by Michael Gornik
Those of you who have recently discovered Polestar may have questions about our organization, culture, beliefs, practices, and affiliations. As most of you know, many of us are long time students of Paramhansa Yogananda. Yogananda brought the teachings of Raja Yoga to the west in 1920, and helped to initiate the now extensive cultural and spiritual exchange between east and west.
The essential philosophy of Yoga is that we are all suffering from spiritual amnesia! Identifying ourselves with the physical body, born and soon to die, we have forgotten our soul nature; our oneness, in body, mind and soul with the Universal Spirit. Far from being a distant, judgmental, separate, ‘Person’– ‘God’ is perceived as our truest, deepest, and highest Self. This soul-self is one with the Joyous Energy percolating throughout and beyond all creation! Through meditation and all the other essential practices of Yoga: Service, Devotion and Introspection, we can ‘re-member’ our true nature. This is called Self Realization.
All beliefs and philosophy aside, the teachings of yoga are practical! Anyone who will make a sincere effort to meditate, for example, will find unexpected benefits on many levels of their being. Our focus is not so much on what people believe, but on supporting how they strive to live. Within the very basic parameters of mutual respect and goodwill, we seek to create a diverse community, inclusive of anyone who may benefit from and contribute to it, whatever their beliefs. We know that in this soil of mutual service, deep friendships will sprout.
One of the most compelling forces in human nature is our need to grow, to evolve, to expand our awareness and consciousness. Those who are consciously engaged in their own process of growth, will likely find a great deal of resonance and support in Polestar’s culture. We are especially keen to promote, participate in, and celebrate spiritual practice. For us, the essential spiritual practice is meditation, but it also includes sacred music, community service; and generally supporting the overall physical, mental, and spiritual development of each one of us.
There is a very practical aspect to the above-mentioned personal growth ‘inward-looking’ focus for individuals involved in intentional communities. Those who come into community with the idea of changing everyone, of ‘fixing’ others and the world around them, are generally incapable of harmonizing with others. Those who sincerely focus on improving themselves, on the other hand, are an inspiration, and help to generate the cooperation needed for any group endeavor.
Polestar members have many connections and deep friendships with, and are members of various other organizations that share our ideals, some of them dedicated to Yogananda’s teachings. Though we are not legally affiliated with any of them, to the extent we are able, we support and seek to collaborate with them. Our ideal, as taught by Yogananda, is to recognize the universal principles present in all the diverse approaches to Spirit, and to appreciate and emulate the highest in all cultures and traditions.
Our commitment to conscious living has a few specific features. We seek a lifestyle that is supportive of daily meditation and from this simple focus, find the guidance, humility and grace so needed for cooperative group living. We aspire to live simply on the earth, and seek a rich inner life. Our cooperative kitchen is lacto-ovo vegetarian and we hold all our common areas strictly drug and alcohol free. In case we ever take ourselves too seriously, our service to and involvement with youth keeps us engaged, much to our (and hopefully their) advantage, in endless creative and fun activities.
A few other values we cherish are worth mentioning. Though our chosen lifestyle is certainly not everyone’s cup of tea, our sincere hope is that anyone, whoever and wherever they may be in their life journey, will feel safe and free to be themselves in our company. Whatever small or large differences we may have with others who share this planet, we hold, offer and expect, as the essential condition of building community, respect for each other.
Finally, our ultimate ideal is to learn to love, ourselves and all, unconditionally. Though it takes lifetimes of practice, patience and forgiveness; this is Freedom, and the door to the Divine Beauty we are all seeking.
