Sunday, February 22, 2009

Cheerfulness

Greetings Yogis and Yoginis,

This week in class we are considering the topic “Cheerfulness.”

Cheerfulness is a spontaneous expression of a purified heart and a steady mind. A clear mind is naturally blessed with cheerfulness, and a cheerful person spontaneously loves all and hates none. A cheerful person is fulfilled within, and this cheerfulness overflows, affecting everyone who comes near. On the other hand, and impure mind teems with countless conflicts. Spiritually speaking, a person with such a mind is empty. One who is empty envies those who are fulfilled, and easily becomes angry and vengeful. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to cultivate those divine qualities that purify the heart and steady the mind, thereby allowing cheerfulness to unfold spontaneously.

- Pandit Rajmani Tigunait

The reflection from the quote is to learn what practices you can embrace that will help you steady the mind. Observe how much discipline it takes to steady the mind and how this steadiness can help you cultivate divine qualities that purify the heart.

Blessings,

paul cheek
Rushing Water Yoga
417 NE Birch St., Camas, WA 98607
360.834.5994

www.rushingwateryoga.com
info@rushingwateryoga.com

Serving Yoga to Camas, Washougal, and Vancouver Washington since 2003

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Gentleness

Greetings Yogis and Yoginis,

This week in class we are considering the topic “Gentleness.”

Learn to be gentle with others and learn to be gentle with yourself. Violent people are violent because they are not at peace with themselves. So be gentle with yourself. Then you will be able to express gentleness in mind, action, and speech. It will come spontaneously.

- Swami Rama

The reflection from the quote is to start cultivating gentleness in mind first. Catch yourself the moment you start to belittle yourself or when you find yourself being critical of yourself in a negative way. Work to turn this negative energy into gentleness for yourself.

Blessings,

paul cheek
Rushing Water Yoga
417 NE Birch St., Camas, WA 98607
360.834.5994

www.rushingwateryoga.com
info@rushingwateryoga.com

Serving Yoga to Camas, Washougal, and Vancouver Washington since 2003

Monday, February 9, 2009

The Fruit of Nonviolence

Greetings Yogis and Yoginis,

This week in class we are considering the topic “The Fruit of Nonviolence."

Nonviolence creates an ability in you to recognize the underlying unity of life. You can then gain great comfort in realizing that you are not separate or alone, but instead, part of the magnificent system of the world’s life. You do not, then, feel threatened by any life form, because any life form would be observed as part of yourself. All life would be your life, supported by the spiritual body.

- Alice Christensen

The reflection is to ask yourself what it would mean to you to “recognize the underlying unity of life?” How would your life change if this recognition was realized? What impact would it have on your relationships with people and the environment?

Blessings,

paul cheek
Rushing Water Yoga
417 NE Birch St., Camas, WA 98607
360.834.5994

www.rushingwateryoga.com
info@rushingwateryoga.com

Serving Yoga to Camas, Washougal, and Vancouver Washington since 2003