A couple of days ago, when I stepped outside, I could feel the warmth of the sun on my face and the air was still. I realized I was wearing too many layers and happily peeled off my scarf and unzipped my jacket. It was such a beautiful day!  And then the next morning…

I opened my curtains and it was pouring rain, windy and cold again. I could feel myself retreating inwards – both into the warmth of my apartment and the disappointment I felt within. That one sunny, warm day gave me hope of spring and the return of more winter-like weather dashed those hopes. I had to remind myself that this is normal for the spring transition of winter into summer…even if there’s a part of me that doesn’t like it. In this moment, duality was limiting my mind and increasing my suffering.

The material world we live in is dictated by duality. Everywhere there are opposites that, even though seem at odds, can’t exist without the other. Summer and winter, hot and cold, positive and negative, day and night. It’s easy for the mind to focus on the opposites, like a seesaw, we go up and down feeling anything but peace. The view is narrow with the opposites as the only choice. 

WIDEN YOUR VIEW, FIND CHOICES

When we zoom back to examine the opposites, it becomes apparent that they are actually two ends of a spectrum. A spectrum that has many possibilities between the two opposites. With this awareness, the mind can open up to see a wider view and can have a choice of its perspective.

I want to explore this duality with this pair of opposites: Stability and Mobility. These two physical movement possibilities are present in all layers of being human. Stability and mobility are an important exploration when practicing asanas – the yoga postures. And, they can also help deepen our understanding of Self. Here are the 5 layers of being human from the Panchakosha (5 sheath) Model: 

• Physical (Anamaya Kosha)
• Energy / Vitality  (Pranamaya Kosha)
• Emotions & Thoughts (Manomaya Kosha)
• Belief/ Intellect (Vijnanamaya Kosha)
• Unconditional Bliss Body/ Subtle Body (Anandamaya Kosha)

 

THE SPECTRUM OF OPPOSITES: STABILITY & MOBILITY

First, we need to define these two ends of the spectrum of movement. 100% stability means rigid, no movement, solid, firm. I think of ice or a concrete wall. 100% mobility means flexible, movement, gaseous, soft. What comes to my mind is wind.  What comes to your mind when you think of 100% stability and 100% mobility? Let those images be your ‘anchors’ on either end of the movement spectrum.

I invite you to let go of ‘black and white’ thinking (another set of opposites) or judgement about the opposites of stability and mobility. Instead, we are going to operate from a place of equanimity, meaning seeing both as valuable. In movement in this world, these two opposites are essential. Flexibility isn’t better than stability. In fact, for the body to be flexible, there must be a part of the body that holds stability for the flexibility to happen.

Nature has all the options on this movement spectrum to choose from and use depending on the situation. In winter ice forms to preserve that moisture until the spring through summer thaws, which provide necessary water for plants to grow and thrive in these two seasons. Without that ice, there would be less moisture for plants to grow all summer long. This is what, in part, happens with times of drought. Both stability and mobility of water are necessary for life on Earth.

MOVEMENT SPECTRUM IN THE PHYSICAL LAYER

The above example shows the importance of movement for water on the spectrum of stability and mobility. To complete the spectrum, water when warmed by the sun turns into vapor and then into clouds. Those clouds will then release water droplets back to earth, landing as either water, hail, sleet, snow, or ice depending on the conditions.

Another example of this spectrum in the physical world are buildings. A building is going to require much more stability if it needs to support the weight of multiple stories, withstand weather, wear and tear, or heavier items used in a space within the building. As a building gains more stories, it will also need more flexibility as it gets further aware from its rigid foundation.

I grew up in Anchorage, Alaska, which is located on the the Pacific Ocean’s ‘ring of fire.’ That means it is prone to earthquakes. In places prone to earthquakes, building materials are used that have a combination of flexibility and stability that allow swaying, keeping the building from collapsing. There are some building materials that lose stability when shaken.

Take a moment to look around you and think about the movement spectrum in regards to the physical world. Where would you place items on the spectrum between 100% stable and 100% flexible?

MOVEMENT SPECTRUM IN THE ENERGY LAYER

Energy is more subtle than the physical layer. As we move through the layers, our journey will become more and more subtle. Also, you will begin to see how these different layers affect the other layers within the movement spectrum.

Let’s start with energy that can be seen, like the breath. Breath is the movement of air in and out of the body to draw in oxygen and release carbon dioxide. We know this movement is happening by movement within the respiratory system which moves the chest, ribs, belly, and back. Stability and mobility range will be dependent on the air and the body. 

In regards to air, at sea level there is more oxygen available in air, so it may bring more energy into the body. Breathing will happen with more ease at sea level. Whereas someone hiking about 10,000 feet will breathe air with less oxygen content. Their breathing will be more labored and their energy level will be down. This may leave a person’s legs feeling heavier and noticing they have to stop and catch their breath often.

The container the air comes into is the body. If the respiratory organs aren’t functioning well or the airway is blocked, stability is increased and flow of breath is decreased. Younger bodies that may be more healthy will breathe with much more efficiency than an older body. A person who has practiced holding their breath (stability) can be underwater for a long time. An acrobat can move their body and keep their breath at ease (mobility) to perform their stunts with grace and precision.

ENERGY OUTSIDE THE BODY

Energy that can’t be seen is radiation from the sun that provides the earth with warmth and nutrients. The flow of that radiation is affected by the thickness of atmosphere, clouds, and time (seasons, time of day). Those radiation waves from the sun change depending on the sun’s activity. More activity means more radiation (mobility), less activity means less radiation (stability). These influences will affect the amount of heat coming to earth, which in turn, will influence weather.

How do your energy levels affect your body on the movement spectrum? Like when you are feeling sick versus having had a good night’s sleep?

MOVEMENT SPECTRUM IN THE EMOTIONS & THOUGHT LAYER

The effects of the energy level can be seen by the movement in the physical layer. Emotions and thoughts are a little more challenging…and more subtle.  Emotions and thoughts come from the mind. They have quite a lot of mobility since they are constantly moving and changing. The energy of each will dictate how they manifest in the physical world.

For example, take a moment to think of a favorite clothing item you once had, but is now gone. I remember a t-shirt that my mom gave me years ago which had a message about ‘wild, Alaskan girl’ on it and a drawing of some wildflowers. That t-shirt brought me a lot of joy, not only its message, but also the feel of the soft cotton and the color combination of the shirt and design.

I was wearing it when Greg and I went rock climbing one day. We started out early in the morning, about 6am and ended up on an unforeseen adventure. We returned to our tent close to midnight, exhausted. The next morning as I was getting ready, I realized my t-shirt was missing. My heart sank. I felt sad and angry.

Here is a t-shirt that I had many positive thoughts about. I was attached to it. Losing it, I had an emotional reaction of anger and sadness. The way I thought about that t-shirt created emotions that brought my mood and energy up…and then down when it was lost. I tried planning how I could go look for it, but there wasn’t time and I was physically exhausted from the day before. 

ACCEPTANCE SHIFTS REACTION

This led to another set of thoughts which led me to feel acceptance and a thought entered my mind – the t-shirt  had found its place in the wild. I was able to smile despite mourning the loss of it.

In the span of about 15 minutes, my inner world went on its own wild journey through anger, sadness and finally opening up to acceptance. My energy level went up and down as well. The physical journey my body went as it processed that energy and finally let it go, ended up with my body relaxed and I was able to connect with humor. There was a dance of stability and mobility coursing through my body for those 15 minutes. 

Because I was able to find a space of acceptance, that experience flowed out of me. If I had not found acceptance, I would have continued to stay in anger and sadness, with my body holding on to it. That holding is more on the stability side of the movement spectrum.

What emotional and thought journey did your favorite clothing item take you on? What was allowed to move through and what are you still holding on to from that memory?

MOVEMENT SPECTRUM IN THE BELIEF LAYER

Beliefs and the ability to discern what the prior three layers present, has more stability than the emotions and thoughts layer. From our experiences, our intellect takes emotions and thoughts from our experiences of interacting with the world and forms beliefs about the world. These beliefs are able to change and will change as more experiences happen… though we tend to hold onto them more. It takes a lot more to change beliefs than a perspective in a moment. 

It’s like forging a trail. The first time someone walks through a piece of land, there will be some subtle signs a person was there. Maybe a foot print, broken plants, flattened grass. Then someone else sees this faint route and follows it. Over time, as more feet walk the route a clear trail forms. The route is talked about and it becomes more busy until it is a popular way to walk through that piece of land. 

For that trail to change or disappear altogether, it would take a lot of planning and effort to reroute or get people to stop taking the trail.

Beliefs are like this. Once they are established, thoughts and emotions spring up without any effort when a situation happens that either confirms or challenges that belief. It tends to take some significant event to start a new belief. Then, a lot of consistent practice to let go of old beliefs and integrate the new ones.

REFLECT ON BELIEFS

Which beliefs did you use to ‘subscribe to’ that you have fully let go of or are in the process of changing? 

What manifests in the thoughts and emotions sheaths with the old belief versus the new belief? 

What manifested in your energy and physical sheath from the old and new belief?

THE MOVEMENT SPECTRUM IN THE SUBTLE BLISS BODY

This is the most subtle and closest layer to the essence of ‘who I am’. There is increasingly more stability here but it is different from the physical layer’s stability. The physical layer’s stability is strongly rooted in the physical world, which tends to swing between stability and mobility. In this subtle bliss body, instead of being at the ends of the spectrum, we are closer to the midpoint where duality disappears to become one.

Instead of big swings, there is more of a vibration.

Think about a time that you felt connected to something grander than yourself, where there is a deeper connection to thoughts that are truth, rather than just ideas. 

What did that experience feel like in your body and your mind?

These are common words expressed in these moments:

• Expansive
• Grounded
• Content
• Peaceful
• Connected

These words are seemingly contradictory yet they exist in that moment as being present, in the now. To understand movement at the more subtle levels requires the mind to be fully present with very little movement. Yet, it’s not rigid or holding. Those moments are almost beyond the opposites and into a space of being.

That is why this sheath is the closest to the essence of our true nature. Our True Nature is beyond all spectrums and ‘IS’.

PRACTICAL USE OF THE MOVEMENT SPECTRUM

So, how can we take all this information about the Panchakoshas and the spectrum of moment – stability and mobility?

Here are some of my ideas and I encourage you to experiment with what comes up for you…

1. When you observe opposites in the world or in your mind, remember, all opposites are part of a spectrum. This can help to widen the view, instead of staying stuck in ‘either/or’ thoughts or beliefs.

2. All layers affect each other. If you notice yourself feeling ‘stuck’, get curious what sheath this over-stability is occurring within. Then, brainstorm ways you could invite mobility into another sheath to help increase mobility in the area you feel stuck.

For example, if the mind is more negative and energy is low in the body, start to move the body wherever you are at. Laying down – start to move your limbs. Standing – shake your body or dance. Notice what happens to thoughts and energy.

3. Each layer is a resource for you to use. If you become aware of a state your mind is in and desire to change it, you have 5 layers of resources always available to you.

Let’s say I notice I feel disconnected. I could try picking up the phone to call or message a friend I hold dear to connect. With the breath, I could start to notice it and breathe consciously to connect to myself. Noticing thoughts with feeling disconnected, I could work on cultivating thoughts of connection like gratitude. If I have a belief I’m working on integrating, I might start repeating this belief and feel it in my body. Then examine if the thoughts of disconnection even thru from the point of view of this belief. Finally, I might connect with a spiritual resource that helps me connect to a higher being or purpose.

REMEMBER… 

There are ALWAYS choices. Choices widen the view, allow us to move through, and connect to a calm mind state. Sometimes it just takes practice to clear out the black and white thinking to remember the spectrum of life. 

Shanti.