For those who have asked me to write something about this evening; In my humble view I offer this -

Please know that I approach Hinduism from the same point of view as any other religion and that is from a metaphysical one. There is much more ritual, practice and history to this subject than what is written here. I hope this helps.

A traditional and classic explanation is that on this evening; the 13th night and 14th day after the full moon, the ‘veil’ of ignorance is thinner and can be pierced more easily. Hence, all our good intentions and spiritual practices are more potent and therefor fruitful.

On a more esoteric level it is the grounding time to recognize the work (ours) and the Triumph (Shiva’s) of transcending the physical plane and all the distractions that come with it. This, in my view, is what we’re meant to do here in this schoolmaster plane. To correct the misidentification we have with all things bodily, so called material or phenomenal. We fell asleep and got distracted with the images that we’ve created, and forgot that we created them in the first place. This is Maya.

“Shiva is another name for the Knower of the field and Shakti is the field; Spirit is another name for the Knower of the field and Matter (Prakriti) is the field”. In Christianity and Buddhism it would be addressed respectively as - Christ is another name for the Knower of the field and The Holy Ghost is the field; Buddha is another name of the Knower of the field and Perception is the field. It is the first AND second commandment of the Bible and therefor the corner stone of Judaism -1) ‘You shall have no other gods before Me.’ -  2) ‘You shall not make for yourself a carved image…’ 

I maintain that there is only One Truth told over and over by all the great religions. 

This is not to say that we try to destroy or deny image. From one point of view we have reverence, celebrate and worship these Names and images. Our work is in transforming our sense about ‘them’.

Shivaratri is the celebration of the triumphs and work of transforming phenomena to Consciousness or Spirit. In other words, seeing and feeling the so called physical world as mere shadow, subject to thought, and putting Consciousness as Substance (as what “Matters”) back to it’s throne.

If we really were in this state it would change the game a bit don’t you think? We would turn toward meaning instead of symbol. We would go to the Root of all things every time. The statement by Dr. Wayne Dyer, “When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change”, would be a living experience. Imagine a world where all is subject to your good loving thought. There would be a pure state of Love.

In this world, the words ‘war’, ‘health’, ‘poverty’, ’success’ or ‘failure’ would not even be in our vocabulary. 

This is a part of what’s contained in every ”Om Namah Shivaya” I sing.

On Namah Shivaya!

In asking the question, “What is Yoga?” the first thought that comes to mind is another question; what is life? For like life itself yoga is not a subject or object outside oneself. It is not a class that one takes, it is not a position that one poses in, and it is not meditations or mantras. It is, of course, the clothes!

Just kidding! Yoga is an approach or quality in which we do all things with. It is a mindfulness of humility, perseverance, love, tolerance, and balance while paying attention to the present (breath) and honoring all beings. It is living in the Goodness that goes beyond the duality of good and evil. Namely, doing Good without the promise of reward or fear of punishment. Balance is central; a balance that is expressed in the physical poses but ultimately goes beyond all form. Balancing male (Construct, Volition, and Truth), with female (Intuition, Acceptance, and Love). Practically speaking, it is balancing fire with softness, even ego with Sacrifice. How do I become soft when I was instructed to do one more pose on that same thigh? – How do I let go and strengthen at the same time? This is what is revealed through the technology of yoga.

Taken off the mat – it is, for example, the practice of how to be soft and loving when I am trying to write this page and there are kids screaming all around. Each yogic experience on the mat can be a whole life of material. From realizing this transitory state of life that we live in (this pose too shall pass), to offering a moving, meditative prayer with body, heart, and Mind.