| Global Mala Matters By Jane Ralston Pahr
Global Mala matters . The spread of yoga in the last ten to fifteen years is phenomenal and a phenomena that those practicing for many years look upon with wonder, appreciation and a certain amount of chagrin. For me the Global Mala concept a prime example of something wonderful coming from the enthusiasm of Yoga's new generation. The message says you too can be a part of something grand, each small light is important. Global Mala, for those of you who may not have heard, is a call for yoga practitioners of whatever type to form a mala, a prayer necklace or chain, around the world by dedicating a practice to this concept of peace and union donating all proceeds to a chosen charity to show that Yoga makes a difference. The purpose of the Global Mala is to unite the global community from every continent, school or approach to form a "mala around the earth" through collective practices based upon the sacred cycle of 108 on Sept. 21st and 22nd, Fall Equinox as the yoga world's offering to further the UN International Peace Day. Each center offers their form of a Yoga Mala according to their yoga tradition and inspiration - The Global Mala concept is a prime example of something wonderful coming from the enthusiasm of Yoga's new generation wanting to spread the good word: Yoga is transformational. The message says you too can be a part of something grand, each small light is important and when we join together we illuminate. I wonder if people in other parts of the world look with a certain smile upon the American Yoga Movement. Recently a well known teacher made sweeping generalizations about the national character of various countries which while holding a grain of truth was strongly disputed when British people were described as less demonstrative of emotion. I personally know that the image of Italians as passionate people who speak with their hands and live a life of abundant romance is a holiday perception, especially if one is living as I do in Northern Italy. Having said that, I once asked a student to define what I had begun to perceive as deep differences in "world view" after living in Italy for a while. He said it;s all in 'la liberta', something which I've thought and written about a lot.. In America, you are brought up with the idea of freedom "to"whereas in Europe it is freedom "from" I questioned. , "Freedom to?" and he replied, "Yes, freedom to do or be whatever you want whereas we view freedom as freedom from some oppression or oppressor." Perhaps this is another over-generalization : In fact yoga promises liberation, both freedom to and freedom from both based in principles, the foremost of which is ahimsa- non-harming which might also translate as living in peace with one another... Global Mala in only one year has grown or been absorbed into Yoga Month and living abroad in Trieste, Italy I'm feeling a bit left out even though I signed on as a coordinator for my area. I don;t want to be a complainer. I love Global Mala and all it stands for . I hope that it continues and grows worldwide as a special dedicated sharing. I fear however that it is getting absorbed into something else which diffuses its message while seeking to disseminate Yoga. Sometimes the growth of Yoga in fact begins to make it look like a product to be distributed for good use rather than a process to be shared freely but with commitment. Freedom to rather than freedom from. Both, freedom from the oppression of whatever it is that separates us from knowing our true Self... worry, doubt , seeking, striving, needing and wanting rather than knowing being , seeing, sharing with freedom to thrive, grow and to know what is and is not essential to a fully expressed life... and being important isn't on the list., go on |