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| The Leela of Self-Knowledge |
Heartfelt thanks and congratulations to the dedicated Yogis and Yoginis at Yoga for Today in Sherwood Park who are the very first graduates of Meditation and Yoga Philosophy, Level One!
Jai to You!
It was such a joy and an honor to "play" teacher for you as you learned to read and write in Sanskrit, memorize the first nine Yoga Sutras, and explore the various paths of Yoga!
And it was sooooooo much fun playing Leela, The Game of Knowledge with you on Wednesday night as we celebrated our last class of the year together!
For those of you who don't know, Leela is a board-game created by the ancient Yogis to teach and illustrate the evolution of the soul as it migrates through the planes of existence and Samsara.
As children, without knowing its origins, many of us played a modern variation of this game known as Snakes and Ladders.
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| Snakes and Ladders, India, 19th Century |
It was such a blast playing, reflecting, and "reaching enlightenment" with you!
I look forward to seeing you again in January as we continue with Meditation and Yoga Philosophy, Level Two on Wednesday nights and repeat Level One on Tuesday mornings.
Last year, a friend who is a big fan of Bluegrass introduced me to the music of Jody Stecher and brought the song below to my attention.
I instantly recognized the ancient Yogic philosophy in the words and have been listening to it and singing it ever since.
Hmmm... must be time to figure out a version on the Shruti Box, huh! ;-)
In the meantime...
Enjoy!
Leela Leela
by Jody Stecher:
Leela Leela, this world is just a game,
Winners lose and losers win the game is still the same.
Leela, Leela, this life is just a play,
Those who say don’t know and those who know don’t say.
The eyes of the baby behold everything from under,
The eyes of the young man behold his lady’s face with wonder.
The eyes of the old man look upon the flowing river,
What of those whose eyes are one? They leave this wheel forever.
Leela Leela, this world is just a game,
Winners lose and losers win the game is still the same.
Leela, Leela, this life is just a play,
Those who say don’t know and those who know don’t say.
And where is the man who in his heart can really feel it?
Can he feel it in himself and then can he reveal it?
Then let him sit and sing and sail a flowing river,
Snakes and arrows cannot go where sound remains forever.
Oh, Leela Leela, this world is just a game,
God will not forget the one who sings His name.
Leela, Leela, this life is just a play,
Those who say don’t know and those who know don’t say.
How can a man accept life who has not accepted dying?
How can one achieve his purpose without ever trying?
How can a man have courage who cannot as well be tender?
He who wins the game is he who’s learning to surrender.
Oh, Leela Leela, this world is just a game,
Winners lose and losers win the game is still the same.
Leela, Leela, this life is just a play,
Those who say don’t know and those who know don’t say.
And where is the man who in his heart can really feel it?
Can he feel it in himself and then can he reveal it?
Then let him sit and sing and let his heart grow gladder,
Chant to God until the masquerade no longer matters.
Oh, Leela Leela, this world is just a game,
God will not forget the one who sings His name
Leela, Leela, this life is just a play,
Those who say don’t know and those who know don’t say.
Leela Leela, this world is just a game,
Winners lose and losers win the game is still the same.
Leela Leela, this world is just a game,
God will not forget the one who sings His name.
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