Seane Corn, a yoga teacher known for her spiritual style, describes “otherness" as one source of our misery. "Otherness" is what we do when we separate ourselves from others. It's the "us and them" syndrome, the source of blaming and ostracizing. It is the belief that THAT other person is different from us, that we are right and they are wrong. "Otherness" is the source of unresolved conflicts, tension, and to a larger scale, war.
Letting go of “otherness” starts with being aware we even do it. How often do we blame others? How often do we create personas of others that only highlights what we perceive is their negative side? My own experience has taught me this insight: what I project to others is usually the same feeling I unconsciously project to myself. When I am joyful, I presume others are too. And the opposite holds true.
What we think of others is more a reflection of us, than them.
In yoga, we breathe deeply and explore the poses we are in. We try to focus inward and feel the awe in what’s simple: the sensation of our feet touching the ground, the stretch on our legs, and the reach of our arms. It is in this meditative state, we connect with our inner self. Through time, a regular yoga practice generates inner calmness and peace, which generates kindness and compassion for ourselves; which allows us to give the same compassion to others.
Imagine a world where peace starts with our own selves. As we allow self-kindness, compassion and forgiveness to nurture, we find it easier to give the same to others. And as others witness this, they give it back to us and more.
And that’s the cycle of love…
The cycle of love begins with us.
What has your experience been?