The Guest House

This being human is a guest house.

Every morning a new arrival.

 

A joy, a depression, a meanness,

some momentary awareness comes

As an unexpected visitor.

 

Welcome and entertain them all!

Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows,

who violently sweep your house

empty of its furniture,

still treat each guest honorably.

He may be clearing you out

for some new delight.

 

The dark thought, the shame, the malice,

meet them at the door laughing,

and invite them in.

 

Be grateful for whoever comes,

because each has been sent

as a guide from beyond.

–Rumi

In the yogic practice we often talk about detachment from our emotions, but since few of us know what this really means, we go about the lila (play) of life expressing “detachment” as buttoned up and unfeeling. This often gives the impression that life on the spiritual path is dry and lusterless.

The true expression of vairagyam (loosely translated as detachment) is not freedom of emotions but rather a freedom in emotion.

Vairagyam is the ability and clarity to move through the rise and fall of different emotions, even play with emotion as the situation demands.

The word Rasa comes from Ayurveda and is translated as the juice, the flavor of food.

In Ayurveda we believe that there are six tastes and every meal should be created in a way that satisfies the six tastes. Just like an experienced chef will use different spices, flavors, and ingredients to satisfy the palate, an artist will use many colors, ideas, and textures to create a piece that feels balanced, We as human beings crave different rasas in our life, which in its deeper meaning, means the lusciousness in life.

Abhinavgupta, the greatest teacher of tantra, has identified 9 rasas or emotions:

• erotic
• comic
• pathetic
• furious
• heroic
• terrible
• odious
• marvelous

Obviously not everyone will be attracted to every rasa, the key is not to get stuck in one rasa and be judgmental about the others with the knowledge that even the most juicy and delicious of foods can get dull if it is the only flavor on the plate. Vairagyam is learning that there is a pathos in every comedy and it does not take long for a poignant, romantic moment to morph into a full-blown argument.

The key to letting your consciousness experience and move through a buffet of emotions is to truly drink in the experience, tasting and swirling each sip like a glass of aged wine.

Do not mix this with letting your emotions take over. This kind of separation arises only when you have realized that you are not your emotions, when you have recognized that all rasas have a purpose and can be transformed to serve and you learn to become a witness to your emotions. This recognition of the rasas and learning to transform them is the basis of all tantrik rituals.

As you become intimately connected with your emotions, you will be guided on how to transform or express them while they are still budding leading you to deeper understanding that all rasas are necessary to weave the beautiful, colorful, and magical tapestry of life.

I THANK YOU ALL WITH FOLDED HANDS FOR TEACHING ME THE TRUE MEANING OF VASUDEVA KUTUMBAKAM (THE WORLD AS ONE FAMILY) FOR CONSTANTLY BEING MY TEACHERS AND HELPING ME EXPERIENCE THIS JUICY RASA OF LIFE, FOR THE SPARK THAT LIGHTS YOUR BEINGS.

I AM BECAUSE YOU ARE!!!

Namaste, in gratitude