“I Can See Your Aura”

Hold on I need to find my chi, ok I think I can start. Today our “funny” video was based on the sub-culture of ultra spirituality also known is my friend is more spiritual than yours.  The video touched upon a few issues, America’s adaptation of the “I” in spirituality, the different types of terminology being used to describe one main ideology that is practiced globally, material aesthetics being portrayed as spiritual practice oh and my favorite YOGA! 

“How to be Ultra Spiritual” by JP Sears (Funny) was a video of a man poking fun of the very generic sense of what Ultra Spirituality is and what spirituality is not; well because we can not explain what spirituality is but we can purchase ultra spirituality. He opened with a flower headband, a Buddha statue, something that what looked like a doily, a Tibetan singing bowl, lots of I am sure Pier 1 candles and of coarse the very feng shui décor in the back-ground (Link). 

The first thing that I noticed about his video was he wants to teach us how to be ultra spiritual; JP’s first set of Dogma practice (set of principles or rules laid down by an authority figure” was to be as passive aggressive as you possibly can, “you are a better person than them” judge them and put them down.  This notion of “I” and not “We” Spirituality is something that is within one self and maybe a personal journey or a journey shard with others, such as organized religion. (Psychology Today) There is research stating that finding something nontangible maybe helpful in reducing stress or may add context to certain things in your life (Mayo Clinic). I am adding these points because aspiring to have a sense of entitlement for something that is personal is contradictory.  JP’s point in my eyes is that; due to the competitive nature of our culture something that should be pure has become well a joke and more about status than “inner peace” or whatever.

One of my favorite parts of the video is when he mumbles off some of the different jargon that can used to substitute the word “energy” here are a few just for reference, aura, chi, chakra, and kundalini.   “Its all vibrations” During lecture there was discussion on why having different terms for the same thing can be beneficial; an intangible force like energy cannot be captured in the game of language charades. All of the definitions can help identify what people are trying to communicate. However on the other hand it really takes away from the true meaning behind these words. It is easy to minimize these terms when using them in a passive trendy cultural setting but the true essence of the word becomes lost and something once meaningful becomes a nuance in daily life.

I will admit that I have jumped on that yoga bandwagon; I will stand-up for the wonderful way your body feels after a nice hour of yoga! I love it! With that being said I have no idea what lulu lemon pants are but stretching your body does feel amazing! The concept of yoga is a trend that spread like wild fire in urban America. It is a phenomenon based on consumerism, you have to pay for the classes, the wardrobe, the mat and don’t forget the other accessories involved.

It has become more of a health trend for the “empty nest mothers” out there, than an actual way to be “one” with one’s self. Yoga in India and America are different according to Arunduhati, when they experienced yoga in America vs. India they realized some difference the first one was it is NOT as popular in India as it is in America. No figure! “Yoga is a crazy here” Yoga is practiced in India but it has become more commercialized here. While conducting their research they discovered a class with the title “chocolate yoga” What?? 

 JP pokes fun at the American sub-culture of taking something important and sacred to other cultures and turning it into a superficial trend. 

(student post)