Leaning In
For All the Absurdity, This is No Time to Abjure
Saturday, June 15, 2024
Aho’ Rajanaka,
I hope this finds you well. Time flies. You’ve undoubtedly noticed. What’s with that? Has it always felt like this?
Today, Saturday the 15th, we have Buddhism at 5pm Eastern. Our focus will be a careful look at the original sources on mindfulness. We’ll focus on what was said twenty odd centuries ago, which may allow us to sort out (maybe not) the current conversation. Zoom here:
https://rochester.zoom.us/j/95057662268
Tomorrow, which happens to be Father’s Day, we’ll join for the Mahabharata, also at 5pm Eastern. Link is here:
https://rochester.zoom.us/j/314987250
These are the last summer sessions before Rajanaka Summer Camp. Perhaps a few summer surprises and we have plans for a full fall semester beginning in September.
And then there is the nearer-time horizon, and I must admit I’m more than a little concerned about, you know, the world, the republic, the human condition. I had a brief not-really-emergency moment in the local hospital emergency room and during that pretreatment interview the nurse asked me if I was feeling depressed or ever have suicidal feelings.
I laughed and said, “Of course, doesn’t everyone? Have you read the news? Anyone paying the least attention can’t possibly be immune.” She looked extremely concerned. I smiled again, “But I do this professionally. Not to worry, I’m good at it.” I’m sure this answer made a mess of her paperwork that day and I felt poorly for telling the truth.
I also wanted to tell her that contrary to popular belief the study and practice of yoga does not make you immune from yourself or the world, much less guarantee happiness. In fact, because you attend more deeply, feel more acutely, and ponder with greater care and consideration, there’s every possibility that you see not only the beauty and wonder of the world but other stuff too. As we all know, it’s not all gummies and red velvet cake. If yoga teaches anything it’s that paying attention is not easy, even when there’s much to like (even love) and then all the rest too. Abdicating our attentions may land you inside an anthill if you hang out long enough (ask Valmiki or Jnaneshavara) but in the meantime we’ll need to deal. Hold fast, Rajanaka, no one is coming to the rescue but we’re going to do this together.
I’ve been working on the conversation that will be this year’s Rajanaka Summer Camp. I usually don’t announce topics, which is likely bad for business. Meh. The most interesting work is an experiment that requires you to complete. I’m not withholding or keeping secrets, not my style. So here’s a bit of what Camp is about this year.
The players in India’s mythologies share a process that tells us about ourselves. Each character has light and shadow, and the best of them show us the need to admit to both and learn to integrate rather than deny or, worse, claim immunity. “It’s all light!” is best translated, umm, “bullshit” but spiritual traditions love their bypass and aren’t always better than telling us what we wish were true. For that kind of cultivation, we’re going to have to dig more deeply.
Our Summer Camp subject is the little studied second-generation deity called Ayyappa. He is a Rajanaka favorite because the mainstream traditions want to bury the truth, omit the facts, dodge, deflect, and otherwise fake you out. Our task is to investigate the unabridged and unreduced outcomes, to work the seam where we discover how this character emerges as an example of lambent goodness, genuine, incandescent beneficence in the face of so much trauma, vicissitude, and mischance. We’re going to create a context for the larger story, draw a bigger picture and then focus on the stories of Ayyappa takeing hold of the truths surrounding him, avoiding his own asperity, and choosing virtue as his contrariety. Put simply, in face of what the world is doing or rewarding or claiming, Ayyappa decides for better and in his stories we learn how to do much the same. I’ll avoid the balmy soporifics and focus on his shadow’s integrative process. It’s good stuff.
There’s still room should you want to come to Bristol in the wilds of western New York and be with the Rajanaka. Newbies are most welcome, of course. There will be live Zoom and recordings too. All the details are on the Rajanaka Substack, look here for the details. We begin at 2ish on Thursday, July 11th and finish at lunch on Monday, July 15th. You can come for all or some or even just a little and I think it’ll be worth the effort. Learning together is the best way to learn. Here’s the Substack link: https://rajanaka.substack.com/p/rajanaka-summer-camp-2024-details
Rajanaka Substack is a free subscription and I’ll be making more content this summer. If you’d like to offer a paid subscription this will keep us supporting our good causes in India.
I will have more information about travel to India this winter. The dates will be right after Christmas and home by mid-January, about 15 days total. I’m waiting on information from Babu but everything will depend on your interest making the pilgrimage. This isn’t tourism or yoga mats or a spa; this is temple pilgrimage with unparalleled access. Let me know if you’re even some serious about it, ‘cause I need to know: douglas@rajanaka.com
All for now, always more. Sure do love ya’.
Saprema, Douglas