Ashtanga Yoga: For the Seekers

Practical Spirituality with Justin Curnow


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Justin and I talk about the difference between practical and mystical spirituality—why it matters, and perhaps why one starts to seek out a spiritual practice in the first place.

We share our own individual pulls towards spirituality (and, I keep asking him questions about this whole nonattachment thing I’ve been experiencing—only to lose, and then experience again, and then lose again).

One of my favorite things that he said was:

  • What brings you to spirituality sometimes is this something you can't identify inside yourself; this hole inside yourself. And then maybe you have this mystical spiritual experience—it doesn’t have to be this direct revelation with the cosmos or this bigger energy or god. It can be something where you feel genuine contentment... And how crazy is that. That this thing that we wouldn't think is extra special: simply being content; sitting in this moment where everything feels right; and there’s not a need; there's not a scarcity and there's not a need. That in itself can be profoundly spiritual.

  • And what happens when you experience that thing and you wake up the next day and it’s not there anymore?

  • Watch or listen to this 60-minute talk as we sort through some of the potential "answers."


    IF YOU ENJOYED THIS INTERVIEW, PLEASE SUBSCRIBE & DROP ME A RATING. Thank you!!!


    Find me on Instagram: @marlasyoga


    Find Justin on Instagram: @justincyoga


    Practice yoga with us on Sādhaka Studio:

    https://sadhakastudio.uscreen.io/catalog


    Come with us to Costa Rica:

    https://www.wetravel.com/trips/for-the-seekers-ashtanga-yoga-retreat-sadhaka-67726403


    Timestamps:

    00:00 Intro

    03:47 Where to begin with understanding spiritual texts

    07:03 How the role of suffering plays into our desire for spirituality

    09:30 Justin's personal experience with being drawn towards spirituality

    12:26 Marla's personal experience with being drawn towards spirituality

    16:06 What is mystical spirituality versus practical spirituality and why it matters

    23:36 How contentment can be a spiritual experience

    24:40 What happens when that feeling of contentment or non-attachment goes away

    27:46 Esoteric versus exoteric practices

    30:54 Contradictions in spirituality (and in our own minds)

    34:15 Transmuting the lessons we learn on a physical plane to mental and spiritual planes

    36:11 Human suffering and the idea of reincarnation

    38:47 How do we simplify this all

    41:20 How building awareness in and of itself is a victory

    42:48 Marla's experience of non-attachment

    44:40 There's no getting off the path

    45:52 What to do when you catch yourself grasping for something

    48:14 Marla's cold-plunge story

    51:00 The poison becomes the honey--hardships as opportunities for growth

    53:46 It is not practical to be in a mystical state constantly--be grateful for the experience then put it back on the shelf

    ...more
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    Ashtanga Yoga: For the SeekersBy Marla Tortorice

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