One of the primary motivations for the creation and ongoing development of BTGY has been to translate and produce authentic yoga practices into the modern world. We speak about this a lot, as we feel it is very important to keep a clear and transparent container on this vision.
Over the years as our yoga school came into formal establishment, our opinions have changed as far as the role of a teacher, and the different qualities that these persons may or may not require for yoga to be transmitted effectively. We understand that just the concept of teacher-student points to an ever-evolving, dynamic relationship between two people. Thus we approach this subject carefully. How do we define the role of the teacher? What constitutes a worthy ‘teaching’? What should/ should not the student do when approaching these considerations? Allow us to unpack this further.
The Inner Teacher
Our first intention is to reinforce the concept that there is truly only One guru, also known as the Adiyogi (first Yogi), or otherwise spoken of as the illuminated inner silence that we all approach during meditation. It is the connection to that inner silence where the Truth becomes known. “Be still and know that I am God.” There is One guru is the sense that for everyone, it is the same. No matter the teacher or teaching, the Source of the realization had arisen from within the aspirant. It is this awakening to self-evident Truth that is a hallmark for our spiritual path. Another Biblical reference here is “seek first the kingdom of God.” What, or where is the Kingdom? We propose that it could only ever be in one place - inside. Or, for a Vedic reference, “Truth is One; the wise call it by many names.” Although it is not our interest to burden the reader with unnecessary information, it may be relevant to consider these concepts. If it resonates in some way, work with it. If it doesn’t, leave it aside and move on. Another key intention here is that any ‘teaching’ is not meant to be unnecessarily cumbersome, or require overly mechanical or intellectual processes. This is a perfect segue into our second point, which we touched briefly in the previous sentence.
Reduce, do not add
Our second intention is that, the role of the teacher is not to clutter a student’s mind with the strain of unnecessary mental effort. If a chief aim of yoga sadhana is to liberate the human soul (jivā) from the mind’s constant fluctuations (vrttis), then giving too much information can be counterproductive to the student’s spiritual advancement. Playing off the first point, with a teacher really embodying an understanding that the inner guru reigns supreme, there should be no need for complicated or fancy teachings or practices. We suggest that simpler is better, and our theory behind why simplicity often gets conflated with complexity may be due to the lack of proper quality practice efforts from teachers. This is not necessarily the teacher’s fault - it is the fault of a system where we have marketed and effectively commoditized spiritual practices into ‘things’ that are sexy and attractive. Thus, due to the demand and the real need for food on the table, teacher-practitioners become ‘sell-outs’ , in the sense that the current system is squeezing dry the original sincerity out of that seeker’s sādhāna. We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again - the path forward to real and true human spiritual evolution is found not through digging a bunch of holes in different places, it is found through digging a hole in one place. This is not an attempt to funnel people into the BTGY ‘system’, if there was one, but we must all become clear about the principles that support actual advancement on the spiritual path. This IS the science of self-realization, and there are neurobiological effects that we must work with as well as neural groves (patterns, samskāras) in our nervous system that have to be necessarily purified in order for our mindbody system to perceive directly the true nature of consciousness: the Self. We inherently know that this is true, because we mostly understand that real, lasting rewards do not come easily. Therefore, we must be willing to work. The trouble that arises with this paradigm is that our mind will play all sorts of tricks to distract us as we deepen in our inner purification. This leads us to constantly seek new teachings, new information, new practices. This is paradoxical, in the sense that all yoga practices as true, self-initiated efforts towards liberation will bring us “there”. We have that age old saying “all roads lead to Rome”. Yet, we never stay on one long enough to get “there”! The problem is often that we don’t have enough faith in any one particular road, so we dabble.
Developing Discernment
Which brings us to our third intention. The teachings themselves. Who are we to decide what is effective and what is not? How is any teacher ever made to be verifiable as far as the efficacy of their offerings? Can we develop discernment to see who is or isn’t providing something that will truly transform our normal human condition into something beyond? Or are we just all spiritual materialists selling temporary highs that wear off, and bring us back to pay for the next workshop, the next offering, the next , the next , the next...? This is a big one for us, as we have spent a great chunk of time traveling and practicing yoga with teachers from all over the world. There are many different systems and lineages of which we can take part, and certainly all of them have a purpose. Drawing again from our first point, if we trust the inner guru, we can never be steered wrong. There IS juice to squeeze in all systems. Perhaps some of that juice is even to recognize the invalidity, or to observe the inauthenticity, to use it appropriately as an inner reflection, and thus, ideally, we alchemize our judgment into a personal medicine to give us more authenticity towards our own path.
If we were to propose One Great teaching, which transcends all others, we would assert this: Love. That’s it. We can quickly dissolve the excess spiritual jargon and chakra balancing this and third-eye awakening that into a practical and extremely powerful singular objective. We discover our connection to divinity through this simple expression - Love. And as we discover this connection, a link or a yoke (yoga) is established, and the path becomes clear. The what and the how become clear. Everything that is unlove will be revealed, and this is our spiritual food. We ask that the aspirant remain nourished by triggers, by moments of despair, by fear, by doubt. These are powerful energetic spaces. If everything the masters and the inner guru tells us is true, that we are an infinite being temporarily housed in a human body, then everything that triggers us to make us believe in the small self, that we are limited, is removing us from our true identity. This is not meant to be a riddle, and the more we wrestle with its truth, the more we can observe the mind in all of its guises attempting to somehow ‘make it work’. Remember that yoga is about freeing the mind. We aren’t here to give ourselves more work in that category! Becoming a yogi is a process of dis-identification with all that is limiting and re-membering all that is Eternal.
Approach it scientifically
We strive only to support the best practices - simple techniques and methods - that, with consistency and deliberate effort, we can experience for ourselves what ‘freeing the mind’ means. We’re not here to impose controls, to work from the top down, to create spiritual hierarchies, or to sell advanced systems of practice. We understand that the teacher and student is one in the same, that one CANNOT exist without the other. There would be no teaching if there were no one to teach! It is a mutual exchange. Thus, we intend that our ‘teachings’ be logically reducible, easy to understand and convey, and primarily comprised of sincerely helpful methods and processes to support us in arriving at our own conclusions. We are asserting here that the only way to make true spiritual advancement, to nudge the needle of consciousness towards evolution, is that we work together. This elicits feedback from the group and requires collaboration. It is a science experiment, and we are spiritual scientists.
We ask and encourage each individual to constantly apply their better judgment and to use appropriate discernment when it comes to these matters. Each person is a Universe unto themselves, and their very own master. With that said, we must be willing to recognize our errors in perception. They are often the reason we end up chasing our own tails. For example, it can be difficult to distinguish between an intuitive knowing and the trigger from an unresolved trauma. Which is why we are after tried-and-true methodologies and processes by which we can objectify our spiritual progressions. This will help us, especially when it comes to becoming unattached to these methods. We instead strive to establish a deeper understanding behind, and relationship to, the key ingredients for success in our individual spiritual path. As the methods (recipe) may change with time, given our progression, but we want assurance that the ingredients will remain the same. Which is a good thing, because the ingredients come from inside of each of us. They are: enthusiasm, perseverance , discrimination, faith, courage, and the right team. With the appropriate quantity and quality of each, they will keep us moving in the right direction. To carry the analogy forward - we learn to cook a simple recipe (learning a simple method) with a few key ingredients. Over time, as we refine our processes, the recipe might change, but we had to start learning how it all fit together before we began to modify. We are talking about mastery over the most advanced piece of technology (that we know of) in the whole Universe - the human mind and nervous system.
Please note: we are not here to cheerlead each other and further crystallize our already established belief systems, empowering our egos, and creating an even deeper divide. If we’re after the truth, we must be willing to face even our most well-rooted ideals. Find a group that supports this and you will go far.
Closing Thoughts
Beware of those that hold claims about rightness or fixed ideologies. As such, the role of the teacher and the teaching is to be as open and transparent as possible. Nothing can be kept hidden, and the best practices will always be carried forward over time. The old ways are constantly dying and being reborn. Yoga is an ever-evolving and morphing system that deals with human spiritual transformation. It is all happening right now! In the realm of consciousness, nothing is set in stone. There may even be principles that become a ground to stand on for some time, and eventually even these will be released. Once we see everything as a part of us, even the necessity for morality and other anthropomorphized human concepts can be discarded. Until then, we must decide for ourselves how we are going to walk this path. The guru is inside. Don’t overcomplicate things, but DO practice. Love is the highest teaching. Proceed accordingly.
May all sincere seekers awaken to the Truth of their own being. OM, namaste 🙏
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