Last Words ~ Yoga Philosophy
Being an island/ Shakyamuni (Gautama) Buddha by Thich Nhat Hanh
When the Buddha was 80, and became sick, he was visiting the city of Beluva. His very dedicated disciple Ananda, asked him, if he has any last teachings to share with his community of students. The Buddha responded, that his teachings were always available to everyone, and the spiritual wellbeing of each individual is in their own hands and responsibly - and therefore, the Dharma, is their own island, their own refuge.
“Be your own island,
your own refuge,
with no other refuge.
Let the teaching be your island and your refuge,
with no other refuge."
- Shakyamuni Buddha
This beautiful teachings was passed on by various wise teachers, and one of them is a special teacher for all of us, whom have passed away peacefully about a week ago -Thich Nhat Hanh.
I would like to share respect to his teaching and share with you here a video and a couple of quotes from this video, along with a little message from me.
“There is an island,
very safe, very peaceful within every one of us,
and we should go back to ourselves,
and take refuge in that island.
Don't take refuge in anything else,
in anyone else,
go home to yourself,
and take refuge in the island of self..."
"...So you enjoy breathing in and out,
and generating the energy of mindfulness,
and at that time, you are under the protection of the buddha -
The real buddha - mindfulness, concentration.
and then, you go back being an island unto myself,
as an island into myself,
Dharma is my breathing,
Guarding body and mind,
I am free..."
"...Breathing in breathing out,
I am blooming as a flower,
I am fresh as the dew,
I am solid as a mountain..."
-Thich Nhat Hanh
As students, we tend to relay on our teachers,
or on any other source of teaching/ technique.
But at the end of the day,
there is only one truth - one's truth.
As a teacher, I can teach and hold space and pass on my knowledge and practice, but at the end of the day it is upon you (and any other student, including myself) to check within yourself what is actually true for you.
(therefore never take anything you are taught without questioning!)
We are all sharing this experience here on earth, and we are all teachers and students to one another.
It is for us to grow together and to share the knowledge with vulnerability and humility - but eventually, come back to our source, our little island inside, and take refuge in our-selves.
Only then, we learn, that this island inside, is an island resting on/in an ocean, with so many other islands present there.
And the Island and the ocean are connected, we only use the form/ name/ shape; 'island' / 'ocean' in order to speak about it and understand what is which.
But they are both a part of the same thing -
Where does the drop of water starts and ocean ends?
Where does the grain of sand starts and island ends?
Where does the island end and the ocean starts?
The 'ocean' is connecting each individual 'island' to one another, as we are all the same.
We all share the aspiration to be happy,
to be joyous,
to be free.
Let's all remember that we are never separate,
we are never divided.
There are no 'we' vs 'them'.
Share compassion,
share the love,
you will gain an ocean of pleasant sensations and freedom.
I wish us all to be free from our suffering,
to be joyous,
and filled with love.
Lots of love and light,
Namaste
Amber.