Defying the lie
I went through the checkout line at Healthy Home Market today and the cashier asked for a closer look at my wrist tattoo. I had it done right after my Level 2 teacher training with Baron Baptiste. It was the theme for the week, and now that it's permanently etched into my skin, the theme of my life: Defy the Lie.
She was taken aback because she was having a conversation with another customer about tellin the truth versus telling lies and asked me if there were every any exceptions or circumstances in which telling a lie was better than telling the truth. My immediate response was no, no good effect can come from lying. I could see the wheels in her heard turning and as I sat down for a quick lunch, she sat beside me with some more questions.
"Okay, so my friend really wants to go on American Idol but she can't sing. Do I tell her?" she asked.
I had to think about it for a minute until I figured out what sue was really asking me. Is it okay to hurt someone's feelings with the truth, or should feelings be spared with a little lie? I remembered back to when I was first learning about the yamas and niyamas. The first code of conduct that yoga teaches is ahimsa, mostly translated as non-harming. Second is truth. At a discourse with Blair Lewis, he said that they are taught in that order specifically so that we will put non-harming before the truth. His idea is that we tell the truth always, but we should always, "grease our words with love."
The cashier seemed a little lighter at this prospect, so I felt we could take it one step farther. I reminder her that ultimately love is truth, and that if she's torn between telling a lie or telling the truth, that there is probably some deeper fear or problem underpinning the situation.
This is the everyday work of a yogi. To live is to bump up against tough choices where we might lose something or someone. The practice though, is to sit with these situations long enough for the truth to become apparent. All events in life can be boiled down to a choice between love and fear. It is our work to not leave any situation until we can choose love and truth and be behind that decision fully.
*Excuse any typos or formatting issues. This post was composed entirely on an iPhone.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010 at 4:21PM | 2 Comments 
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Reader Comments (2)
I think it all depends on intention and the reason behind not telling the truth. I know this sounds stupid but I watched Harry Potter the other day. Ron was nervous about a Quiditch game he was about to play. Harry pretended to give Ron some type of luck potion but really didn't. Ron went on to play an awesome Quiditch game never knowing that his skills were all coming from him and not the potion. He was extremely happy in his not knowing. Now should Harry keep pretending to give him the potion? I would say no but maybe Ron will remember that day and know that his confidence comes from within.
In nature, animals will camouflage themselves and pretend to be something they are not so that they are not attacked or eaten. It is a lie but with a good intention behind it, survival.
I don't know. It just doesn't seem black and white to me.
Anywho...I love you...Shanna
First of all- I'm with you, DEFY THE LIE.
Secondly- I went to free yoga at Dharma Lounge! It's Tuesdays at 7:30 and Saturdays at noon, but they had to turn people away tuesday night so I'd get there super early.
Thirdly- you teach yoga at Inner Peaks? We started aerial classes there Tuesday nights! When are your classes? We should trade.
-Amanda