Recalling Shiva: Shiva Sutra 3.45
The practices of yoga help us ‘recall’ or ‘recognize’ our true nature, meaning we are constantly forgetting who we are, and then using our practice to remember who we are. And this is no coincidence, as the power of Maya, illusion, is Shiva’s very real ability to cloak or conceal themself. When this occurs we must first realize we have forgotten our true nature, and then use our practice to remember it. And it is precisely this process of perceiving our true nature, forgetting it, and then recalling it that generates our spiritual growth— the text describes it like a spiritual flame that burns from the wood of worldly difference. When the flame goes out it doesn’t go back into the wood, just because we forget our true nature doesn’t mean we sink back down— our growth was real, but we have to keep growing. For me, this was the message of our final sutra, the teachings that spiritual growth is inherently a patient and persistent process, and that opening up to this perspective of it is critical for our growth.
As anyone knows, when you can’t remember something it can often feel like you don’t even know how to recall it, which is often how it feels when we are lost in a tension. And that’s why we practice everyday, we are actually practicing the ability to remember our true nature, so that we won’t forget it so quickly. I found it interesting how scientific studies on improving long term memory actually correspond to how we practice remembering our true nature.
For example, it is recommended to practice recalling a memory repeatedly in order to store it in your long term memory— instead of flash cards a yogi uses a Mala and mantra— repeating and recalling their true nature over and over again. Studies also recommended spacing out your recall sessions, just like we space our our morning and evening sits. The science of memory also notes that quizzing one’s self is critical to improving long term memory as it is the only way to expose our weak spots— I don’t know about you, but I find that my karmic arena is ‘pop quizzing’ me on an hourly or less basis! And it’s probably no surprise to learn that studies also show that the more you pay attention during the activity you want to remember, the better you will be able to recall it later— for a yogi this means the more you are present when you practice the more you will recall your true nature once your get up from your cushion. I was also excited to learn that studies show that exercising while you are learning actually improves one’s ability to recall a memory— for a yogi this could be using one’s practice ‘on the run’ so to speak during your day, or using one’s yoga practice on the mat to remember their true nature. And finally, sleep itself clears the slate and improves our ability to recall a memory, which has always been a reason the yogi lives a simple life— early to bed and early to rise opens opens a yogi’s heart skies.
Bring it Home
A Print-At-Home, Pocket-sized edition of class to support inner reflection