How do I get to rtambhara? It is not somewhere I can get to by leaving Shreveport, LA; it is not a place. It is not something I can objectify; it is not cellular. Rtambhara is a condition of consciousness. The mind becomes a witness to Absolute Truth and spiritual perception dawns. Although it is something that must happen within my mind it seems very far away.
My mind, like the moon, has its many phases as it passes through the citta vrtti-s, panca klesa-s, antaraya-s and the triguna-s (fluctuations of consciousness, five afflictions, obstacles and the three qualities of nature). These make the mind unsettled and limited. The moon has the ability to be full as well as limited by its phases. When full, the moon reflects the whole radiance of the sun. My mind can also come into a state of brilliance as I reflect the purity of Absolute Truth.
The moon does not go from new moon to full in one night, but follows a rhythmical movement to transition from phase to phase. My mind must find its method to move from its scattered state, parangachetana, to pratyakcetana, a state of introspection.
Asana is an ideal method for the transition of body and mind to rtambhara. My ever-changing mind can easily be engaged in the practice of asana as it moves the body from one posture to another. The movement is important as it takes the body-mind into a new moment in time, but the asana must be held to get the full benefit. The mind is trained to reflect on the actions and reactions within the movements. The asana must be aligned and balanced. In this physical absorption of the body into the asana there is an absorption of the mind as well, and the body and mind become balanced and aligned with the soul.
Patanjali tells me in the Yoga Sutras, "Prayatna saithilya ananta samapattibhyam." (II.47) Perfection in an asana is achieved when the effort to perform it becomes effortless and the infinite being within is reached.
Guruji B. K .S. Iyengar has further assured me in his commentary on the Sutras, "Perfection in asana is reached only when effort ceases, instilling infinite poise and allowing the finite vehicle, the body, to merge in the seer. I can see in Guruji's performance of asana outer expression of the infinite being. Let me continue to look for rtambhara and the infinite being in my own practice.
Karin O'Bannon resides in Shreveport, Louisiana where she is introducing the Red River Valley to Iyengar Yoga.
