I have been completely addicted to a Podcast called Radiolab. Radiolab is a “show about curiosity. Where sound illuminates ideas, and the boundaries blur between science, philosophy, and human experience.” One podcast that has particularly peaked my interest and sparked my curiosity aired on December 17th, 2013 called Bliss. How does this relate to yoga? Bliss, or Samadhi is the 8th limb in Patanjali’s Sutras. Bliss is what a yogi strives to achieve through practice, practice, practice. But do we have to be a practicing yogi for our entire lives before we actually achieve this wondrous thing called bliss? I believe that bliss is a human desire, not just for those who choose to a yogic path.
Bliss is defined as perfect happiness, or great joy. To be blissful is to reach a state of perfect happiness, typically so as to be oblivious of everything else. So how do we attain this state? How do we maintain this state?
In my personal practice I have been focusing on bliss - what it is, have I achieved it, if I have how can I lengthen these moments and elongate the experience? I have found that once I am aware that bliss has possibly happened it is already over, in the past. It feels as though “something” occurred although I can’t quite put a finger on what. I feel light, happy, delicate, connected and I languish in the after affects of the moment I believe was bliss. And then I somehow want to find it again.
One thing that is clear to me is that blissfulness occurs in the present moment, not in the past or in the future. I have not been able to hold on to or plan bliss. I can recall moments from my past when I know that I achieved bliss, and there are moments I can imagine in my future where I hope to reach a state of bliss. But the actual moment, those few seconds, sometimes minutes, when one feels completely free, total oneness, and perfect joy is fleeting and sacred.
"Illuminated emancipation, freedom, unalloyed and untainted bliss await you, but you have to choose to embark on the Inward Journey to discover it." - B.K.S Iyengar
Bliss Challenge:
Take five minutes to write down what bliss means to you. Can you remember moments of your life when you have been blissful? Perhaps create a moment that hasn’t happened yet that you believe could be blissful. The tricky part is not to create expectations, only possibility. Now, share that moment with someone! Share it over coffee, in an email, or comment in the section below and share it with our community here! One of my bliss moments is that instant when I truly experience the deliciousness of chocolate. I mean really, stop you in your tracks, unbelievable chocolate. My hope is that in creating a practice in which we recognize and acknowledge these special moments, and then share them with someone else, we will find that the blissful state can be sustained. Maybe… it’s worth a try.
Musical Inspirations:
My Sweet Lord by Hurray For the Riff Raff
Paradise Circus by Massive Attack
Give Love by MC Yogi
Links:
Radiolab, Bliss: http://www.radiolab.org/story/257189-bliss/
My current favorite chocolate: http://frenchmancorner.com/neuhaus-satan/
Bliss is defined as perfect happiness, or great joy. To be blissful is to reach a state of perfect happiness, typically so as to be oblivious of everything else. So how do we attain this state? How do we maintain this state?
In my personal practice I have been focusing on bliss - what it is, have I achieved it, if I have how can I lengthen these moments and elongate the experience? I have found that once I am aware that bliss has possibly happened it is already over, in the past. It feels as though “something” occurred although I can’t quite put a finger on what. I feel light, happy, delicate, connected and I languish in the after affects of the moment I believe was bliss. And then I somehow want to find it again.
One thing that is clear to me is that blissfulness occurs in the present moment, not in the past or in the future. I have not been able to hold on to or plan bliss. I can recall moments from my past when I know that I achieved bliss, and there are moments I can imagine in my future where I hope to reach a state of bliss. But the actual moment, those few seconds, sometimes minutes, when one feels completely free, total oneness, and perfect joy is fleeting and sacred.
"Illuminated emancipation, freedom, unalloyed and untainted bliss await you, but you have to choose to embark on the Inward Journey to discover it." - B.K.S Iyengar
Bliss Challenge:
Take five minutes to write down what bliss means to you. Can you remember moments of your life when you have been blissful? Perhaps create a moment that hasn’t happened yet that you believe could be blissful. The tricky part is not to create expectations, only possibility. Now, share that moment with someone! Share it over coffee, in an email, or comment in the section below and share it with our community here! One of my bliss moments is that instant when I truly experience the deliciousness of chocolate. I mean really, stop you in your tracks, unbelievable chocolate. My hope is that in creating a practice in which we recognize and acknowledge these special moments, and then share them with someone else, we will find that the blissful state can be sustained. Maybe… it’s worth a try.
Musical Inspirations:
My Sweet Lord by Hurray For the Riff Raff
Paradise Circus by Massive Attack
Give Love by MC Yogi
Links:
Radiolab, Bliss: http://www.radiolab.org/story/257189-bliss/
My current favorite chocolate: http://frenchmancorner.com/neuhaus-satan/