Warrior 1 - Japanese Gardens Oregon
All three warrior poses challenge us to fight for the innocent in a concentrated devotional way. The warrior poses are a reminder to contemplate your thoughts and actions in an intelligent way. Legend has it, when Shiva discovered his wife's self-immolation as a result of her fury and great sadness towards her father's rejection of Shiva, he became enraged. As a result, he created Virabhadra from his dreadlock, the great warrior, who rose out of the ground (think warrior 1 pose, palms together, face upturned), drew his sword (think warrior 2, arms open), and sliced off Daksha's head (his father-in-law).
Warrior 2 - Japanese Gardens Oregon
When Daksha's head fell to the ground, Virabhadra bent to pick it up and reach forward to place it upon a stake (think warrior 3, arms reaching forward).
Warrior 3 Variation Arms - Cliff of Moher, Ireland
The shocking act caused quite an uproar among the people. It is said in the world of gods things can happen instantaneously. Sati, Shivas wife, donned a new body and scolded Shiva for beheading her father. Sati knew her father was unkind to Shiva but she realized Shiva's actions would not solve the problem to make her father accept him. It was at that point Shiva realized he let his emotions dictate his actions. The problem was, he hadn't thought at all.
The warrior code of behavior recognizes that life is not always a bed of roses. It's hard and requires difficult decisions. Challenges arise and can shake us to our core. It is often our impulses, like Shiva's, that lead us to seek revenge. Things rarely go as planned. We deal with disappointments and failed expectations on a daily basis. So how can we resist the impulse of a heated moment? There is a profound Yoga Sutra that gives the perfect solution:
" In order to preserve an elevated state of mind, be happy for those who are happy, cultivate compassion for those who are sad, feel delight for those deemed to be lucky, and experience indifference toward those perceived to be wicked."
This story shows that even the gods can make mistakes; albeit their mistakes are useful in teaching us valuable lessons. Keep the yogi mind on and off the mat and become warriors out in the world. This is the way to preserve an elevated state of mind. It's not easy to be a warrior especially when you are fighting against a reactive mind. There are, and always will be, plenty of times to do our best and make things right.
Om!
Mary Jane - Feng Shui Yoga Girl
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