Paradox

I recently read an article about the seeming paradoxes found in highly creative people. There is a paradox between rest and activity. Creative types can remain intensely focused for long periods of time expending enormous amounts of energy on their discipline of choice and most report doing some type of physical activity on a regular basis. Yet, they also report spending long durations of time chilling out, doing nothing, resting and contemplating. Creative types are extroverted and love being on stage and being the center of attention. Yet, they also have periods of hermit like isolation and solitude. I am one of these types and I understand well the many faces and polarities of the personalities of creative artists. The paradoxes seem absolutely necessary for me. The activity and extroversion are facilitated by the resting and solitude.

Amit Goswami, a retired professor of quantum mechanics and a mystic, says that most people desire one polarity over the over- the act of doing or the act of being. Rather than being a type who likes to do, do, do or either a type who like to be, be, be- Amit says we are happier, like the artist, if we enjoy the dance of both- do be, do be, do be- some time spent doing and some time spent just being.

In Yoga, we ask you to build physical shapes, asanas, and in those shapes to engage opposing muscles groups in a balanced way. We say engage and enliven the muscles that you can. Yet, we also say relax and be calm and peaceful as you do this. These are seeming paradoxes. Yet, again the quiet mind we cultivate in Yoga actually facilitates the balancing of the forces in the pose. It is only when we are calm and peaceful that we able to explore the most physically demanding poses or sequences.

Find your Sthira- strength and stability in the pose. And find your Sukkha- comfort and ease. Enjoy the dance.
Do be do be do be!