Dear friends,
Last week we explained what Yoga really means. One last somewhat philosophical letter before returning to more personally focused topics (whew!)...
It is usually thought that there are many Gods in yoga and Hinduism: Shiva, Ganesha, Kali, Lakshmi, etc. While each of these characters does have a reality of its own, it is a mistake to think that Hinduism is truly polytheistic. All such depictions represent an aspect of God. I myself am a man, a husband, a public speaker, and a bookstore manager. Are there four of me? I am also an American, a Californian, a college graduate, and a voter. Maybe there are eight of me? (One is surely more than enough, thank you!)
Each “god” in Hinduism (of which yoga is the “how to” part as described last week) represents a different aspect of God. For example, Shiva is god as destroyer. Things must end before new things can start. Think of an apparently destructive forest fire that in reality sets the stage for new growth.
Many think of God as a judgmental father-type figure. Yogananda said he prefers to envision God as Divine Mother since the Mother feels closer than the Father. This has nothing at all to do with gender. It has to do with Yin and Yang: the male and female principles of the universe; the opposing poles and forces that keep the universe going.
We are here to learn. It is entirely appropriate to focus on that aspect of Spirit that helps us go where we need to go. Focusing on one facet of a diamond does not deny the other facets, nor does it say one facet is better than another. It surely does not say there are multiple diamonds. There is one Spirit with many faces, each designed to represent a different quality in ourselves that we need to grow, energize, or expand upon. May we each find what best inspires us to move forward, with grace, courage, and great energy.
Blessings,
David G., manager
For the Gang at East West