How do these to two pictures relate?
“Did you ask a good questions today?” my Grandmother Rose asked over the chatter of the Passover seder table. I remember hesitating as a 11-year-old and slowly responding, “whatsa good question?” She paused and smiled. Clearly she was pleased. Then she exclaimed, “your already learning!” I was always the kid with his hand raised high over his head in school, starting every comment with “so I was wondering” or “what if” and “how do you suppose?” I have always believed that curiosity was the vehicle of passion because nothing excited me more than pursuing the answers to my own questions.
My favorite example from American history inspired me to think that asking questions was nothing short of a religious ritual. Earl Warren’s trademark on the Supreme Court was to interrupt a counsel’s scholarly argument citing precedent and ask with the simple, seemingly naive question: “Yes, but is it fair?” The power of those five words overturned Jim Crow segregation in the South with the Brown v. Board decision, confirmed that “separate and equal” was “inherently unequal,” and allowed Whites and Blacks to learn together in public schools. Warren got his answer and he, with the help of others asking similar questions of social justice, changed American.
So I bet your asking yourself: wait, I got the part about the questions at the seder table and the Supreme Court, but how does that relate to Yoga? I am glad you asked.
Through yoga I have discovered there is a time not to ask, but rather to be present in the breath, savoring the moment, focusing on not focusing. While this could be confused for ignorance, the stillness of the mind provides euphoria, different than the pursuit of an answer to a question, but some how equally satisfying.
And in honor of the new Harry Potter Movie:
charliesaginaw 