09.29.09
Posted in Uncategorized at 12:24 pm by Administrator
Don’t freak out. It’s not just about celibacy, but gently curbing all our senses so that instead of our energies going “out,” we have more energy within for our spiritual practice. This would include our visual sense cravings (lots and lots of movies), our aural sense (lots and lots of music, talk radio…), the taste sense, you get the idea.
When we over-indulge in these senses, and then sit to meditate, frequently our meditations consist of re-watching the movies and listening to songs in our head, which make it even harder to quiet the mind.
Spirituality first, celibacy much, much later. Eventually, after many years of meditation, the energies in the lower chakras reside in the higher chakras and the sexual drive lessens with no angst or supression. Until that time, enjoy!
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Posted in Uncategorized at 12:10 pm by Administrator
Don’t take things that aren’t yours. Pretty simple, yet a lot of us have experienced bringing our home made lunch into the office, labeling it as ours, and putting it in the communal fridge, only to find later that someone has taken it!!! How irritating. Sometimes we have to hide things to others won’t succumb to temptation.
Non-stealing also includes taking ideas that you didn’t create yourself – like someone claiming credit for a business marketing idea that was all yours. Or the kids in the classroom, who by their constant talking and interrupting, steal class time from the rest of the students.
I don’t know the solution in handling other people’s stealing, but we can certainly begin with our own practice of asteya.
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09.21.09
Posted in Uncategorized at 6:04 pm by Administrator
The 2nd yama (observation) is satya – truth (truthiness for you Colbert fans.) Swami Rama told us that you can say anything to anyone if you “grease it with love.” Don’t you know feel people who feel obliged to tell you the truth no matter how brutal it is? That’s ignoring the first and most important yama, non-violence. Yoga advises us to avoid falsehoods, exaggerations, and pretense. We try to understand truth as best we can intellectually, express the truth (gently, but honestly) and then let our actions speak the truth for us.
Relating this to yoga practice – be truthful and honest about how the postures feel to you and work within a capacity that does no injury.
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09.07.09
Posted in Uncategorized at 7:28 pm by Administrator
In yoga philosophy there are the 10 “committments” – the 1st 5 are the Yamas or restraints. The 2nd 5 are the Niyamas or observations.
We start with “ahimsa.” Ahimsa or non-violence is the 1st and most important one of all. (Think Gandhi.) Certain sects in India aspire to perfect ahimsa for their spiritual practice. They go so far as to avoid stepping on insects and wearing masks to avoid breathing in bugs. They won’t eat any kind of vegetable or fruit that kills the whole plant, like a carrot, but will eat berries, nuts and the like.
So, let’s practice this a bit more pragmatically – we don’t kill or hit people so we’re doing pretty good so far with physical non-violence. Applying it to yoga class – we don’t hurt ourselves.
Next step – verbal non-violence. This includes abusive words, insults, angry speech, and bad advice. We try to curb hurtful words toward others (gossip, too) and also not put ourselves down. (How do you react when you are given a compliment?) We learn to speak softly, gently, and wisely.
Third step – mental non-violence. This is where we control our thoughts about others and ourselves – no harmful thoughts going to someone and no demeaning thoughts about ourselves. Strike a nerve? Me, too. We are most often our own worst critic, but the more we can lighten up about ourselves the easier it is to lighten up with others. Like Louise Hay says, it’s just a thought and thoughts can be changed.
Ahimsa starts with ourselves.
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