Yoga and Service, in the Age of Coronavirus

Another long-time fixture in Hellʻs Kitchen, NYC, shuttered. So sad! #nyccovidclosures

What does service look like in the time of Coronavirus? Perhaps the story of Hanuman has some answers.

I have always loved the story of Hanuman, and have been teaching a yoga sequence leading to the posture Hanumanasana (forward-splits) yearly around this time for more years now than I can remember. In addition to being a good stretch for the hamstrings, hip flexors, and chest, the themes of the story – acquiring knowledge for the benefit of the greater good, devotion to something bigger than little me, letting go of ego’s grip – have always inspired me to seek ways I can be of service to humanity. 

The character Hanuman appears in the Hindu myth, the Ramayana. Essentially, Hanuman, who was deeply devoted to his master, Lord Rama, seeks to serve him by rescuing Rama’s wife Sita, who had been captured and taken to the island Lanka in the middle of the ocean. Hanuman comes to the edge of the ocean, and in that moment is reminded of the enormous physical and mental powers that lie deep within him. He gathers up those powers and does a giant spit-leap over the ocean landing on Lanka. He eventually rescues Sita and returns her to Rama. As Professor Joshua Greene puts it, Yin and Yang are reunited. 

Hanuman represents things that can be particularly useful to us as we endure the pandemic. For example, Hanuman was so devoted to serving the greater good that he somehow found the strength to do so through his superhuman feat of leaping over the ocean. Similarly, as we protect our own health and well-being at this time, we must be aware that our own health is connected to the health of those around us. Yes, wearing a mask may seem like a chore and an imposition, but it can save lives, and not just our own. We all have this wonderful opportunity to serve by protecting the health and well-being of others in our community, and when we are aware of the larger picture, we have access to the deepest wells of resilience and perseverance that lie hidden within ourselves. Knowing we’re helping others through our own actions can inspire us to continue to keep being safe for the remainder of the pandemic.

Hanuman got his flying abilities from his father, Vayu, the wind god. I have always loved this quote from the spiritual teacher, Neem Karoli Baba:

I am like the Wind, No one can hold me,
I belong to everyone, No one can own me.

 In this age of the pandemic, we really do belong to everyone, as we are all so interconnected. The virus can be carried by our own winds, so it’s best we keep that closed in at this time. But more importantly, remembering that we can belong to everyone and that thus no one can own us gives us a sense of freedom in realizing that we have opportunities to serve the many. Being like the wind, our own good deeds can carry far, and serve more people than we can imagine. Being like the wind, we are reminded that our small acts of goodness do indeed carry very far.

 May you not be held nor owned by anyone, yet …
May you belong to everyone, … 
May you find your deepest wellsprings of strength, devotion, and perseverance at this time, … 
For the benefit of all beings everywhere.

Aloha with Metta,
Paui Keoni Chun

View from way down below in Hudson Yards. The clouds are a constant reminder of the wind’s effect at all times around us. We are all interconnected.