In the mid-Sixties,
many people believed that we were on the verge of an exciting
and glorious new age in human evolution. The popular song,
“Aquarius,” captured the spirit, proclaiming
that we would soon enjoy the fruits of “harmony
and understanding... sympathy and peace ... mystic crystal
revelations and the mind's true liberation.” Many
of us naively expected the human race to smoothly and
quickly cultivate the earth into a new Eden. During the
late Seventies, however, it seemed that this emerging
paradise might succumb to a blight of old values - buds
and unripe fruit gobbled up by the "me generation."
Or worse, it might be totally consumed by the raging fires
of modern times - such as nuclear holocaust, pollution,
over-population and material shortages. Optimists believed
we were experiencing growing pains, but the cynical wondered
if there really was a new age. Today, the question of
a new age (or perhaps we should say "new values"
and bring the concept down to earth where it belongs)
is more important than ever, for without some major changes
in the next decade, we may not have the luxury of speculating
about the 1990's. With this in mind, we asked a number
of leaders in the spiritual/growth movement what we could
expect in the 1980's, and what influence their particular
teachings might have on the world. Trying to pin them
down, we asked whether the new age would blossom, wither,
or remain the same. We think that you will be stimulated,
challenged, and perhaps amused by these thought provoking
respons.
R. B.
- Yoga Journal January 1980 Joel
Kramer
Some historical moments are more critical than others.
Transitional periods are such times. We live in a culture
and a world that are in transition. What transition
actually means is transformation, for as old ways of
being crumble, we, individually and as a species, must
forge new meanings into life. We are at a cusp point
in our evolution - dangling between the pleasures of
adolescence and the urgency of adulthood. Maturation
comes when the spectrum of awareness broadens, becoming
more inclusive. Yoga is an age-old process of transformation
that can be creatively adapted to the needs of the times.
It helps break through the habits of mind and body that
bind us, opening up new ways of relating to each other
and the world. It also brings sensitivity, response-ability
(in its literal sense), and the flexibility that allows
us to assimilate change. In the coming years, we need
to further develop these capacities to meet the challenges
of the times. Yoga, at its core, is looking within to
understand the timeless question, “Who
am I?”As you delve into the deepest regions
of your being, the knowledge that comes is not merely
about you, the individual, but includes the understanding
of your self as part of the total fabric of life and
as an active participant in the process of evolution.
The expanding of consciousness that is the essence of
evolution, actually gives us the capacity for depth
of communication. Yoga is essentially opening up to
deep communication within yourself, which leads to transformation.
When the parts of the whole open up to each other -
breaking the boundaries of separateness - real communication,
which is communion, occurs. This allows you to touch
the existential reality of others and share deeply in
the movement of life.
Joel Kramer
is an internationally known Yogi and Philosopher. He
is the author of “The Passionate Mind" and
the widely acclaimed "Guru Papers” with Diana
Alstad. Joel serves as a Trustee on the board of the
White Lotus Foundation. |
