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Discussion Forum: General Discussion: Iyengar Yoga:
Godzilla lives

pascal
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Dec 3, 2004, 12:22 PM

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Godzilla lives	Can't Post

Hello, happy yogis Smile

.
As you know, science divides ou beloved brain in three parts : the "reptilian brain" (dinosaurs had it, and we still have it : instincts,short term memory , sex, survival, immediate environment reaction ; feeding, fighting, etc...) ; the "paleomammal brain", covering the first one (cats and dogs have it too : emotions , learning ability, long term memory) and the "cerebral cortex" covering the last one (only humans have it : language, logic, intuition, ...). . If i am not wrong : Yoga acts on the paleommamal brain when it stabilizes emotions ; and make possible ,the direct communication between our soul and the universe via the cerebral cortex. So.... what happens with the good old reptilian brain? Shocked

well, gentlemen, it's still there, the most advanced yogi keep the same good old lizard brain that makes all the advanced form of life in this planet quite the same when it refers to their most basic instincts Crazy

. a good lesson of humility for all of us Unimpressed

. ( I know some people here are going to hate that Tongue

)

(This post was edited by pascal on Dec 3, 2004, 12:27 PM)

DamienL
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Dec 4, 2004, 7:24 PM

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Re: Godzilla lives [In reply to]	Can't Post

I don't necessarily agree that the most advanced yogi still have a reptilian brain. A theme of the Gita is that we are not in essence these physical bodies; yet are something larger and more expansive. While we shouldn't ignore the physical part of reality that we are confronted with; we also are better off not to assume it to be superior.
I am beginning to be of the opinion that I feel Sri Aurobindo outlines in Synthesis of Yoga. As I understand it he saw that the purpose of Yoga was to draw into the physical reality the quality of the divine. He didn't see the world as bondage and something that needed escape from in the form of liberation. The work to be done is to quicken our evolution by the deliberate practice of Yoga.

Throughout time nature has evolved to manifest a greater degree of consciousness. As humans we share many characteristics of the animal kingdom which includes the reptilian brain. Unlike animals though we have a greater ability to not be subject to the impulses of this ancient brain. As an example we are able to curb the desire for sex and food. To advance our evolution he encourages us to turn the energies and functions of this basic mind towards the divine or call down the divine to work in the lower areas. The practice of meditation(asana,pranayama) is useful in this endeavour, and of course we must be humble and sincere in our efforts.

pascal
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Jan 15, 2005, 1:07 PM

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Re: Godzilla lives [In reply to]	Can't Post

naturally, our life is not under the coaching of the reptilian brain , well... for most of us anyway Tongue

; but this part of our nature is essential because it is the place where all our survival reflexes are stocked : if you have the fire in the wood where you are jogging, it will make you stress and run much faster than you could imagine Shocked

, and help save your life; so it is not useless ; but it does not mean that you live under the permanent control of it Angelic

. world is not a perfect and peaceful place, i wish it would be, but it is not; so sometimes, when it is becoming more or less a wargame, it is good to have a little bit of a tyrex brain somehere in our nature Wink

.

(This post was edited by pascal on Jan 15, 2005, 1:08 PM)

Nadia
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Jan 16, 2005, 2:25 AM

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Re: Godzilla lives [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi,

I don't know much about the brain, but from a cultural studies perspective there are a few main instinctive emotions ingrained in humans, and others that are cultural. Fear and love (or attachment) are two of those that are crucial to our survival, whereas shame is something that appears only within a culture. I agree with what Pascal is saying about the reptillian brain, but I don't know much about it. However looking at it from a cultural studies point of view helps to show that basic and primitive human emotions are not bad, but in fact necessary, and that perhaps it's all the other emotions (like shame, etc) which help regulate these emotions and keep them in check. Or the other parts of the brain give us the logic to control the primitive emotions of the reptillian brain. However, like everything in cultural studies, all of this is arguable, it's just one way of looking at it.

lotusbud
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Feb 21, 2005, 9:57 AM

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Re: God-zilla lives [In reply to]	Can't Post

I heard a discussion about 'brain or mind' on the internet by the Dalai Lama,a neuro scientist and a brain surgeon and it was interesting how his holiness pointed out that each of them referred to either the brain or mind.
The surgeon + scientist researched the brain and his holiness research as the mind which the neoro scientist seem to express more of an interest than the brain surgeon however these are different aspects as Nadia has explained its a different way of looking at it.
The nuero scientist further asked the Dalai Lama how did they ever manage to map the mind or brain as shown in very old Tibetan illustrations when their was no scientific apparatus or machinery like we have today?
The Dalai Lama replied that the monk who created these illustrations could map the mind through meditation.
I guess when we practice yoga we meditate with asana to map our inner selves in action.
Maybe many of us are not practising monks on retreat in a monastery and find ourselves distracted once in a while but im sure the yoga practice keeps our journey in the right direction and a chance to map ourselves.

Shyam23
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Feb 23, 2005, 2:07 AM

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Re: God-zilla lives [In reply to]	Can't Post

The Dalai Lama has a favourite food of hamburgers.
He is therefore not his holiness.
The first principle of yoga is non violence.
Sorry to mention this but there are so many people who are sincere in their wish to follow the yoga path and may be misled by those who do not but claim themselves to be 'god-men'. See my home page for more details. A simple internet search typically uncovers lots.
Best wishes to you all
Shyam Kalki Mehta
www.lovingheartcentre.net
The Loving Heart Centre
www.lovingheartcentre.net

lotusbud
Regular

Nov 20, 2005, 2:40 PM

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Re: Holiness [In reply to]	Can't Post

Shyam
I have practiced from your book for a while and it has been a great help to my yoga practice.
I bow with palms together with gratitude.

I quickly looked at your website 'the Loving Heart Center' this is a beautiful name for a center.

As regards to your comment of His Holiness the Dalia Lama and your quote "god-men" , i further looked at the meaning in the Oxford dictionary:
Holiness is discribed as
1 the state of being holy
2 (his/your Holiness)the title of the Pope,orthodox patriarchs, and the Dalia Lama.

I believe their are many Holy people on this earth matriarchs and all which is contrary to the dictionary.

The Dalia Lama has spoken wisely to all the people listening to him in another discussion with encouragement to continue their own, each and every individual practise and belief system which may not necessarily be Buddhism.

For me this was a relief to hear no divisions between belief systems

I love listening to teachings that give me valuable guidance.

I love to practice Iyengar Yoga,Guruji and Geetaji and Prashantji are wise and loving and their teachings are so valuable.

And I am fortunate enough to recieve these teachings including yours Shyam.

Love Peace and Happiness

(This post was edited by lotusbud on Nov 20, 2005, 3:24 PM)

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