Things are getting crazy over here… I attended a “sweat ceremony” this past week. I almost passed away and I absolutely loved it… well… I loved it when it was over. Some of the guys… most of them Hawaiian and some from other islands asked me if I would like to attend their “sweat” on Friday. They see me work out in the mornings and always come over to discuss the workouts and we have developed a bond as of late. So, I agree to attend their sweat. Honestly, I was not too thrilled about accepting the invitation at first but they insisted… promising that I would enjoy the experience.
There is an area in the “garden”… which is right outside my window… in which they built a “sweat lodge”. The lodge is essentially a 7ft tall igloo of sorts that can fit about 8 guys in there at a time. Five feet from the lodge is a fire pit that they burn coals and then shovel the scorching coals into the lodge to create a sauna of sorts. Trust me when I tell you… it is hot… very hot. We all file into the lodge… take our seats on little stumps and the leaders begin the ceremony.
I am a sweater. So, the second I step foot in this lodge… I start leaking. I think about quitting 5 minutes in but force myself to ride it out. About 30 minutes in… I think I am going to pass out (like…for real) and 45 or so minutes in… I am sure that this is how I am going to die. But then the “sweat gods” took over and I felt a physiological feeling that I have never experienced. I could feel my sweat glands… almost individually, extremely conscious of my breathe and my body, my senses were locked in and crystal clear. It was an very cool feeling… almost psychedelic in a way… and then, I almost passed out again. This semi-conscious state lasted for the remaining 30 minutes until we left the lodge.
Once we filed out… completely drained but “purified”… some of the guys started discussing the importance of being one with your mind, body and environment. They told me that a man is only as good as his mind. That our minds are our driver and our bodies are the vehicle. That the physical part of ourselves cannot conquer that which is, by nature, superior… which is our mind. That during our sweats… it gives us time to reflect on our actions and analyze if we have “caused chaos” and if so, immediately discard these thoughts that led to chaotic action. If our actions have been “creating harmony” then continue on that path. They told me that, “an ordinary man looks and only sees. An enlightened man looks, sees, and understands. Everything begins with the right understanding, based upon sound knowledge, with appropriately thought out action.”
I found the conversation post-sweat extremely insightful (and surprising)… proving them right… I did thoroughly enjoy this experience. This is just another example of how by stepping out of my comfort zone, saying “yes” to opportunities that present themselves and having an open mind to people that are not carbon copies of me… I am opening my mind, heart and perspective in truly remarkable ways.