Receiving Guru Purnima

Today, in this precious space that Jimena from Aruna Yoga in Buenos Aires offers through her yoga teaching, she reminded us of the story of Guru Purnima — the day when Shiva, in front of seven seekers, decided to become their Guru.

It is said that these disciples had practiced diligently for 84 years, preparing themselves. And on that specific full moon — the one we now celebrate as Guru Purnima — Shiva offered them the first transmission of yoga.

And when I say yoga, I’m not talking about how many sun salutations you can perform, or how long you can hyperventilate during certain types of breathwork, or how many inversions you can do on one hand, two hands, or your head.

I’m speaking of that transmission — the one that offers the possibility to evolve, to understand the quality of your mind, and to recognize the essence that you are.

Today, I want to share a powerful reminder from Ramaswami Srivatsa, because sometimes texts like the Yoga Sūtras (and oh, how I wish the Bhagavad Gītā were just as widely known) are misunderstood or oversimplified.The practice is not about “emptying the mind” — but about recognizing what’s present, how it relates to us, and learning not to avoid or suppress it.

"The most well known definition of yoga is "citta vritti nirodha" as told by Patanjali. This is most often translated like "Yoga is the stopping of the fluctuation of the mind". Here the sanskrit word vritti is translated as fluctuation. While this translation is very appealing it may not correctly represent the word vritti. Vritti means 'activity' like in pravritti nivritti etc. The translation of vritti as fluctuation is incorrect or at best conveys a very limited sense. In fact Patanjali himself explains the citta vrittis into five groups. Firstly it is pramana or knowing the truth. Is knowing the truth a fluctuation of the mind and is it that one wants to stop? The second is viparyaya or incorrect understanding, on which the subject is sure that he has understood it correctly. Third is vikalpa or imagination. Will stopping imagination lead to kaivalya? The fourth is nidra or sleep. I cannot imagine sleep to be a fluctuation of the mind. And smriti or remembering something one has not forgotten. It is not a fluctuation of the mind. I think yogais must revisit the popular modern view of yoga." Ramaswami Srivatsa

Can the Puruṣa — the true Self — recognize itself without the interference of the mind?

Often, we become entangled in our thoughts, emotions, and stories. And this makes it difficult to perceive something that is already within us — something that might be right in front of our eyes.

That’s why the presence of a teacher is so important.Not a guru in the sense of blind devotion, but a guide — someone who has studied, practiced, faced their own darkness, and emerged with a deeper understanding of this mysterious mind.

Like my beloved teacher Pichet, who created his unique style of Thai massage because the traditional approach was harming his body.Like Marissa Newell, who developed her Inner Temple methodology to respond to the unsettling patterns her own mind was generating.Or Mingyur Rinpoche, recognized as a reincarnated lama, who suffered from panic attacks despite his spiritual heritage.

Our teachers are not distant gods — they are human beings who have committed themselves to the deep work of inner freedom.

So today, on this Guru Purnima, I bow to my dear teachers —those who have shown me the way back into my own body,who knew how to open the door so I could fully inhabit it,and who remind me that we belong to that vast Akasha —even when it feels terrifying to surrender to it.

Thank you for walking the path before us,for lighting a candle in the dark,and for supporting us.