by Janaki

I can notice how the phenomenon of violence is omnipresent in our human communities: in our collective relationships whether at the ecological level, institutional level, demographic level, and individual level. It may feel aggravating and frustrating, or heavy, disempowering and depressing. It becomes a way to blame the “others” who are perpetrating it.

Yet, we who do the perceiving can remember that the collective lens with which we are experiencing this world is– none other than through our own creation. Our ways of seeing have been created over time, lifetimes even, and layered with patterns and conditioning.

It is much harder to turn the lens on ourselves. And there are reasons.

Start exploring. When you go inside, you find an interesting feature of the subconscious human mind: patterns of going-against-oneself take up residence there. Often, this violence of the inner realm takes the form of self-judgement, self-rejection, and negative self-talk.

How could we expect that our world will be free of violence when we house it within our own minds?

A Path is Clearly Outlined, if we are ready to learn

Millenia ago, the Yogic seer Patanjali gave us the precept of nonviolence – ahimsa at the very start of the Eight Limbed (Ashtanga) yogic path, inside the text of the Yoga Sutras. Our work has been clear, yet increasingly hard to actually do. (We take every effort to distract ourselves from it for as long as we can, with our choice of overwork, overexercise, blame, scrolling, excess consumption, to name a few– and I can personally attest to this on my own path.) But when we decide to do it, I have found that the beautiful East-West technique of Emotional Clearing is incomparable. It is why I now guide this process for other seekers on their path. When it comes to balancing the conflicts of our own minds, it can give such a deep evolving clarity and integration. Then we come to find that the vibration of one naturally affects the vibration of another… and another…and another. It is universal energy. There is no separation.

And with the gifts of Ayurveda, we get a chance to clear metabolic toxins from the deeper tissues of our body, where we also store our old energetic patterns. Cellular intelligence revitalizes; the rough edges of Ego can slough off; and we can start to ‘see’ more clearly. Seeing our own tendencies, true nature and karmas. Finally, finding a Source of life that floats beyond the dualities of pleasure and pain, loss or gain. A journey that ultimately shapes our consciousness.

Let us gather our courage to walk our Path of transformation. For a more nonviolent, wise, and just world, Outside, and Within. Power to you, on your journey. 

To continually grow in awareness it is important that we each reflect deeply. We are on this journey together.

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Be well.