Jivamukti response(part1)

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Xposted from the Jivamukti message

board...<br><br>_<br><br>1/24/02<br><br>"Do

not mistake me for all this, I am a free

man."<br>- K. Pattabhi Jois referring to disputes like this

one.<br><br>Dear Yoga Students,<br><br>We felt a need to compose a

response to letters about the cancellation of the Ashtanga

program. Our personal response to your letters seems

imperative because of the sincerity with which you wrote

them.<br>Perhaps, if you were given a little more background to the

events of this week you could have more compassion for

our position as directors of the Jivamukti Yoga

Center. In your letters you question our discretion as

directors, our integrity as teachers of yoga, as well as our

loyalty to our guru. We believe that as time passes you

may see the error of these judgments.<br><br>The

easiest way to respond is to quote and respond to your

allegations:<br><br>"you have canceled your Ashtanga programs"<br>We did

not cancel our Ashtanga programs; the principle

teacher resigned. Without that teacher the program ceased

to exist. <br>Why that teacher resigned was the same

reason that our other Ashtanga teachers resigned (Chris,

Russell, Guy and many others.) That reason was to pursue

their practice in another school which they felt more

loyalty to than Jivamukti. As directors, we merely gave

Christopher the right to exercise his choice. In exercising

that choice he was aware that it would deeply effect

the lives of many people, including his students

(some of you.)<br>"one honors one’s teacher and

teacher’s teachers"<br>Christopher’s decision to resign was

based on honor to his teacher, Eddie, and also out of

respect for our wishes as directors, to have a principle

teacher who was invested 100% in the Jivamukti Ashtanga

program. As for your relationship to your teacher;

Christopher, I would suggest that you respect his decision and

follow him.<br>As far as our relationship with our

gurus, it is just fine, we have no quarrels and they are

always with us.<br>"The practice taught by Guru Ji is at

the heart of what is taught at Jivamukti, and I hope

there was no dishonor"<br>Jivamukti Yoga Center was

established, and it’s style recognized as a revolutionary and

original way to practice yoga in America, many years

before we met Guruji. Fourteen years after we met

Pattabhi Jois, Jivamukti Yoga still continues to offer

students the full integration of yoga asana, pranayama,

Sanskrit, scriptural study, meditation, ethical discipline

and satsang. There is no dishonor in that.