Mindfulness: guru means to me

What guru means to me, now
and a way to call to it

Gnarly, the gnome, a character in a creative venture

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As a part of my Kundalini Yoga as taught by Yogi Bhajan teacher training in Austin, TX, it was shared that guru is actually composed of two Sanskrit phonemes. And the juxtaposition of these opposing phonemes is, like life, very poetic and intentional (of the yogis and yoginis of old). ‘Gu’ can be translated as darkness. ‘Ru’ can be translated as light. That being said, suddenly guru takes a new shape - a new translation is possible. That which takes you from darkness to light, ignorance/ unawareness to awareness/application of such awareness.

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How can I relate?
After giving ourselves space to ground into the present moment and  to center, usually practitioners of Kundalini yoga “tune-in” using the Adi mantra. Adi is the Sanskrit ‘word’ that translates roughly to primal, beginning. The mantra goes, ONG NAMO GURU DEV NAMO. It’s translations and the complexities could be a whole blog in itself but the phrase ‘guru dev’ has special significance to yogis, especially of today. At least for me. 
‘Dev’ can be paraphrased as “subtle” or “that which cannot be seen, with the naked eye.” In essence, we are tapping into our own inherent guidance. I’ve communed/had conversations with my intuition from at a very young age, so this concept was immediately at home with established constructs. Now, I have a way to nod to this internal voice which guides my practice, listens to my spirit’s wants and desires, and can focus intensely enough to hear to what organs have to say. I am eternally grateful for my teachers, for the teachings they shared and for their teachers’ wisdom, and for the nature in all of us to look within- to wonder and explore the experience of self. 

Thus Spake Maek 
Nov. 7, 2020

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​Maek Modica has been teaching yoga since 2011 and is certified as a Teacher of Kundalini Yoga as taught by Yogi Bhajan and Radiant Child Yoga.

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