Building and building... and building

Well, I think that dead spot has been awakened. We were observing each other today and then shared our findings after lunch. I was given some very helpful pointers from my classmates and from Robin. That "dead spot" is just totally collapsed so I don't have space to feel anything--front and back. It's just behind the solarplexus that I get those sharp stabbing pains when I try to "sit up straight." No wonder! I've been either totally slouching and compressing the front or collapsing into my swayback, and it's everywhere! The big awakening was in Virabhadrasana I. Robin tied my scarf around my waist and told me to lengthen that area on both the front and the back. It's not a back and forth motion, it's a lifting motion.

It's exhausting. This is the point where I need to make a commitment, where it gets hard. I can't just shy away from what I need to do.

Speaking of buckling down and putting my nose to the grindstone, I have a ton of homework to do over the next three weeks! I have to read two chapters in both Anatomy Trains and Anatomy of Hatha Yoga, and then I can start my Anatomy Coloring Book. That's just my anatomy work! I have to keep reading Yoga for Transformation and Bringing Yoga to Life, create three sequences for myself (Deep Front Line & Arm Lines, preparing the body for Urdhva Dhanurasana, and a practice to get myself to the point that I can do 20 good marches in bridge pose) as well as a sequence for Danae. Last but not least, we're expected to get very serious about observation and eventually assisting. I'm also supposed to be ready to sub soon! Things are getting pretty serious here, and I have to step up to the challenge.

I think that's right knowledge. How do I know? I don't think you can ever truly "know." That's the beauty of having an open point of view. You can try your best to follow what you think is right, but you have to be ready to take in new information with an open and balanced point of view at any given time. I was thinking before that right knowledge came from physically knowing something (like through direct experience), but I have learned that even all experiences are not totally reliable. You can only act on the information you have at the time using the tools that are accessible to you. As long as you keep an open mind and don't constrict yourself from hearing other viewpoints, you are open to realizing that your beliefs are incorrect knowledge.

How do you come to this realization without knowing what correct knowledge is, though?

Oh boy, this one is going to take some marinating. Right know, I know that I don't know. Maybe that is the key. When you know you don't know, you'll know when you know.

(Brilliant.)