community

come. unite.

With gentleness overcome anger.
With generosity overcome meanness.
With truth overcome deceit.

Speak the truth.
Give whatever you can.
Never be angry.
These three steps will lead you
Into the presence of the gods.

Buddha

The word yoga is typically defined as “union” or “to yoke.” The joining or yoking, depending on the specific philosophy or lineage of yoga, may be between mind and body, body and breath, our own body and soul, separate bodies and souls, our Self and a higher power. It also depends on what that energetic force means to us as individuals, and how we interpret it personally.

The steps taken to achieve the yoking can be daily actions, contemplation of studies and practice, and devotion to – or as defined by – these practices.

The act of stepping onto a mat for asana, sitting to meditate, choosing to act from a truthful place, coming together as a group or committing to time for our Self is all yoga. Not one action is superior to the other. These practices call attention back to our Selves and bring awareness to the collective cause of looking inward, or connecting to the heart.

The relationship with our Self is just as imperative as our relationship with the community around us. The more we look within and practice understanding our own inner workings, the more naturally we will extend that inquisitive attention to others, without judgement or expectation.

I thought about the concept of community a lot last weekend in Santa Rosa as I watched the town and surrounding areas come together to form an incredible network of support after the devastating wildfires.

Displaced families, including my parents, were immediately welcomed into homes of friends and makeshift shelters; Redwood Empire Food Bank was one of many distribution centers making sure people all over the county had the supplies they needed; radio and news stations reported as much information as possible informing people where to go or how to help.

People texted and Facebooked messaged, whether their houses were still standing or not, to check in on one another and our families and homes. Friends that had lost everything reached out to me saying they had driven by our house and were so happy to see it was still there amongst the many that burned down in our neighborhood. Donation-related funds and events were arranged instantly by our peers, community members, and organizations near and far.

I think I speak for all of us affected, whether physically or emotionally, when I say that even though our hearts are broken, our commitment to support one another is solid.

My sweet friend Aditi reminded me that there is space for tragedy: although it is no doubt a horrific challenge, it brings people together in unbelievable ways. And as Rumi says, “The wound is the place where the Light enters you.”

Per Buddha’s wisdom above: in catastrophes we overcome anger, deceit, and meanness, to replace it with gentleness, generosity, and love.

When tragedy strikes, if we are able, we may be called to action as individuals and a community. We can more effectively offer physical and mental support if we are supported ourselves, and vice versa. Similarly in asana, the body can operate most effectively with the support of each individual limb and the breath rather than relying on one specific component.

The yoking and the practice of yoga – both in our own unique minds and bodies, and as a collective – is paramount to the health of the world in which we live and the community as a whole. Whether or not it leads us “into the presence of the gods,” it will certainly bring us closer to our Selves, and closer together as humans sharing planet Earth.

We are all individual moving parts of a greater system. We each play a role in the massive inter workings of our immediate and personal surroundings, neighborhoods, towns, cities, states, countries, planet, universe.

Which role do you desire to play?

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Photo with Aditi Shah by Renee Choi in NYC, wearing bottoms from Athleta.