the studies of yoga and ayurveda invite us to explore the five elements of nature: space, air, fire, water, and earth. ultimately, everything of the material world is comprised of a combination of all five elements. creation, survival, and destruction are dependent upon how these elements function in relation to one another. in order for an organism to thrive or even to survive, it must maintain a particular but ever changing balance of elemental properties. the specifics of which are unique to each organism in it’s time and place. having a practice that includes emphasis on embodied awareness and experiential wisdom as two of its many access points, opens up pathways to explore balance/imbalance in regards to our own shifting elemental nature. this includes our relationship with the environment that supports and is a part of who we are. if we observe and explore seeing clearly all of our qualities, both active and dormant, we may cultivate a more compassionate and balanced way of navigating through the world. there are tools to do so.
the three focal points of our particular practice are: breathing, gazing point, and posture. the gazing point or drshti is representative of the fire element. asana (posture) practice is, for many of us, an opportunity to take our attention inward and to have some part of our day involve withdrawing our senses from the business of outside. so, why not close our eyes during practice? i’ve done it as an experiment and it was pretty awesome and i was totally blissed out! BUT during our practice with eyes open, we’re inviting the light and stimulation it brings in through our senses. this requires of us to stay present to some degree with what is, not shut it out or get caught up in what we see in front of us. it asks that our body/mind organism recognize that there is an outside, but that it’s possible for that to exist while staying focused on and in touch with what’s inside. in other words, the gaze isn’t a grasping one, but rather there’s a strong component of allowance. i will allow the outside to be there. i will even allow it’s illuminating qualities in through my eyes, but i won’t attach to it, judge it, compare myself to it, reach for it, or shove it away. how to be in and involved with the fire element, without getting burned…without allowing the mind to ignite and color the experience of presence. if this practice is truly to function as mind medicine, i believe cultivating a gaze that is engaged yet simultaneously at rest is a powerful tool to utilize towards that end. having a morning ritual that allows one to become vulnerable to the interplay of outside/inside, self/other can be an excellent way to enter into the yoga of worldly life. when we move towards harnessing the power of the tools we use, in this case our gaze, we take a step towards minimizing and transcending the grip they often have on us.
each posture has a specific gazing point. ask if you have a question about one of them, and when in doubt, look down the sides of your nose. that’s the most common one. be aware (not a thinking thing) of the quality of mind when the eyes wander as opposed to when they are still.