in both the yoga and buddhist (the buddha as a yogi, after all) traditions, we encounter the interdependent opposites of sukha and dukkha. the taoists called them yin and yang.sukha is the sanskrit root of our word ‘sugar’.
this is the sweetness of life, the moments/hours/days when everything just works. it all fits together. there is joy and laughter, sunshine and starlight.dukkha expresses the polar opposite…pain, misery, anxiety, alienation. this is the difficult time of life when nothing flows. nothing fits. there are tears and groans, grey days and cloudy, sleepless nights.
this is the stuff of life.the yogis have a perfect image for this stuff of life…the wheel.
when the axle to which the wheel is attached is bent or broken, the wheel won’t turn. when the rim of the wheel is out of true it bumps on the road. when the hub is misaligned we experience a rough ride.then, when the rim is perfectly circular, the hub sits comfortably on the axle, which is strong and straight the ride of life is smooth and effortless. we are in the sweet spot.in the yoga sutra, that wise elder patanjali wrote, “sthira sukam asanam.” which translates as “the posture is steady and comfortable”. the wheel is true. we sit in comfort and strength.
in elderhood we require both steadiness and comfort, strength and flexibility, in order to manifest our essence in the world. who are we when we take our place with ease and assuredness? are we the wisdom keeper of the community’s history? are we the mentor, guiding the youngers along their chosen path? are we the the repository of wisdom? can we negotiate the turbulent waters of world affairs with kindness and compassion? we have experienced both…sukha and dukkha, and we bring both to our eldering.these aspects of eldering ask of us to sit at the centre of the wheel…steady and comfortable, allowing the wheel to turn with ease on the hub, allowing the rim to gently roll in contact with the ground.it is our spiritual connection that maintains the health of the wheel. it is our mechanic at the garage, ready to oil and adjust and align our inner being, the wheel of our being.
whatever that connection means…meditation, tai ji, daily walks in the woodland, gardening…it is vital to our joywork as elders. it is that connection that keeps the wheels turning and allows us to be fully authentic and alive as elders.