Practicing Non-Attachment

If you are a true sports fan, you can sympathize with Calgary Flames fans whose team was eliminated from the NHL post-season two nights ago. In the days that followed, local newspapers have are running headlines asking "What went wrong?", sports analysts are discussing who's to blame, and radio shows are taking calls from upset fans anxious to give their points of view.


What if we fans let go of our expectations for the playoffs? What if we could just enjoy the games for what they are instead of allowing the resulting score to upset us? What a perfect opportunity for practicing non-attachment. A win or loss by the home team would provide us with a chance to practivce sutras #1.12-1.16 (from Patanjali's Yoga Sutras), which discuss non-attachment or vairagya as part of the yogic path. How freeing it would be to watch a game or match knowing from the very beginning a loss would not catapult us into a state of mild depression. In fact, even a good result would not affect us. We would enjoy the sport for the skill it takes to play the game and appreciate how difficult it is to compete. There would be no need to point fingers because there isn't anyone to blame. It takes a lot of energy to feel as aweful as Calgary fans did late Tuesday night. Plus, no rehashing of the past and saying "what if" will change the result.

As for me, I will be sitting in Padmasana tonight watching my home team as they enter the second round. Of course, I will do my best not to be attached to the outcome...

Allez-y les boys. GO HABS GO!

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