Human communication sucks, it really does. How many misunderstandings, arguments and wars were started because someone didn’t understand what was said? Yet, you can say the exact same thing to a dog and get two opposite reactions. If you say to a dog “you are a sorry, ugly, flea bitten animal” with anger the dog will cower under the bed or slink away with his tail between his legs. However, if you say the exact same thing with love and playfulness in your voice, the dog will wag his tail and give you kisses.
Is this because the dog doesn’t speak English and therefore doesn’t understand the words? No, its because the dog is receiving and reacting to the energy behind the words. To the dog, the words are meaningless. It is the energy and intent of the communication that is important. To cats, quite frankly, I don’t know if any of it is important, but I digress…
Here is the problem. For traditional, conscious communication, humans must conceptualize the message, translate that concept into words they believe represents the concept, speak or write those words and wait for the “receiver” to translate the sounds or written symbols to words that they believe represents a concept that matches the original concept and then react. Nothing could possibly go wrong with that communication! Add to that the preconceived bias folks have with certain words and it is a wonder we can communicate at all.
The point is that there is much more to communication than just words on a page or sound to the ears. Communication between living beings, all of them, is about a transfer of energy. We are all entangled in the energy fields of each other and we constantly transmit or radiate energy to our surroundings, that’s the real communication. That energy behind the words can come through both the written and spoken word. Ever read a passage in a book and cried? Ever felt a rush of emotion because someone said something as simple as “I am proud of you”?
As I have said many times before in different ways, we are energy beings. That is all that exists. Through our consciousness we manipulate energy to manifest that which is around us. Why would communication be any different? Words and sounds are energy. But they are energy at least three times removed from the source concept that is trying to be communicated. Words and sounds alone are an incomplete communication. We all need to open ourselves to the complete communication. We need to open ourselves to receiving and perceiving the energy behind the manifest words and sounds.
It takes practice to calm the mind to the point that you can consciously perceive the sharing of energy/communication. It ain’t easy, especially with those we are close too. We are forever entangled in the energies of family and it shows at the holiday table! Tension and arguments abound. Not because we don’t love each other, but because we are not paying attention to the energy behind the communication. We are reacting without fully understanding the concept being communicated.
Ever do that on the mat? We are also entangled in the energies of all those that practice with us. If one falls, soon the entire class in unstable. If one is angry or sad, the entire class is affected. Same if one is joyful! It is the energy that we all radiate, share and exchange that is the communication of yoga. Until a yogi is sufficiently advanced to recognize these subtle energies, the benefits of doing yoga with a group include exploring these energies. The prana, or life force energy, flows through the entire class, not just through individual yogis.
In spiritual matters getting caught up on the semantics of Spirit, Creator,Universe, God, Source, Father misses the message. We could wipe the slate clean and call the ulimate source of all that is Clyde. Why not? It is the energy behind the concept, behind the word that is important, not the word.
Take the time to calm your mind, center your being in the present, be in the now in all things. Receive the entire communication, including the energy and the concept. This is how to speak, but, perhaps more importantly, it is also how to listen; with your entire being. We can’t listen if we are not present and we can’t listen fully if we don’t perceive the energy behind that which is being said. This is how to meditate, pray and handle the holiday table.
This is how to communicate. Do this with your family, your partner, your higher self, your spirit guides, and with God. Do this with all those you walk with on this earth.
Now we are doing yoga…
Namaste
Blair is the co-owner of Yoga Daily in Mt. Pleasant, SC. He is a certified yoga instructor, recovering lawyer and a spiritual student. The content of this blog is what Blair considers to be universal truths that span all dogma and religion and it is offered to you in Love and Light. Check out The Daily Yogi for additional blog entries. You can contact Blair at [email protected]. Yoga is but one path to the knowing that we are all one. Please take what resonates with you and leave the rest without judgment or offense.