Yoga, Service, and the Power of Perseverance

LADY LIBERTY STANDING STRONG IN NY HARBOR AS A BEACON OF HOPE FOR ALL IMMIGRANTS WHO HAVE DARED TO MAKE THEIR WAY TO THIS COUNTRY IN SEARCH OF FREEDOM AND A BETTER LIFE FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR LOVED ONES.

This past month, I made my annual return to a yoga dance flow sequence that I have been refining for years. The sequence leads to the yoga posture “Hanuman-asana” or the forward splits position. Picture Simone Biles split-leaping though the air. In the story of the Ramayana, Lord Hanuman does a giant split-leap over the ocean to rescue the wife of Lord Rama, the master he was serving. He was so devoted to his master that he found within himself the will, the power and the strength to complete an important mission that was dear to his heart. He overcame his forgetting nature and self-doubt to serve something bigger than just his little self and small ego.

From various sources, here’s what I’ve gathered about what Hanuman symbolizes:

Lord Hanuman, The Monkey God, directed all his energies towards the worship of Lord Rama, and his undying devotion made him such that he became free from all physical fatigue.
Hanuman is worshipped as a symbol of physical strength, perseverance and devotion.
Lord Hanuman symbolically stands for pure devotion, complete surrender and absence of ego or the lower self.
He was devoted to the ideal of selfless service.
- source unknown

Lord Hanuman symbolically stands for pure devotion, complete surrender and absence of ego or the lower self. His character tells us what we can do in our lives by becoming pure devotees of God, aligning ourselves with the forces of good, helping the weak, with self-control, unconditional faith and total surrender. ….
He is a perfect example of true devotion and complete surrender. He also symbolizes the story of animal man in us who through the path of devotion and service to God, can purify himself and attain immortality.
- Hinduwebsite.com

Essentially, the character of Hanuman reminds us of the powers that lie deep within ourselves that are awakened when we engage in being of service to the humanity and the greater good. … Hanuman-asana is the forward-splits position.  The arms are raised overhead in victory.  The body is stretched out in all 6 directions. Practicing the pose, we gain victory over our own selves, our ego and our tendencies towards evil.
- Professor Joshua Greene

The character of Hanuman teaches us of the unlimited power that lies unused within each one of us.
- About.com: Hinduism

I love doing this sequence along with my playlist of songs devoted to Hanuman. Less so because the posture stretches the hamstrings and hip-flexors, and more so because it opens the heart center to reveal what’s truly important to my being. I love what the character of Hanuman symbolizes and the possibilities that exist during those fleeting moments when I am aligned with my hearts deepest desires. There’s a lot to unpack about the character of Hanuman and the reminders it offers us. There are a few things that are resonating with me right now.

Hanuman reminds me of the power of perseverance. It’s all about putting one foot in front of the other and just doing the next thing. That’s pretty much how I’ve built Keoni Movement Arts, the nonprofit I founded. That’s pretty much how I got as far as I did when I was performing as an actor, dancer, singer. That’s pretty much how I along with countless others got through the pandemic – just by taking things one day at a time figuring things out as we went, serving the larger cause by protecting ourselves and others, until at last we made it to the other side. As the pandemic starts to fade into the background, we can pat ourselves on the back for having demonstrated some Hanuman-like abilities we didn’t know we had.

Moving beyond myself, though, I am inspired by the migrants who made it through the Darién Gap to come to the U.S. And many have landed here in NYC. Why would they make such a risky trip that involves remembering their Hanuman-like abilities. Without knowing the particulars of anyone’s individual story, I imagine that overwhelmingly it was to escape oppression and violence in their own countries and to create a better life not just for themselves but for their loved ones as well. To them, the cause is great enough and beyond just their own smaller ego’s needs that they had to persevere and act, putting one step in front of the other through this treacherous part of the world.

I think about the war in Ukraine and the many soldiers who put aside their own personal needs to serve a cause much bigger than their little selves. The collective courage of this country has been truly Hanuman-like in my mind. 

I think about the tragedy of the Israel-Hamas war and the countless numbers of innocent people on both sides who are simply trying to create a better and more peaceful life for themselves and their loved ones. I salute those who have suffered yet are willing to go deeper within to find that restraint that may make for a more lasting peace in the region. This to me is a Hanuman-like response to a very base desire to want to retaliate.

I know that I am fortunate living here in my small corner of the world. I am safe and have my basic needs for food, clothing and shelter taken care of. And I know that we can’t solve all the problems of the world. But maybe we can help work toward the greater good by restraining our own senses, not adding fuel to the fires, constraining the forces of evil within in order to connect more fully with our God-like nature. In our own humble ways, we can serve a higher cause by practicing yoga and meditation to calm the winds within our own minds in order to help reduce some of the turbulence in the world.

I hope that your ongoing yoga practice can keep revealing what is truly in your heart, and I hope you have the courage to use your gifts, and find your strength and ability to persevere as you step-by-step work towards completing your sacred missions.

May you be happy, …
May you be healthy, …
May you find your particular Hanuman-like abilities, …
May your service to the world in your particular ways somehow benefit those nearest to you, and ultimately benefit ALL Beings everywhere. 

Aloha and Metta,
Paul Keoni Chun

The whimsical Art all around our city never ceases to delight me. I found this delightful object on the Highline, and it made me pause and admire. I'm sure Hanuman would agree that Art is a force for good!