Video - Live Performance of "The Human Struggle"

Avidya and the Kleshas - Stephanie Carlin

Moments before class, Stephanie and I stole away into a corner of Jivamukti Yoga School to record one of my favorite songs, "The Human Struggle."

This original song by Stephanie's band, Avidya & The Kleshas expands the Buddhist mantra, gate gate paragate parasangate bohdi swaha which means something like "gone, gone, real gone, beyond the most gone. wisdom arises only once all attachments are gone." Or, to quote the boddhisattva Tyler Durden, "its only once you've lost everything that you're free to do anything." Only once we are beyond attachment and aversion, can liberation from suffering arise.

Stephanie's gorgeous and heartfelt lyrics are about waking up from suffering and realizing both the preciousness of this breath, this life. All the while acknowledging the very real trappings of the suffering that arises from attachment and aversion.

Watch the video, listen to the song, check out http://avidyaandthekleshas.com/