Many years ago, when Ed was training at the Bihar School of Yoga in India, his yoga master suddenly turned to him and asked, "Are you a rogi, a bogi or a yogi?" Ed was stunned and confused, what is he saying? Isn't yoga all about love and goodness and happiness? Aren't yogi's people who never say or do anything wrong?
Then his teacher explained how a rogi is a rogue or a scoundrel, a bogi is into pleasures and indulging the senses, while a yogi is a seeker of truth. Seemed to Ed like he fitted into at least the latter two categories, but luckily each does not exclude the others. There are yogi's who are bogi's, and rogi's who are aspiring to be yogi's. For instance, we have taught rogi's in a prison in England who were expressing their desire to change through practicing yoga and meditation.
Ed's guru, Swami Satyananda, one of India's great yogis, was unconventional, outrageous and unpredictable. He taught the foundations of classical yoga and tantra yoga, but you never knew where he was coming from or what he would say or teach next. He felt that we need to experience life to it's fullest in order to truly appreciate the spiritual path. So when he asked Ed, are you a rogi, a bogi or a yogi, Ed knew what he was really asking. Do you yearn for the sensual world or do you long for truth? Are you more concerned about your own welfare or do you really care about others?
A rogi is a rogue, a dishonest and not a particularly nice person. In the ashram where Ed lived the rogi was the troublemaker: someone who would steal milk from the kitchen even though that meant the rest went without; who would use all the hot water in the winter so others had cold showers; who would cause dissension and unnecessary fights and blame everyone else. A rogi always thinks of themselves first, can hurt and prey on other people's weaknesses; they think nothing of stealing or doing harm.
A bogi--pronounced bhogi--is into sex, drugs, and rock and roll. We all get into this at some point, but a bogi is someone who constantly tries to get satisfaction from everything external. More, give me more, is their mantra. There is nothing particularly wrong with being a bogi, to have desires and enjoy the pleasure of this world is natural, but the desire realm is endless and ultimately unsatisfactory. They are like the hungry ghost in the Tibetan Wheel of Life who has a long but very thin throat and a huge belly. No matter how hard the hungry ghost tries, it can never consume enough to satisfy its hunger.
Ed was raised in the Bronx and lived a typically indulgent life. He won the NYC dance championship, danced on a NYC T.V. show, and became a Latin dance teacher in Miami Beach. He hung out in Studio 54 and Max's Kansas City where Blonde was a waitress. In other words, he partied heavily and lived the life of a bogi.
Luckily, most people who practice yoga seek a balance between yoga and boga.
A yogi is a person who realizes that all the actions of the rogi and bogi are ultimately fruitless, that all the cravings and indulgences are not really satisfying no matter how hard you try. Then the desire for something more real arises. A yogi is one who lives from the heart, with compassion and kindness, is blissful and who delights in the welfare of others.
Yoga master Swami Satchidananda, Ed's other guru, would say how just one taste of this bliss is more beautiful than anything in this world, and that taste is within you. He told the story of the musk deer that lives in India and has a beautiful smell in its anus but searches the forest looking for that smell. Just like most of us who search the world looking for happiness when it is within us all the time.
A rogi or a bogi can become a yogi, each is contained within the other. That is because the true quality of a yogi is not just to be able to stand on your head, but rather to be able to stand on your feet. And this is something every one of us can attain!
Which one are you? Do let us know.
Ed and Deb Shapiro are authors of over 15 books, and lead meditation retreats and workshops. Deb is the author of the award-winning book Your Body Speaks Your Mind. They are corporate consultants, and the creators of Chillout daily inspirational text messages on Sprint cell phones. See their website: www.EdandDebShapiro.com.
Follow Ed and Deb Shapiro on Twitter: www.twitter.com/edanddebshapiro
I wish your column was more than once a week I am always ready to learn.
I just wish I could remember it all after. Love the work you both do.
Keep it up YOYO
The best way to learn and remember is to just be yourself.
Everything you ever want to learn is ultimately within you. No need to try as it happens naturally.
When I was training in India my teacher wouldn't let me use my tape recorder or write notes. he just said listen and be present everything will unfold.
Treasure yourself,
Ed
Telluride is one of the top ski areas--very steep and challenging. To ski Telluride you better be a yogi as concentration & awareness is paramount or you can really loose it big time.
Life is a gift to be enjoyed. You appear to be on the right track. I mean slope.
Life is an adventure, enjoy the journey,
Ed
In the Eastern traditions they teach that we are here to wake up and to be Self-Realized. As we get older the habitual mind becomes more of a challenge to transcend. We become stuck and confusion enters our mind more easily.So when we are younger we have the chance to wake up and discover inner peace. I have a friend who is my ski guru- he has taught me how to be forever young- he knows how to live the ski-yogi life.
Enjoy the journey,
Ed
So back to my comments. I am a yogi because of my devotion to meditation.
I have been a bogi because I am spiritual being living a human experience,
a sensual human experience. Sensuality is a condition of being aware of your
senses. Senses are the physiological method of perception. Our language can be
sensual or emotions can sensual. That really touched me, that music really touched
me. So in that sense I'm a bogi. But really I am a Magi- a magician, mystic, a wiseman
of my life and my life is very holistic. So I choose to share that with others so it can possibly
enhance their lives like it has enhanced mine. I love myself because I believe in myself.
***One secret of mine is to laugh a lot and smile a lot.
In Love and Light, Magi
The key to what you have said is the LOVE--when we love ourselves we can truly love others then it is not a need for others to love us. Yes- keep laughing. become a laughing Buddha!
As I have mentioned kriya yoga awakens the dormant centers of the brain and awakens the senses where your skin glows, you taste nectar within, your inner smell is like sandlewood. you hear the celestial sound all your senses are transformed and the senses are in tune with the Divine. I was trained in this by Paramahamsa Satyananda @ The Bihar School Of Yoga in India many years ago.
May all beings be happy and wake up to their true nature, It's all love,
Swami Brahmananda - Ed
"Periogi" category of ogi's!!
Thank you for seeing the humor. Life can have it's challenging moments for us all and humor is like the saying:
Angels fly because they take themselves lightly!
Enjoy the journey,
Ed
According to the Yoga teachings the path of yoga without love there is no chance of Self-Realization. Yoga without love is dry, is just mental.
You can do asanas and the variosu other yogas but love is the most direct and fastest way to liberation from maya- illusion. Love dispels the darkness.
As for 'dancing with the posters.' I am sure we would have a great kick out of it and bogi all night long.
Life is a gift to be enjoyed,
Ed
Thank you,
Jason
Life is a precious gift- when we realize this and realize impermence it will make us happier people-
It would be great if we all could be funogis then we won't take our selves too seriously.
Treasure yourself my HuffPo mate,
ed
what are your thoughts on the purpose of the ego?
Peace and Gratitude - Gabriel
You spelled it out well. The senses are the slave of an unskillful mind or ego. The world is like a magnet that draws the mind into endless distractions and objects that keep saying--me want me.
It also tries to convince the senses that it will be satisfied if only you can have it. The conditioned mind and the addictive nature of the mind/senses plays the unending game of making us believe that slavery is freedom. We all fall into it's trappings at various times. "If only I can have it" is the mantra of the mind/senses.
When we are able to see and be aware of the nature or role of the ego. that it is to run the show we can liberate the mind from the grip of the ego and sense gratification. The ego/mind is a perfect slave but a terrible master.
Big Love, Ed
Yes awareness is the key.
But when you cultivate a yogic mind then you have the ability to see and as you said be aware. The difficulty with having a rogi/bogi mind without awareness is tripping over your monkey mind and falling on your mindless arse. So go yogi and be happy.
Life is a fun journey keep smiling,
Ed
Hey, it's Friday, it's been a tough year and week. It just might be time for a little "bogi-in". I'll get back to standing on my head tomorrow.......... On second thought, that might have to wait till Sunday!
Life is good..........Enjoy & take care.
Now what a minute a got it:
a dogi is very obedient to their master, a fogi is old and should know better and a nogi must be somebody who says no to everything-- and so they never have any fun.
Life is a gas- don't forget to breathe,
Ed
The senses are absolutely wonderful. But in kriya yoga you learn how to experience the senses in a more profound way.
It is a higher form of yoga and through the delight of kriya yoga you awaken the dormant centers of your brain. You experience the senses in a deeply spiritual way. It is joyful, luminous, reveals inner wisdom and knowledge. It more satisfying than anything in this world.
Life is a gas- don't forget to breathe, Treasure yourself,
Ed
In yoga it is part of Tantra Yoga- sex through Tantra is capable of reaching Self Realization. Some call it Nirvana.
When there is wisdom and compassion and skillful means --when there is loving kindness life becomes a treasure, a jewel, a gift,
Happiness is our birthright,
Swami Brahmananda (Ed)
What a compelling post! It was a blast to read. Love the reptilian rogi the sensual bogi and the higher mind yogi.
also love the FUNOGI!
Only a latin dancer could jig right through to enlightment.
Take us along for a spin or two!
kari
Maybe you have visited my neighborhood in the Bronx?
You sound like you really got the jest of our blog. I love mixing Truth with humor. I have been fortunate to spend time with some incredible teachers in my life. It sure helps cultivate wisdom and compassion. I did pay attention when I was with them and hopefully gained a morsel of Truth.
I appreciate your blogs & are glad you are part of the HuffPo community, you add some spice.
Treasure yourself,
Ed
than a false saint? "
-- Jessamyn West, American novelist and Quaker (1902-1984)
That is why Chogyam Trungpa said to have skepticism. It is wise not to jump on the bandwagon of a teacher or guru before you test the teacher.
When you meet a partner it takes time before you may marry. Having a guru is special and also one should take it slow.
In the dharma,
Ed
I enjoy reading all the post.. I learn so much and I love hearing about Swami ji. Everytime I read something about Him, a smile is in my heart and on my face.
Peace
Rinchen/nancy
The key to the rogi/bogi/yogi trilogy is awareness. We certainly should not deny, ignore or suppress what goes on within us as it can cause illness but if we pay attention and try to understand what and how we feel we can deal with it wisely and with compassion for ourselves. We can deal with it better. As long as we are not causing suffering to ourselves or others there is much room to allow it to be.
Om mane padme hum
Jigme Powa, Ed
I confess I have been a closet rogi; have certain ripped it up as a bogi and probably have more yogi going on these days. Just maybe it is fun to explore them all in this evolving picture called life. Whatever we experience puts us in a better place to empathize with others - and that to my has high value.
Fun post - thank you!
With love,
Anne
That is a good point - "Just maybe it is fun to explore them all in this evolving picture called life."
It sounds healthy to me. Also when you say- Whatever we experience puts us in a better place to empathize with others - and that to my has high value. Is the key,--
Even more so if we are teachers in the field of personal development and spirituality. If we have the experience we are able to understand what others are going through with greater compassion.
Enjoy the journey - It's a gas,
Ed