Education

There has been a poem of Rumi’s that I’ve had around for quite awhile. In fact it’s taped on the bathroom mirror to be reflected on every groggy morning. The scotch tape holding just above eye level has grown yellow and cracked with age, but still I read some part of it every morning while trying to mindfully brushing my teeth. Don’t even know where it came from or who did the translation, but it has haunted my personal philosophy since it’s discovery. Whenever anyone asks me “… what’s Yoga” this quote is what I want to give them , but never do because I’m afraid they’ll think me a jester and not Yoga teacher. Nevertheless I hear these lines as something of an anathema to our sleepy lives. If we could just embrace these words, I think people would know why they should want to practice Yoga:

wake up, wake up
this night is gone
wake up

abandon abandon
even your dear self
abandon

there is an idiot
in our market place
selling a precious soul

if you doubt my word
get up this moment
and head to the market now

don’t listen to trickery
don’t listen to the witches
don’t wash blood with blood

first turn yourself upside down
empty yourself like a cup of wine
then fill to the brim with the essence

a voice descending
from the heavens
a healer is coming

if you desire healing
let yourself fall ill
let yourself fall ill