As I walk out the Institute, I am loathe to get back into the hustle of the day immediately. Sometimes, work is pressing and I have to look at my phone as soon as I am out. At others, I let it stay silent in my bag until I get to my car. Then, I just sit in there for 10 minutes or so and make notes. Usually, it is the sequence as I can remember it and what I consider as key points. In my understanding, it may be an action or location that is examined in different asanas, something about Guruji as remembered by the teacher or a tidbit on the philosophy. The sequence is important but perhaps not that essential as I am beginning to find out.
It may be a good idea to ditch the notes for a while. Just feel and experience rather than think too much about whatever I learn. Trust in the process and the subject. Forget if I forget, relearn if I need to. The very thought of letting go of this note taking is scary. How will I remember? My memory could fail me. But isn’t this a hoarding? As I type, my mind negotiates with itself, “ok, don’t bother with the sequence but maybe some of the important points?”
How can a river flow if it holds on to every little thing along its way? Can I flow like that?
anonymous sadhaka 
Nice analogy! Perhaps letting the teachings take root in the body is the thing…
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Thanks Kate. Every day I am reminded of how much I have to unlearn…
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My mentoring teacher Ray Madigan told me early in my teacher training NOT to take notes during class. I first thought he was nuts, but now that I am well into this, I see his wisdom. Prashant has a unique perspective. He says if you have an hour to do practice, only do 30-45 minutes of actual practice, then use the remainder of time to reflect. I think the wisdom of not furiously taking notes comes from this same place. Now after a good class with a senior teacher, I secretly snicker at people who are trying to get every last point on their notebook. Those poor souls are really missing out on the experience. Kind of like having a fine meal at a five star restaurant and taking notes on what you are eating. Just enjoy. The teaching is in you without any sense of doership that needs to assert itself. Many blessings Sonia!
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Thanks for sharing your experience.
I realised that I was operating from a fear of missing out when there is no need of fear. The 90 minutes is an intense period and later I find that some of the things I learnt then have become part of my internal memory. Those that haven’t become part of me are perhaps because I am not ready yet.
Coincidence or not, yesterday, my teacher mentioned the difference between logically understanding for information and experientially understanding for knowledge. Timely teaching…
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