It is not to question, but just know – to treat other humans as YOU would want to be treated – as ancestors – as ancient and timeless soul relations.
