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| Photo by Louis Maniquet on Unsplash |
by Diana Margarita Hulet
“To love a place is not enough. We must find ways to heal it.”
― Robin Wall Kimmerer
In 1968, astronauts boarded Apollo 8 with the mission of leaving the atmosphere and reaching the Moon. At departure, their focus was on outer space, yet once they had the chance to look back and see the Earth, our home planet, hanging in just the right balance in order to sustain life, the astronauts were awestruck, overwhelmed, and deeply moved. One astronomer communicated his cosmic encounter to religious scholars with the hopes of learning more about why he felt so much when gazing at the Earth. They suggested that he had experienced savikalpa samadhi, a profound shift beyond the thinking mind into a state of ecstasy where the consciousness is fully perceptive of its blissful experience within. Astronomers describe it as the “Overview Effect” and those who have traveled beyond the Earth’s stratosphere and witnessed dancing auroras, as well as clear cut forests, have a message for us: We are all interconnected.
In 1989, the year I took my first yoga class, the Golden Toad of Costa Rica, Incilius periglenes, became extinct and also known as the first species succumbing to the effects of human-induced climate change. Imagine, while I felt the subtle pulse of prana through my fingertips in savasana, this tiny colorful amphibian was losing their life force in a warming rainforest. How many species have gone extinct since I first stepped on the mat? I know that in my lifetime, we have lost over 50% of our planet’s biodiversity. I know that when I get on my mat, I feel these losses. I think of deforestation in Tree pose or factory farming in Cow-faced pose and while I know I shouldn’t be thinking so much while practicing, this is where I stand, and from where I write to you, fellow practitioner. I also think of humanity in Hero’s pose.
I want to make clear that this is not a “doom and gloom” piece of writing. Through my activism work, I have realized that mind-boggling statistics and shocking images trigger our amygdala and move us further away from the compassionate and courageous parts of our brain. In order to meet the challenges brought on by zoonotic diseases and climate change, we will have to repattern how we see the world, and what better tools do we have than those put forward by our wisdom traditions? I recently listened to a conversation between His Holiness the Dalai Lama and climate activist Greta Thunberg. Their discussion made it even more evident that our actions will change if our hearts and minds do.
For nearly fifteen years, I have taught philosophy and ethics modules for yoga teacher trainings. On one such occasion, due to a scheduling hurdle, I had to teach Patanjali’s Eight Limbs in under 20 minutes –– a tragedy in itself. What came to me during that brief session was an understanding that the teachings begin with our relationship to the world, then they walk us inward, becoming more subtle as we navigate the human landscape. We traverse the body (asana), the breath (pranayama), the senses (pratyahara), the mind (dharana and dhyana), and over lifetimes arrive at enlightenment (samadhi). Yet, what if liberation radiated back outward, and our individual enlightenment was but one luminous fragment within Indra’s Net, the web of connection illustrated in a closely related wisdom tradition, Mahayana Buddhism? I remember hearing one time that the next incarnation of Vishnu, the sustainer god, would come in the form of community, rather than an individual such as Krishna or Buddha. The new dharmic guide would emerge as a collective. Is that us?
Yogic teachings are overflowing with inspiration on how to be in a proper relationship with our planet. Ahimsa teaches us to stop harming other sentient beings, satya suggests honesty and transparency, asteya reminds us that what we consume is often stolen from other, more invisible, people and places. Through it all, the internal challenges of individual experience remain consistent: How to purify the body, clarify the mind, and connect with God/Source/Absolute Reality. However, in the age of Patanjali, we did not yet know that human activity, especially since the Industrial Revolution, would wreak such havoc on the Earth’s ecosystems. The texts did highlight the importance of simple living, right effort, and nonattachment to outcomes, and we can recruit such guidance in order to protect each other and the planet in the face of our uncertain future.
Social activism is environmental activism. I have heard these words most recently from political activist Angela Davis and wildlife ecologist Drew Lanham. In a time when systemic change seems insurmountable, action inspires hope, which in turn, inspires more action. If we don't change our habits soon, millions of people in India, where the practice of yoga originated, will become climate refugees due to sea-level rise, meanwhile, in the West, we long to jump on fossil fuel intensive jets once again and visit the Motherland. This is not about climate shaming. I only want to make the associations, because after all, yoga is a practice of connection. Yoga also grounds us in real time so we may not only live by example but also become clear and vital vehicles for change.
The Persian poet Hafiz described the feeling of waking up in his line, “First, the fish needs to say, ‘Something ain’t right about this Camel ride, And I’m Feeling so damn Thirsty.’” The inequities illuminated by a global health crisis confirmed that we tread on fractured and parched ground and just like Hafiz’s fish, we realized that our mode of traveling has been socially and ecologically unsustainable. It is time to work towards a more balanced, equitable, and harmonious way of living, both in our yoga communities and our world. We can begin at home, where we spend most of our time these days, by reflecting inward and observing how our personal choices relate to each other and our environment. Additionally, systemic changes will have to operate on a larger scale, therefore it is up to us to hold our leaders and decision-makers accountable for the safety and vitality of all life on Earth, our only home. I’ve composed a short list of ideas so that perhaps we can set our drishti (focused gaze) on the Earth and feel the Overview Effect without traveling to the Moon.
Practices:
Asana practice allows us to embody the natural world by moving into shapes such as variations of Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutations) or Tadasana (Mountain Pose) while pranayama practice invites us to witness the inward and outward flow of the breath, the sustainer of all life.
Lovingkindness meditations extend the scope of compassion beyond our individual lives and out towards all beings in all places across the planet. Keep in mind those who are affected most directly by global warming, such as migrating animals and climate refugees.
Mantra practice stills the mind and elevates our voices. Cultivating the energy of sound and communication can help us connect to what needs to be vocalized and heard. This can come in the form of Vedic chants for peace and healing, devotional songs to one’s chosen deity, or the profound simplicity when chanting Om.
Actions:
Calculate your personal ecological footprint to see how you consume resources. Be mindful and nonjudgmental about your particular circumstances, as we are all presented with unique challenges that may not allow us to be as resourceful as we’d like to be. Consider small changes for a long time.
Find your local representatives and learn about their stance on social and environmental issues in your community and beyond. They are public servants and want to hear what you care about. Feel free to reach out to them and ask questions.
Dedicate time to be in the world and observe the relationships between people and their surroundings. Listen to the voices of those who have been silenced for too long including the Indigenous wisdom which has much to teach us about being in balance with plants, animals, and each other. A better world is possible if we meet Reality together.
Diana Hulet has been steeped in the practices of yoga for over three decades and has taught yoga and yoga philosophy since 2004. Her teaching style is an ongoing synthesis of hatha and vinyasa yoga, pranayama, and meditation. Diana’s instruction will often include teachings from yoga philosophy and other contemplative traditions. While she has been influenced by many luminaries across the tradition of yoga, Diana has always seen the unpredictable and beautiful circumstances of life as her greatest teacher. Whether through the doorways of loss or illness, joy or celebration, her teaching and writing invite us into the conversation between our interior and exterior experiences. Most recently, Diana returned to college and completed her B.S. in Liberal Studies, with a focus on environmental ethics, religion, and philosophy. Her next chapter of teaching will further explore the connections between spiritual practice and our relationship with nature. For her full bio and information on upcoming classes, please visit www.dianahulet.com.
This post was edited by Patrice Priya Wagner, Managing Editor of Accessible Yoga blog and member of the Board of Directors.
° FOLLOW Accessible Yoga on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
° REGISTER here for our next conference.
° DONATE here to help us bring yoga to people who don't have access or have been underserved, such as people with disabilities, chronic illnesses, children with special needs, and anyone who doesn't feel comfortable in a regular yoga class.
“To love a place is not enough. We must find ways to heal it.”
― Robin Wall Kimmerer
In 1968, astronauts boarded Apollo 8 with the mission of leaving the atmosphere and reaching the Moon. At departure, their focus was on outer space, yet once they had the chance to look back and see the Earth, our home planet, hanging in just the right balance in order to sustain life, the astronauts were awestruck, overwhelmed, and deeply moved. One astronomer communicated his cosmic encounter to religious scholars with the hopes of learning more about why he felt so much when gazing at the Earth. They suggested that he had experienced savikalpa samadhi, a profound shift beyond the thinking mind into a state of ecstasy where the consciousness is fully perceptive of its blissful experience within. Astronomers describe it as the “Overview Effect” and those who have traveled beyond the Earth’s stratosphere and witnessed dancing auroras, as well as clear cut forests, have a message for us: We are all interconnected.
In 1989, the year I took my first yoga class, the Golden Toad of Costa Rica, Incilius periglenes, became extinct and also known as the first species succumbing to the effects of human-induced climate change. Imagine, while I felt the subtle pulse of prana through my fingertips in savasana, this tiny colorful amphibian was losing their life force in a warming rainforest. How many species have gone extinct since I first stepped on the mat? I know that in my lifetime, we have lost over 50% of our planet’s biodiversity. I know that when I get on my mat, I feel these losses. I think of deforestation in Tree pose or factory farming in Cow-faced pose and while I know I shouldn’t be thinking so much while practicing, this is where I stand, and from where I write to you, fellow practitioner. I also think of humanity in Hero’s pose.
I want to make clear that this is not a “doom and gloom” piece of writing. Through my activism work, I have realized that mind-boggling statistics and shocking images trigger our amygdala and move us further away from the compassionate and courageous parts of our brain. In order to meet the challenges brought on by zoonotic diseases and climate change, we will have to repattern how we see the world, and what better tools do we have than those put forward by our wisdom traditions? I recently listened to a conversation between His Holiness the Dalai Lama and climate activist Greta Thunberg. Their discussion made it even more evident that our actions will change if our hearts and minds do.
For nearly fifteen years, I have taught philosophy and ethics modules for yoga teacher trainings. On one such occasion, due to a scheduling hurdle, I had to teach Patanjali’s Eight Limbs in under 20 minutes –– a tragedy in itself. What came to me during that brief session was an understanding that the teachings begin with our relationship to the world, then they walk us inward, becoming more subtle as we navigate the human landscape. We traverse the body (asana), the breath (pranayama), the senses (pratyahara), the mind (dharana and dhyana), and over lifetimes arrive at enlightenment (samadhi). Yet, what if liberation radiated back outward, and our individual enlightenment was but one luminous fragment within Indra’s Net, the web of connection illustrated in a closely related wisdom tradition, Mahayana Buddhism? I remember hearing one time that the next incarnation of Vishnu, the sustainer god, would come in the form of community, rather than an individual such as Krishna or Buddha. The new dharmic guide would emerge as a collective. Is that us?
Yogic teachings are overflowing with inspiration on how to be in a proper relationship with our planet. Ahimsa teaches us to stop harming other sentient beings, satya suggests honesty and transparency, asteya reminds us that what we consume is often stolen from other, more invisible, people and places. Through it all, the internal challenges of individual experience remain consistent: How to purify the body, clarify the mind, and connect with God/Source/Absolute Reality. However, in the age of Patanjali, we did not yet know that human activity, especially since the Industrial Revolution, would wreak such havoc on the Earth’s ecosystems. The texts did highlight the importance of simple living, right effort, and nonattachment to outcomes, and we can recruit such guidance in order to protect each other and the planet in the face of our uncertain future.
Social activism is environmental activism. I have heard these words most recently from political activist Angela Davis and wildlife ecologist Drew Lanham. In a time when systemic change seems insurmountable, action inspires hope, which in turn, inspires more action. If we don't change our habits soon, millions of people in India, where the practice of yoga originated, will become climate refugees due to sea-level rise, meanwhile, in the West, we long to jump on fossil fuel intensive jets once again and visit the Motherland. This is not about climate shaming. I only want to make the associations, because after all, yoga is a practice of connection. Yoga also grounds us in real time so we may not only live by example but also become clear and vital vehicles for change.
The Persian poet Hafiz described the feeling of waking up in his line, “First, the fish needs to say, ‘Something ain’t right about this Camel ride, And I’m Feeling so damn Thirsty.’” The inequities illuminated by a global health crisis confirmed that we tread on fractured and parched ground and just like Hafiz’s fish, we realized that our mode of traveling has been socially and ecologically unsustainable. It is time to work towards a more balanced, equitable, and harmonious way of living, both in our yoga communities and our world. We can begin at home, where we spend most of our time these days, by reflecting inward and observing how our personal choices relate to each other and our environment. Additionally, systemic changes will have to operate on a larger scale, therefore it is up to us to hold our leaders and decision-makers accountable for the safety and vitality of all life on Earth, our only home. I’ve composed a short list of ideas so that perhaps we can set our drishti (focused gaze) on the Earth and feel the Overview Effect without traveling to the Moon.
Practices:
Asana practice allows us to embody the natural world by moving into shapes such as variations of Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutations) or Tadasana (Mountain Pose) while pranayama practice invites us to witness the inward and outward flow of the breath, the sustainer of all life.
Lovingkindness meditations extend the scope of compassion beyond our individual lives and out towards all beings in all places across the planet. Keep in mind those who are affected most directly by global warming, such as migrating animals and climate refugees.
Mantra practice stills the mind and elevates our voices. Cultivating the energy of sound and communication can help us connect to what needs to be vocalized and heard. This can come in the form of Vedic chants for peace and healing, devotional songs to one’s chosen deity, or the profound simplicity when chanting Om.
Actions:
Calculate your personal ecological footprint to see how you consume resources. Be mindful and nonjudgmental about your particular circumstances, as we are all presented with unique challenges that may not allow us to be as resourceful as we’d like to be. Consider small changes for a long time.
Find your local representatives and learn about their stance on social and environmental issues in your community and beyond. They are public servants and want to hear what you care about. Feel free to reach out to them and ask questions.
Dedicate time to be in the world and observe the relationships between people and their surroundings. Listen to the voices of those who have been silenced for too long including the Indigenous wisdom which has much to teach us about being in balance with plants, animals, and each other. A better world is possible if we meet Reality together.
This post was edited by Patrice Priya Wagner, Managing Editor of Accessible Yoga blog and member of the Board of Directors.
° FOLLOW Accessible Yoga on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
° REGISTER here for our next conference.
° DONATE here to help us bring yoga to people who don't have access or have been underserved, such as people with disabilities, chronic illnesses, children with special needs, and anyone who doesn't feel comfortable in a regular yoga class.
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