Yoga is associated with the East, with India and its cultural identities of race, ritual and religion. Its ancient Vedic roots are often misperceived as mere Hinduism, while its deeper message is a universal truth. Yoga’s non-duality philosophy, a science of Universal Life Force and intelligent creation, is a fascinating quantum metaphysics, where the universe, and everything in it, is interconnected. Such yoga asks us to understand life from beyond the limitation of the popular image of yoga, orthodox science, religious beliefs systems.

The concept of East and West and its embedded realities are but one example of the multiple duality fragments and aspects of non-duality truth. In Yoga, creation and Creator is “All That Is”, a living system of consciousness. The differences become apparent in the kind of yoga where the human bodymind is the device and temple of the practices of conscious awareness, which includes the yin-yang of duality, also on a Creator-Creation level.

Shiva, the Hindu God, may then be an aspect of “God”, more importantly a masculine aspect balanced by Shakti, a nurturing feminine power. Such a Shiva-Shakti is symbolic and functional beyond religion, with Shiva the destroyer of ignorance, and regenerator of the understanding that holism overcomes the illusions of duality. Shakti is the creative energy or Spirit that births and forms Creation.

Knowledge and understanding of the creative dualities that work in pairs – as example the masculine-feminine aspects are represented as the Ida and Pingala of the yogic Sushumna Nadi, the central channel of Life Force Prana, the spine, in the bodymind.

Knowledge, and understanding of the wisdom of non-duality helps the seeker of bliss to penetrate beyond the layers of superficiality illusions. The adept yogi practice on both levels, a duality within a non-duality. Applied to meditation practice the adept finds quickened wisdom of consciousness.

This throws much light on the practice of Yoga as Union, a holistic duality. This whole, with its ebb and flow tides of balance of dualities, is beautifully illustrated by the yin-yang representation of nature and existence.

This yoga of understanding asks us to learn from life itself, beyond religion, ritual, and intellectual knowledge. We study and we do yoga, using logic, experience and enquiry. To connect with the non-dual bliss of the whole, the spark of Divinity, we have to go within, reach out for Divine guidance, and surrender to it.

Join my Turn on your Bliss with Yoga Intensive

7 Day 50 Hour advanced yoga teacher training and yoga practice appreciation.

Please contact me with your enquiries, or to book to ensure your place.

In service of Peace & Bliss
Johann
Muizenberg Beach
Cape Town
16 June 2018

The healing of war and conflict, global or personal, involve a mega constellation of powerful forces. Economically entire countries and industries are controlled by a small percentage of players who manipulate much of the money on the planet. We cannot wish it away or pretend it isn’t so. There is also not that much one may do about this. A vote or an online-petition or such action can make a difference, so does consumer pressure and debate, and voting. Yet democracy is as much of a problem as it is solution – hence the idea to avoid the institutionalised systems.

It is a human condition that is killling the planet. Or possibly the sense of futile resistance that plagues the struggle for fairness and balance. And a struggle it is, in the absence of support of a large community of people. And without the support of spirit. I’m talking God here. But not the god that both sides of the war claims to be on their side. In the Middle East there are two religious groups in direct, polar opposition. Both groups claim that they are right; about their religious beliefs, and what that entitles them to. Peace or agreements may be negotiated, that at best stalls further conflict, but it is a temporary peace, that of a drug addict without drugs, not an entity without the desire for the drugs.

It is useful to remember that consciousness – global consciousness of universal consciousness – is a force far greater than the money and power of of the war mongers. Conflict arise from duality. Rulers, war criminals and others who benefit from dualism rule the planet with divide and rule tactics. They know that fundamental, dualistic religious beliefs cause strife. They don’t want peace.

It is not much different in personal relationships. Lasting peace cannot be attained without resolving inner conflict. A conflict situation can be transformed when people are transformed. How does one reach out to another being, or to hundreds of thousands of people and their leaders, who already made up their minds and are closed to solutions?

Transformation through the power of the heart, and the power of consciousness. Big changes are possible through little things. Everything has to start somewhere, and starting with oneself is always wise.

“Light of All light”

An atmospheric, evocative cinematic soundscape with the title that hints at a metaphysical-spiritual notion that there is “a greater light” behind the “ordinary light” of the world. Go within, and be the change you want to see in the world. Read the blog here and listen

Peace Blessings, Johann, 23 June, 2017.

Nor the thinking mind nor the feeling heart on its own has the capacity for meaningful change. Fixing an unconscious world with thinking or emotional based solutions can’t work, such unconsciousness cannot be fixed with a broken, disconnected tool. Broken means “not whole”, it occurred in the first place by not paying the right attention to spirit and body. Listening to the heart and bodymind creates consciousness, a practical, spiritual holistic combination.

Some are cynical about spiritual solutions, but I’d rather be a bit naive than cynical. Some meditators on the other hand are quite militant about their discipline. While discipline is needed for meditation it is not a rigid hardness. That would stifle the inner wisdom, rather you are looking for a clear and firm awareness, to steer the thinking mind and emotions, in mindfulness, so that Real Self can rise, spontaneously, as consciousness.

Align with The Force! (See Blog)

ॐ OM Blessings
In Music & Yoga,
Johann
Cape Town,
26 January 2017.

Graphic design: J.K.

Join our monthly free community meditation events:

It is not complicated – but does require active participation 

Creating our well-being requires harmonious integration of all aspects of our, being, body, mind and spirit, and is really quite simple.

This is how you do it:

● firstly, you must do it, want to do it, and learn to do it
● learn and apply conscious breathing
● practice to be in the moment
● figure out how to release body stress

These skills are crucial to health. Everything else; nutrition, religion, philosophy, sport, etc, are of secondary importance.

Unlock, release and open up

To literally open up the body, mind and heart to life requires release of body stress, and the limiting emotions or thoughts and trauma that hold us back (and caused the body/life stress in the first place).

● My book Essentials of Effective Yoga shows you
how to improve Five Keys to Well-being: posture, breathing, and mobility, to release body stress (tightness) and encourage lifestyle integration of mindfulness  (the fifth key, including meditation) to start the ball of holistic personal evolution rolling. Start with body stress release relaxation (positions in the diagram).

Personal evolution on any level begins with self-knowledge, and skills development to make it happen. The process must include body or physical self, persona, true self (who we really are).

Changing life patterns can be uncomfortable physically, emotionally and mentally challenging. Transformation is a process: unlock, release (old patterns) and open up to a new cantered and expanded self.

Do it: transform with a 5 minutes a day practice

This only takes 5 minutes, to help you begin the day, every day, with a transformation process.

● A 2 minute meditation
Just sit, become aware of the breath, posture, the body, and the environment. Acknowledge yourself as a body, mind and spirit being, and breather, feel into your physical centre, and into that inner space of self.
● 1 minute soft dog stretch (3rd posture in Easy Flow Sequence)
● 1 minute knee hug or reclining leg hug or stretch. See all 3 pictures at my do-able/restorative yoga blog and read the blog while at it
● 1 minute power pose with deep, calming, motivating and energising breathing. Ground yourself in the body, in the world reality, work up fire, focus and stamina.
● occasional longer conscious nidra relaxation to Improve Alignment

Engage and put Life in your Lifestyle

This a conscious evolution. And a revolution in consciousness on the planet for those making healing a conscious choice and requires continuous, active engagement in the process of body, mind and spirit alignment.

There is tremendous healing potential when we alignment our body parts with another, and fuel it with effective breath for increased oxygen, and a conscious connection with the life force, Prana. Commitment to live with integrity, applying holistic principles to everyday living, including take care of ourselves, and our environment, as best as we can, is living spiritually.

Alignment

One may think of this as an alignment (alliance) of local planetary and cosmic/universal forces.

The following word diagram suggests a useful line of awareness:

Body symmetry > alignment of all scaffolding/skeletal systems e.g.. hips and shoulders to the spine, feet to ankles and legs
Organ systems > e.g. effective breathing reduces heart stress while improving circulation when combined with movement that also improves cardio digestive health, nourishing systemic cardio vascular health
Metaphysical or energetic-phuysical cause-and-effect health > healthy emotions and thoughts stimulates physical health
Know who you are > a sense of self and striving to live in a way that is conducive to holistic self growth is possibly one of biggest contributions one can make to life on earth
Connect, consciously, body, mind, spirit > all life and on planet happens in the same eco system. The body utilise “earth” energy and Prana in various layers of refinement sustain and nurture life with combinations of food and life force.

Chakras!

Next level Prana intake is via the chakras (food is the basic level). The yoga system is based on practices that enhance healing of the chakra system.

Get in the flow

Life force energy flow directly into the chakras and inspiration and passion are important. The greater aim is to get energy into the body, and encourage its flow within.

● do Integral Yoga to develop agility (relative strength and suppleness) and charge yourself with a substantial life force energy
● attend yoga and meditation classes, and establish a regular (5 minute) home practice
● include therapeutic yoga in your practice and add complimentary therapies such as cranio-sacral to help you
● pursue health and happiness with like minded people; join a discussion (satsang) group or get a coach, or friend to coach you

Summon energy and seal within with advanced yoga

Getting into the flow, and stimulating a stronger intake of energy with pranayama and meditation further advances yoga when mudras and bandhas are applied. These techniques seals in the life force, to provide as stronger “sense of self” and improve physical capacity.

Seek understanding

In addition to body knowledge is the passion to seek understanding of self and all reality, the “visible and invisible”. Life is both tangible and metaphysical – for example what is the energy that powers the body, and why are different states of mind experienced as different frequencies or consciousness. Find out who you are – I often write long posts on Self-realisation.

Surrender

The life force, everything that provides life to us on the planet, is far more powerful than we are. Gravity, the sun, a black hole, these are all forces so mighty we can hardly comprehend. Yet human beings are capable of tremendous feats of power. But all of life and life’s actions it takes place in, and from, the living body. Local life and the cosmic world or universe display signs of interconnectedness, or consciousness, should one be open to objective observation. Whatever whoever “thinks or do’s” it makes sense to align holistically with All That Is.

Divine Essence & Soul Purpose

Happiness is to let go of what we think we need in order to be happy, and find it in the now. This is not a rejection of anything, or an excuse to give up a goal or sink in mediocrity. It is rather a practice of going within to connect with one’s inner peace, and with gratitude accept circumstances, at the moment of practice, as is. In there you will find who you are and your divine essence. Such centredness is a demonstrable truth – to oneself – when meditating in the present, in the now. Living from here is the soul purpose of a conscious being.

It sure takes take time and effort, and it sure is, in the long run, the richest blessing available on the planet.
Take it easy, but take it.

ॐ OM Vibrations
Johann, Muizenberg, Cape Town
19 December 2016

PS Some Yoda Yogi Fun

“For my ally is the Force, and a powerful ally it is. Life creates it, makes it grow. Its energy surrounds us and binds us. Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter. You must feel the Force around you; here, between you, me, the tree, the rock, everywhere, yes. Even between the land and the ship.”

PSS The creator of Yogi Yoga and The Force in Star Wars on success. The movies itself of course are all very yogi like

ॐ
In OM & Yoga
Johann Kotze Music & Yoga

The chakras are an interface of vortex-like portals between the body and the Life Force. Seven major chakras are stacked from the root of the spine, along the trunk, to the crown of the head,  each chakra connected to a specific anatomical centre i.e. heart or pineal and pituitary. They are an energetic bridge between Prana and body, feeding Life Force into the endocrine-, nervous- and meridian systems. Each chakra presents a physical, mental and emotional aspect. Knowledge and understanding of this incredible aspect of the human being leads to deeper yoga and meditation practice and perspective.

Our chakras, the Life Force and our lives

Chakras are anatomical and energetic gateways that receive & radiate Prana. We don’t see this energy in the ordinary visual sense, but can observe how it expresses in the body. Feeling and body language, or state of mind, physically affects the vibrations that are felt or sensed. Prana not only enters and animate us via food and air, it also enters the body via the chakras. Anger or peace are examples of different qualities we may embody, both of which are expressions of the same energy by virtue of which we were born. “How we feel” shapes our lives, much like the quality of the food we eat, the thoughts we think, and our environment, form us.

The magnificent chakra essence of yoga

The chakras reveal the magnificent essence of yoga as a body, mind and spirit practice. A thorough understanding of the Life Force and Yoga helps us manage how Prana manifest in us, in the physical realm, to prepare for non-attachment to the ordinary world, and experience our divine essence – consciousness. Combined practice of yoga, with its material and mystical, or metaphysical aspects, is built into yoga asana, pranayama and meditation techniques. The significance of such yoga is practical and energetic: to clear, balance and charge each chakra as a part of our everyday functionality and cosmic spirituality.

In yoga meditation the mind and emotions are stilled and the body is engaged

Awareness of how the universal Life Force flows into us, and within us, awakens us to “consciousness”. Such mindfulness is entrained, like one may develop muscle by exercise. An integral connection to one’s biology, spirituality, character, characteristics, relationships, creativity, productivity, and a connection to the cosmic whole come into view with investigation of our life and being – in context of and via – the chakra system:

●  7. Sahasrara – Crown
●  6. Ajna – Third Eye
●  5. Vishudha – Throat
●  4. Anahat – Heart
●  3. Manipura – Solar Plexus
●  2. Svadhisthana – Belly
●  1. Muladhara – Root

Exploring the chakras is a journey of local and cosmic evolution, that, like all journeys, begin with a first step.

Johann Kotze,
Yours in Yoga,
Cape Town,
September 2016.

Related Chakra Blogs 

●  Chakra Mantra to Activate Divine Essence
●  OM Potency & Your Divine Essence
●  Healing the Chakras 
●  Chakra Workshops Cape Town 

Additional comments

We rely on our “sense of consciousness” to experience consciousness. And to “sense” God. This may be what is meant by some that human beings are made in the image of God. This may in turn suggest consciousness is awareness of itself, as a Divine Reflection. Can we conclusively “think” or reason and prove this to be true? No – we don’t know any facts in this picture, we are not looking at a body that can be dissected, or a reality that can be understood by linear thinking alone.

In such metaphysics we are relying on awareness of our inner world for our navigation. Thinking is a small aspect of our capacity, in yoga we may tune in to a picture that cannot be understood by thinking alone. and of the world, just like the ordinary body is temporal, of the world. The mundane body and ordinary logic is unaware of its Divine magnificence. The super-luminal body is consciousness, rendered self-aware, in the body.

Such a light body soul is aware of spirit. This “soul” is an individual energy of an individual human being, spirit the cosmic energy of “everything”. From here we can postulate that we are alive in the body, and in conscious awareness, “bodymind”. Consciousness is the most direct connection to the Source of the Divine. Therefore meditation is the state most closely associated to awakened consciousness. We are spirit, and amongst other things, God is spirit too.

The chakra system connects the individual soul to spirit. On a gross physical plain food is second hand energy, although it is a manifestation of the Life Force (Prana), the Source of All. The breath is more ethereally connected to Prana. This is the esoteric (hidden) meaning of the chakra healing the way I understand it; opening the seven energy seals and harmonising them with another activates the bodymind in connection and perception of All That Is.

This is why the chakra system is a direct portal to Prana. In this picture “God is consciousness” and the limited mind can comprehend this as “reasonable”. It may then understand itself as a bodymind, a non-duality, that contains space-time, and not limited by space and time. ” All D”, so to speak, beyond 3D. It awakens to the Life Force, realising “as within, so without”.

This is perhaps why there is a sense of Love, Light and Eternal Peace that unfold in states of inner and outer attunement. True freedom fortunately exists within us, we only have to go there, and develop the means to go there, and surrender our self will to Greater Self. Let go, let God…

This is the path of self-realisation, not only in yoga, although yoga is particularly well suited to attain a conscious bodymind “meditation” state.

Why is this beautiful conscious reality not happening in this beautiful world?

We are simply not taught to explore this stuff in the mainstream world. Fortunately “light body ability” is programmed into our DNA. The expertise is available, but it has to be discovered, and activated by exercising free will. Liberation requires going within, inner awareness.

Mainstream education is “commercial”. It propagates mainstream science and religion, it can be clever, have a little heart or appear to have heart, but usually, or at deeper consideration, it fails to evoke self-reflection and invite objective discourse or teach originality or independence. Mainstream education “fails” to realise self because it serves the system. The system fails because it is ultimately neither intelligent in a natural sense, nor has heart, in the spiritual sense. It does not promote individuation, it is based on rationalisation, which is more about control than love; with lots of rules and principles, little caring, compassion and unconditional acceptance.

And the “current world” is based in competition. One winner; everyone else, losers, serving the system, based on commerce, the commercial value of its peoples, societies blinded by the game it is enslaved into.

There where there is a spark of the Divine, there is the grail. Kindle and nurture the spark, and follow its trail.

25 April 2017.

The sound of the universe, the tone of all that is 

The OM symbol and sound mantra connects practitioner with the seed-sound essence of the universe and the Godhead. It is an ancient incantation symbolising the origin of creation, and the underlying one-ness of everything in it. A hum-drone is formed on the exhale, which is, of course, made possible by an inhale. The yogi literally breathes life into the sound: A-U-M.

The inhale is in itself a conscious connection to the life force, Prana, the “fabric” of the universe. So it is that the OM or AUM is the most powerful of all mantras. The vibration of “all that is” is eternal, without birth or death, and as it resonates within us. Yet its mysteries cannot be penetrated by the limitations of the human understanding or the thinking mind.

Meditation on OM reveals the Sacred, Infinite Mind

Awesome OM-ness: a simple, powerful practice

The graphic design above depicts the Sacred Geometry Vibrations of the OM Symbol and Merkeba Meditation Pyramid. Utilise your a visualisation and be guided or inspired by the two recordings of the OM on this page.  Chant with, or just allow the sound to wash over and through you. Visualise how it helps awaken your innate light body wisdom. Then sit in silent meditation for a few minutes, observing the breath, in the body, the inhale a gift, the exhale in awareness of consciousness or the life force within. Wonder in gratitude and in awareness of the awesome magnificence of your being – body, mind and spirit.

Repeat the practice regularly, with the recordings, or create your own AUM sound, and chant it to create your own vibrations with voice and body, or silently.

Art & production notes: The original pyramid graphic behind the OM symbol and cosmic design on by Nyako Nakar.
I first recorded the “unplugged” A-U-M Chant and remixed the OM Dub version at the top of the blog from it. The remix has a radical sound design to quickly propel the listener right into the zone. Play it loud! A third slightly different version of the unplugged OM is in this video on my Youtube channel.

Blessings of Awesome OM-ness,
Johann Kotze Music & Yoga
Cape Town
25 May 2016