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Through every block there is a way

Sutra #2: There is a way through every block

 

As we introduced last time:

Yogi Bhajan, a master of kundalini yoga and spiritual teacher for decades to thousands worldwide, taught a set of principles that he coined the Five Sutras of the Aquarian Age. This edition of Soul Notes continues our 5-part series, with this one devoted to Sutra #2: “There is a way through every block”.

 

 “THERE IS  A WAY THROUGH EVERY BLOCK”

[Sutra 2, Yogi Bhajan]

This sutra is one of hope, inspiration, and a call to trust in yourself and your own divinity.

Believe this to be so!

First off, it’s important to believe this to be so! Believing, and trusting, that there is indeed a way through every block instills a feeling of HOPEful(not helpless)ness. What you decide to do next stems in large part from this belief. I invite you to consider it a fundamental foundation from which to carry you forward if and as blocks present themselves.

Feel stuck, and searching for a way to get “unstuck” and need help moving forward?

As Yogi Bhajan proffered: “[A]ll it takes is committing one’s self within one’s self.” Ongoing commitment allows our inherit nature to take its course. Just as an ice cube melts as warm air envelopes it, so too do our perceived blocks, as we allow our own nature to take its course.   It is in our nature to seek infinity. “[T]he finite will exalt the Infinity, the Infinity will exalt the finite.” (The Teachings of Yogi Bhajan, published in Aquarian Times, September 2007.) Let things that “get in your way” dissolve. Allow your light, your truth, your infinite nature, to emerge.

Discernment: Examine, Explore, Inquire

Awareness is a huge first step in moving through your blocks. Okay, awareness, “check.” Now what? Once we are aware or conscious that there is a block, which way is the best way through? It may take discernment, deliberation, reflection. Deliberation is smooth, slow, methodical consideration.

In those moments when facing a “block,” consider the following:

Is it real, or perceived? Is it an actual block, or does it only seem and feel like a block? Is it truly blocking your destination, or can you go around it (choose a different path, to get to your destination)? What IS your destination? Feel into it. Allow your heart (not your mind) to speak. – The divine speaks through the heart; truth emerges from the soul, not from the mind.

Bring it out from the inner depths and out into the light! Let your own light shine through – through the “block”! See it from another angle. Hold it up to the light, as if it were a prism. What (new) reflections do you see now?

This is where meditation, journaling or yoga come into play – very helpful! (Oh, and breathing…remember to slow down, take a pause, and breathe!) ~ For tips on and types of a daily practice, go here. ~

Recognize when it’s quicksand pulling you down, and when it’s merely gravel shifting beneath your feet.

Conscious Choices     

You are in control of your choices. One choice may be to allow the block or situation to melt, like a “block” of ice…let it dissolve, decompose. Among other things, this preserves energy for you to approach the larger blocks, the “big boulders” that show up on your path, your spiritual journey. Be aware that not all blocks are created equal. It is okay (and wise!) to decipher which ones are which. Is it a block that can be dismantled, like a structure, broken down into smaller, more manageable pieces? Is it a block that may benefit from a change in shape? Consider whether it may be recombined in some way? How about reconfiguring the components, like a set of building blocks?

Remember, one of the choices available to each of us is: to do “nothing”! If made consciously, to fit a specific situation, doing nothing may in essence be “everything”.

Releasing Judgment

When a block appears, many of us tend to get caught up in the judgment – of ourselves, of the situation, of other people who may be involved. Really, however, that gobbles up lots of precious energy, and does little if anything to propel us forward.

And, often we unnecessarily compound the (perceived or actual) block, by allowing ourselves to get caught up in expectations as to form, timing, and the exact result that may come once we’ve moved through the block. Trust that there is a way through every block, and focus on the beauty of all that is, within Sutra 2. Trust that the form, timing and exact result will be in and for the highest good. This releases the pressure, and helps us step away from unhelpful distractions. It also creates space, so that we may acknowledge the true desire from within our heart, not the ‘masquerading one,’ the ‘trickster’ one residing in your ego.

Next: Take (Soul-Inspired) Action

You are self-empowered to choose how you move through every block. Remember though, to make a choice. Decide.

Even if it’s a decision to let go and let live – do it from a place of sovereignty, not by helplessly “giving up” and relinquishing control of your own life. It’s not about capitulating, or abdicating responsibility for your station in that moment, and the direction to which you’re heading. You are in control of the RUDDER on your boat! You get to decide where you’re steering, and to which spot on the horizon you’re heading! Yes, you’ll face trade winds, and headwinds, and cross-currents – these, however, need not be BLOCKS on your journey. They are merely influences, and ever fluid, forces. You’re still the captain. The commander!

Cease resistance. Lean into all that you are. Into all that is. Infinity.

Okay, your turn:

What, if any blocks, are you facing today? Is it a block, or a perceived block? What does your empowered self say is the next step? Where are you pointing your ship, and what soul-inspired provisions are you bringing with you?

I invite you to share your thoughts, feelings, and experiences in the Comments section, below. Soul-to-soul!

© 2015 Lori A. Noonan. All Rights Reserved.
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The other person is you

The Five Sutras

Yogi Bhajan, a master of kundalini yoga and spiritual teacher for decades to thousands worldwide, taught a set of principles that he coined the Five Sutras of the Aquarian Age.

They are:

  1. Recognize that the other person is you.
  2. There is a way through every block.
  3. When the time is on you, start, and the pressure will be off.
  4. Understand through compassion or you will misunderstand the times.
  5. Vibrate the cosmos, and the cosmos shall clear the path.

A sutra is in effect a thread or spiritual knot woven together to serve as a fundamental truth. While seemingly simple, these five sutras resonate deeply. Each stands on its own. And combined, they serve as a comprehensive set of guidelines by which to live our lives.

This edition of Soul Notes begins a 5-part series, with each devoted to one of the five sutras. I invite you to explore them with me now and during the coming weeks!

 

“Recognize the Other Person Is You”

[Sutra 1, Yogi Bhajan]

Soul in One, Soul in All

“Aquarian consciousness takes you inside your soul, so that you can relate to the soul in all.”
-Yogi Bhajan from Aquarian Times, Spring 2003.

 

As spiritual beings, our deepest suffering may stem from our sense of separation from one another and from spirit or Source. When we get quiet, however, and realize that we are one with creation, we recognize that we are one with each other. There is no separation. Modern society often tempts us to see the separation, when it need not be so.

It’s in our nature to be connected, not separate and apart. It’s up to each of us, however, to recognize ourselves in each other.

When we see ourselves in the other person, and the other person in ourselves, we embody yet another of Yogi Bhajan’s most solemn teachings: “See God in all, or see God not at all.”

Take emergencies, or natural disasters, for example. Often, they “bring out the best in us.” We act on the impulse to reach out and help someone. Oftentimes it’s a stranger. We act out of compassion. We see our commonalities, and not our perceived differences. We are one. We are connected. We are an intricate part of the whole.

The blockbuster movie “Crash” (2004) attempted to illustrate this, from different angles, as it explored the lives of several main characters reacting to separate yet equally potentially life-threatening situations and conflicts. The movie’s title refers to a car crash, as well as symbolizes the many ways in which modern day lives often “collide.”

While the movie portrayed several conflicts and human (mis)perceptions we often have about others with whom we come in contact, it made the point that these arise in large part from our human tendency to see the separateness rather than the unity and connection we have with each other.

Despite the often fear-based walls we erect to protect ourselves, it’s those very walls which more often than not reinforce the separateness. It’s in those moments of heightened crisis, however, that we come to realize (or are forced to realize) that we do indeed have more in common as human beings than we have not in common. We share at our core, the same blood, sweat and tears. Yes. Truly.

Recently, while in the back yard with my dog, I saw my dog running toward the fence as she heard the postal carrier approaching our house. Usually, on such an occasion, my dog would stop at the gate and sniff under the fence and let out a bark or two as the postal carrier deposited the mail in our mailbox and proceeded to walk on to the next house. Suddenly, however, I saw my dog pounce on the gate, and (unbeknownst to me, as someone had left the gate unlatched) the gate swung open and within moments my dog was headed at a good clip right towards the front of the house, and the mail carrier. I heard the mail carrier scream as my dog was now on the front porch within feet of her, as she stood paralyzed in front of the mailbox.

I ran to the porch, secured my dog, and reassured the mail carrier that she was safe and that my dog would do her no harm. She was short of breath and managed to squeak out, “I’ve been bitten by a dog before.”   I felt her genuine fear in that moment, and told her “I know you’re scared, but please know that my dog won’t hurt you.” “I’ll control her until you have a chance to walk away from the house.”   The mail carrier took a deep breath and calmed down. In a moment of relief (hers and mine, quite frankly, as I was concerned that my dog could have been sprayed with mace), she looked me in the eye and with sincerity said, simply, “Thank you.” She walked off the front porch, and on to the next house. Crisis averted, and a common bond shared.

The challenge, of course, is maintaining that sense of oneness when the emergency, the crisis, the heightened moment-in-time, has subsided — when our lives later return to ‘normal’ — when we, I would say, have the “luxury” of allowing the thoughts of separateness to set up camp in our heads. The mind-centered “separateness” camp, if we allow it, creeps in and crowds out our heart-centered, compassionate camp.

This is where having a spiritual practice or set of principles (such as the five sutras) serves as a framework to help each of us stay centered and grounded in these universal truths. That is not to say that it’s easy, but to suggest that it’s possible. It requires attentiveness, consistency, and ongoing commitment. And, it’s worth it.

Looking Within…to Ourselves

“If you want to make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself and then make the change.”

(Man in the Mirror)

Why wait for an emergency, crisis or disaster, to recognize and feel that oneness? Why not feel it now, in your heart, in your soul?

I invite you to carry that feeling of oneness with you throughout your day, your week, your month. May we each commit to acting accordingly – in support of our oneness, remembering always and in all ways: that the other person-is-you (and me, and she and he, and we).

Okay, your turn:

Reflect on a moment when you felt truly connected to another human being, maybe even a stranger? Perhaps you extended a hand, a helping gesture? Or, do you recall a time when you were the recipient of an act of kindness or true compassion? What would it mean to feel that, on a regular basis? In what ways have you recognized, or will you commit to recognizing, that the other person is you?

I invite you to share your thoughts, feelings, and experiences in the Comments section, below. Soul-to-soul!

© 2015 Lori A. Noonan. All Rights Reserved.
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