Deity of the Lotus Posture
Meditationtime Forum Post
Date: Posted 4 years before Jun 03, 2018
MiBeloved 4 years ago
Today during breath infusion practice, the padmasana devata made a suggestion but he was smiling which is a good indication. These deities usually do not say anything to a practicing yogi, for the reason that most of the yogis are insubmissive and already know everything about what they are doing.
With that attitude, a devata or deity of yoga does not approach.
Padmasana is the lotus posture which is the classic posture for meditation but it is a difficult posture and is a pain in the arse if you are not limber in the thighs, knees, legs, ankles and feet. One should not use it for meditation if it is not easy and painless when assumed because for meditation no bodily pains should be present, otherwise the mind will be distracted.
If however the posture is easy and painless then it should be assumed.
This deity of that posture, pointed to my legs while I was in the posture and said this:
“Remember to switch back and forth.”
This is in reference to using one side first and then switching to use the other side when the posture is assumed at another time.
Usually what happens, and this is the case with my body, the student becomes adapted to folding in the right or left foot on the opposing thigh, and never switches to reverse that. This is incorrect but I have done it and so have others.
The correct process is to begin doing the lotus posture from infancy and to switch back and forth each day so that the posture becomes balanced and easy either which way.
In my case I did not begin doing postures in infancy and so the body is not balanced so that I can use either foot on either thigh efficiently. I usually begin assuming the posture by pulling up the right foot on the left thigh.
If I reverse this, there is pain. However I will do this because of the suggestion by the lotus posture deity.
A student should not be hard-headed, ignorant and defensive. Nor should a student poke at the teacher for an explanation for every instruction or suggestion given. One should rely on the family feeling coming from a yoga instructor and on the basis of that develop trust and just do as one is told.
The lotus posture deity is like an uncle to me, so there is no reason for me to demand an explanation or to mention that the reverse leg arrangement is painful. That has no place in a relationship of pure trust.
