From The Archive: Mark at The Omega Institute  

This episode is a recording of a talk Mark Whitwell gave at the Omega Institute in New York in 2008. He speaks of Reality itself as an intelligent nurturing force, like a mother. Yoga is our direct participation in this nurturing reality, not an effort to achieve some future spiritual goal. 

 

This episode is a dharmic reset-reminder of yoga as participation in union, merging strength and receptivity just as we came into being ourselves through the union of our parents. Mark encourages listeners to see that any pain or difficult circumstance in life is ultimately healing and rebalancing when embraced fully. The practice of yoga reconnects us to the fact that we are cared for, no matter what arises.

 

Quotes:

 

- "Looking for God implies God is absent."

- "The more charming or logical a teacher is, the more they'll delude you into thinking you are less and have to get somewhere." 

- "Spiritual language implies you're not already there and have to attain something."

- "Relate to the life in people rather than labeling something as evil."

- "Mother is here. You are utterly cared for."

- "This pain is healing. My pain is nurturing."

- "On the mat is my complete intimacy with reality. I can now go off the mat and do it."

Timestamps:

 

4:00 - Discussing reality as nurturing force

8:00 - Pain as healing 

15:00 - Promising a daily yoga practice 

27:00 - Relating to pain and healing

38:00 - Reality appearing as you 

58:00 - Closing discussion