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18 EASTERN HORIZON | TEACHINGS

ruins, and the student was sick with In your own experience does life was erudite and dignified. All the
regret and grief. Finally, he gathered really work this way? Where are other students were in awe of him.
enough courage to stammer out all the actual minutes, hours, and They assumed he would one day
a confession to his teacher. The days of your life? Do they wait for succeed their master.
teacher just smiled and said, “Don’t you at some destination, or are
be so distraught. I always drank they rapidly passing right now? Ask One day the teacher announced it
from that cup as though it were yourself, would you rather have a was time for this talented student
already broken.” feeling of happiness in the moment- to leave the monastery, as did all his
to-moment experience of your life, students. Each was sent away for a
Imagine making such a distinction or in a few big bang-up episodes period of seven years to seek his own
in your own life-to venerate the upon reaching various goals? You experience of what he had learned.
things and people you love with know the final destination of the A student was welcome to return
your caring while appreciating them physical body is decay and death, so any time after the seven years. From
in the manner that only feeling their why would you choose to measure the day the exceptional student left,
loss can provide. In yoga class, in your life by endings when all the the others continually talked among
your romantic relationships, as a experience, the felt sense of being themselves about how he would
parent, and in your work, you are alive, is in the journey? return in triumph to take his rightful
gathering your attention into little place beside their master.
cups of intention, values, and effort. Goals are tools that are useful for
It is wonderful that human beings orienting yourself-they provide The seventh year came and went,
have this capacity, but if you are to meaningful structure if they reflect and there was no sign of him.
have any freedom in your life, drink your values and if you stay awake Finally, on the 10th anniversary
from each of those cups as though in this moment to your actual of his leaving, he was spotted
they were already broken. experience, whether it is on the yoga walking up the path and the
mat or in an office, in seeking love entire monastery dashed into
The Journey vs. the Destination or trying to have a baby. Only in this the meditation hall where the
moment are you alive-all the others master would formally receive the
Another wise distinction that are only mental constructs, concepts returning student.
relates both to your yoga practice which the person who is present at
and the other aspects of your life this moment will never experience, The student arrived, older yet
is understanding the difference for the one who arrives at some vibrant as ever. The master came in,
between the journey and the distant goal will be different than the took his seat, and said, “One who left
destination. Our culture is one who is here today. and has returned, please share with
obsessively goal-oriented. Observe us the wisdom you gained in these
for yourself how much of the time One of my favorite stories illustrates years away.” With just a hint of pride
you measure how well you are all the hidden dimensions and the in his voice, the student replied, “I
doing in regard to your destination true wisdom of this distinction. wandered to a distant valley high in
while ignoring how you really feel There once was a renowned the mountains where a great wide
in the moment First it’s being able meditation teacher who attracted river ran through. There I shared a
to do Headstand, then being able to the best students from all over hut with a boatman who took people
hold it for 10 minutes, then trying the land. Each student was more across the river in his raft for three
to make it more perfect. The same brilliant than the next, but one rupees. Each day I did my practices
with money or recognition: If only student stood out above all as you taught me, then for hours
you had this much, then you would the others. He could sit longer, each day I practiced walking on the
be happy; but, oh, if you had this experience deeper absorption, had water. At first it seemed impossible,
much more, you’d really be happy. the most beautiful yoga poses, and but after a few years I was able to