If you read my previous post about the current conflicts between some British Clergy and the Indian Yoga Community you might already know I was confused as to why there is not more tolerance on both sides. You can read that post here.
Or keep leaning toward the light and positive efforts of Father Joe Pereira who is working to build bridges between Yoga and Catholicism. Go Father Joe! Read that news here.
In my Yoga Teacher Training at Kripalu, one of my lead instructors often infused her lessons with teachings of Christ, the Buddha, David as well as Hindu scriptures and deities.
One of the Yoga Teachers who assisted in the training was a Nun who resides in a nearby convent. She had been through the Kripalu Yoga Teacher Training herself and shared her lovely gifts with her sisters there. We were certainly not taught to be missionaries of any individual faith but to be promoters of wellness of the body, mind and spirit without discrimination.
Having a Nun participating in my training was an interesting exprience for me. As I was not raised with much exposure to Catholicism. Admittedly, at first sight of her full black and white habit I was a bit intimidated by her presence. I was not sure how to behave or what ettiquette would be appreciated. Very innocently, I of course wondered things like, how she would handle shoulderstand in her robes or if she was allowed to have physical contact with us.
The experience certainly built a bridge of understanding for me. After many days in close company and contact with her. I learned she was not as mysterious as I initially thought. Instead she was warm, approachable, caring and had a really great sense of humor that freely came up in her Yoga classes. To her credit I learned some excellent variations of Sun Salutation for Chair Yoga. When we said goodbye she invited all of the students to visit her and her sisters at their convent.
The gift I received from my exposure to Catholicism during my Teacher Training was a lifting of my own cloudy veil of mystery. Thank you Sister for sharing your time and heart! Thank you Father Joe Pereira for your efforts to build bridges instead of rifts. For all of these efforts we can all share more community.
Thank you Diana Damelio – co-leader in my Teacher Training for often reminding us that the next coming of the Buddha was believed to be “Community”.
