Sutra I.33
Through the cultivation of friendliness, compassion, joy, and indifference to pleasure and pain, virtue and vice respectively, the consciousness becomes favourably disposed, serene and benevolent.
The day before Christmas and all through the house, the vizslas are napping and Angie is weepy.......
This time of year seems to always make me cry. I cry for many reasons, watching someone give the Salvation Army guy a $20 at King Soopers. I cry at silly movies that are so unrealistic. I cry when I wrap a gift because I can actually afford to buy a couple of them now. I cry because I think of where I was 5 years ago and cannot believe how far I have come. I cry because I miss my family to pieces, the ones living and the ones not of the physical anymore. I cry at the generosity of people because these people still exist!
I know what you are thinking. What about the focus only on Christmas? What about other people who don't celebrate Christmas? What about the over buying, living out of our means, retail gone crazy mode? What about the natural disasters? What about people killing each other with guns? What about the poverty in other countries? Angie, have you gone mad?
No, I have not, I am just choosing to watch the good that happens instead of the bad. Our yoga practice should be moving us all in this direction. It does not mean that we ignore those in need, those who are ill, those who are sad. We just need to find a balanced approach to it all.
Having a daily yoga practice is the key for me. I am not saying you should do just because I do. Find something that helps you to focus, to still the mind. Maybe it is creating art, hiking with your dogs, cooking for your family, sewing, singing, sitting still, reading a romance novel, watching golf....
. Whatever it is, find a little time where you can be free of distractions, find a little stillness. Most of all think before you act and speak. You never know who might be listening. You may inspire someone else to do something good too.
Why did I pick this sutra for today? I will quote right from Guruji himself,
"These qualities keep the mind in a state of well-being. Patanjali here lays the groundwork for our journey towards Self-Realization. ........This sutra asks us to rejoice with Happy, to be compassionate to the sorrowful, friendly to the virtuous, and indifferent to those who continue to live in vice, despite attempts to change them. This mental adjustment builds social as well as individual health......This approach to life keeps the mind of the sadhaka serene and pure."
-BKS Iyengar LIght on the Yoga Sutras-
Through the cultivation of friendliness, compassion, joy, and indifference to pleasure and pain, virtue and vice respectively, the consciousness becomes favourably disposed, serene and benevolent.
The day before Christmas and all through the house, the vizslas are napping and Angie is weepy.......
This time of year seems to always make me cry. I cry for many reasons, watching someone give the Salvation Army guy a $20 at King Soopers. I cry at silly movies that are so unrealistic. I cry when I wrap a gift because I can actually afford to buy a couple of them now. I cry because I think of where I was 5 years ago and cannot believe how far I have come. I cry because I miss my family to pieces, the ones living and the ones not of the physical anymore. I cry at the generosity of people because these people still exist!
I know what you are thinking. What about the focus only on Christmas? What about other people who don't celebrate Christmas? What about the over buying, living out of our means, retail gone crazy mode? What about the natural disasters? What about people killing each other with guns? What about the poverty in other countries? Angie, have you gone mad?
No, I have not, I am just choosing to watch the good that happens instead of the bad. Our yoga practice should be moving us all in this direction. It does not mean that we ignore those in need, those who are ill, those who are sad. We just need to find a balanced approach to it all.
Having a daily yoga practice is the key for me. I am not saying you should do just because I do. Find something that helps you to focus, to still the mind. Maybe it is creating art, hiking with your dogs, cooking for your family, sewing, singing, sitting still, reading a romance novel, watching golf....
. Whatever it is, find a little time where you can be free of distractions, find a little stillness. Most of all think before you act and speak. You never know who might be listening. You may inspire someone else to do something good too.
Why did I pick this sutra for today? I will quote right from Guruji himself,
"These qualities keep the mind in a state of well-being. Patanjali here lays the groundwork for our journey towards Self-Realization. ........This sutra asks us to rejoice with Happy, to be compassionate to the sorrowful, friendly to the virtuous, and indifferent to those who continue to live in vice, despite attempts to change them. This mental adjustment builds social as well as individual health......This approach to life keeps the mind of the sadhaka serene and pure."
-BKS Iyengar LIght on the Yoga Sutras-
Thanks Angie! It's a great sutra. I cry a lot this time of year too, but then I think of the year ahead, & I'm excited.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the season, your practice & all the great things yet to be learned.
Namaskar
Tricia