Greetings Yogis and Yoginis,
This week in class we are again considering the topic “slowing down.”
Hurry blocks our access to our deeper resources. One of life’s most precious skills is learning to slow down and live completely in the present moment.
-Eknath Easwaran
In today’s speeded-up ways of working and living slowing down is an important spiritual discipline. In the modern world we are conditioned to live faster and faster with no time for inner reflection or sensitivity to others. We are only beginning to see that speed makes our lives tense, insecure, inefficient, and superficial.
It is not enough to talk about this; we must learn to slow down the pace of our lives. To do this it is a great help to start the day early; that is how you set the pace for the day. Have your meditation (contemplative practice, ed.) as early as possible. Don’t rush through breakfast. Allow enough time to get to work without haste. At any time during the day when you catch yourself hurrying, repeat the mantram (your chosen word, ed.) to slow down.
In order to slow down, it is necessary to gradually eliminate activities outside your job and family responsibilities which do not add to your spiritual growth. At first you may feel at a loss for what to do with your newfound extra time. What we lose in activity we gain in intensity by learning to rest content on each moment. The British poet John Donne says, “Be your own home and therein dwell.” We can find our center of gravity within ourselves by simplifying and slowing down our lives.
It is essential not to confuse slowness with sloth, which breeds procrastination and general inefficiency. In slowing down, attend meticulously to details, giving the very best you are capable of even to the smallest undertaking.
Creating Calm in Difficult Times: Strength in the Storm– Eknath Easwaran
The homework is to create a “To Be” list instead of a “To Do” list. The “To Be” list is for this life. Be specific, something like “Be more sympathetic to Nathan and Megan” instead of something general like “Be sympathetic.” Revise this list as you use it, to make it really work for you. Be honest and put down only things you really care about.
Blessings,
paul cheek
Rushing Water Yoga
The BKS Iyengar Yoga School of Southwest Washington
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
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Monday, December 20, 2010
Slowing Down
Greetings Yogis and Yoginis,
This week in class we are considering the topic “slowing down.”
The disunited mind is far from wise; how can it meditate? How be at peace? When you know no peace, how can you know joy?
-Bhagavad Gita
Today’s mania for speed strikes right at the root of our capacity for an even mind. How often we find ourselves locked into behavior and situations that force us to hurry, hurry, hurry! By now, most of us are aware that compulsive speed - “hurry sickness” - can be a direct threat to our physical health. But hurry has another alarming repercussion: it cripples patience.
When we lack patience, even a few moments’ delay, a trivial disappointment, an unexpected obstacle, makes us explode in anger. We are not hostile people; we are just in such a hurry that keeping the mind calm is impossible. Without peace of mind, how can we enjoy anything, from a movie to good health?
When we go slower, we are more patient, and when we are more patient, we are capable of enjoying life more. All these benefits can come from just learning to slow down.
Words to Live By: Inspiration for Every Day – Eknath Easwaran
The homework is to slow down. Begin each activity with one gentle inhalation, followed by a calm exhalation.
When you notice that you are pushing yourself to complete a task, soften and be merciful with yourself. Inhale quietly and exhale gently, extending the very same kindness to yourself that you would extend to another in the same situation. Begin again.
-Judith Lasater
Blessings,
paul cheek
Rushing Water Yoga
The BKS Iyengar Yoga School of Southwest Washington
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
This week in class we are considering the topic “slowing down.”
The disunited mind is far from wise; how can it meditate? How be at peace? When you know no peace, how can you know joy?
-Bhagavad Gita
Today’s mania for speed strikes right at the root of our capacity for an even mind. How often we find ourselves locked into behavior and situations that force us to hurry, hurry, hurry! By now, most of us are aware that compulsive speed - “hurry sickness” - can be a direct threat to our physical health. But hurry has another alarming repercussion: it cripples patience.
When we lack patience, even a few moments’ delay, a trivial disappointment, an unexpected obstacle, makes us explode in anger. We are not hostile people; we are just in such a hurry that keeping the mind calm is impossible. Without peace of mind, how can we enjoy anything, from a movie to good health?
When we go slower, we are more patient, and when we are more patient, we are capable of enjoying life more. All these benefits can come from just learning to slow down.
Words to Live By: Inspiration for Every Day – Eknath Easwaran
The homework is to slow down. Begin each activity with one gentle inhalation, followed by a calm exhalation.
When you notice that you are pushing yourself to complete a task, soften and be merciful with yourself. Inhale quietly and exhale gently, extending the very same kindness to yourself that you would extend to another in the same situation. Begin again.
-Judith Lasater
Blessings,
paul cheek
Rushing Water Yoga
The BKS Iyengar Yoga School of Southwest Washington
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, December 13, 2010
What is Really Important in Life
Greetings Yogis and Yoginis,
This week in class we are considering the topic “what is really important in life.”
One cannot collect all the beautiful shells on the beach. One can collect only a few, and they are more beautiful if they are few.
-Anne Morrow Lindbergh
If you are determined to stick to what is really important in life, then from day to day you will see that the unimportant pastimes, the distractions that lead you away from your purpose, will gradually weaken their hold.
On the list of priorities, first and foremost is meditation. It will clear your eyes and bring the detachment and discrimination we all need to make wise choices. So right at the top of your list should be the resolution to practice meditation, and not to let anything come in the way.
Not even the greatest of worldly achievements will satisfy us completely. Nothing finite can ever satisfy us. Sooner or later, all the vitality that has gone into pursuing countless goals in the outer world must flow into one huge desire to discover the divine presence within. This supreme discovery is what matters most in life. We are all born to seek the supreme truth.
Words to Live By: Inspiration for Every Day – Eknath Easwaran
The homework is to consider how meditation or any contemplative practice can support you in uncovering what is “really important in life”. Will having a contemplative practice have the effects of creating peace, clarity and vision? The only way to answer this question is from your own experience, to practice. Work to establish a contemplative practice.
Blessings,
paul cheek
Rushing Water Yoga
The BKS Iyengar Yoga School of Southwest Washington
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
This week in class we are considering the topic “what is really important in life.”
One cannot collect all the beautiful shells on the beach. One can collect only a few, and they are more beautiful if they are few.
-Anne Morrow Lindbergh
If you are determined to stick to what is really important in life, then from day to day you will see that the unimportant pastimes, the distractions that lead you away from your purpose, will gradually weaken their hold.
On the list of priorities, first and foremost is meditation. It will clear your eyes and bring the detachment and discrimination we all need to make wise choices. So right at the top of your list should be the resolution to practice meditation, and not to let anything come in the way.
Not even the greatest of worldly achievements will satisfy us completely. Nothing finite can ever satisfy us. Sooner or later, all the vitality that has gone into pursuing countless goals in the outer world must flow into one huge desire to discover the divine presence within. This supreme discovery is what matters most in life. We are all born to seek the supreme truth.
Words to Live By: Inspiration for Every Day – Eknath Easwaran
The homework is to consider how meditation or any contemplative practice can support you in uncovering what is “really important in life”. Will having a contemplative practice have the effects of creating peace, clarity and vision? The only way to answer this question is from your own experience, to practice. Work to establish a contemplative practice.
Blessings,
paul cheek
Rushing Water Yoga
The BKS Iyengar Yoga School of Southwest Washington
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
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Inner Growth
Greetings Yogis and Yoginis,
This week in class we are considering the topic “inner growth.”
Beautiful young people are accidents of nature, but beautiful old people are works of art.
-Eleanor Roosevelt
The modern world puts a high premium on youth. By this standard, retirement brings the freedom to take on a second career, or find fulfillment in new hobbies, or to recapture the pleasures of youth. But the last years of life spent in such pursuits are often full of frustrations and regrets.
By contrast, from a spiritual perspective, the second half of life is the natural time to turn from physical satisfactions to inner growth. These are years of opportunity - of continued growth rather than decline. This is the time when we need to concentrate on spiritual development if we are to fulfill our highest potential and realize our immortality. All the world's religions agree that death is not the end of life, only the end of one chapter.
Words to Live By: Inspiration for Every Day – Eknath Easwaran
The homework is to consider what it means to “turn from physical satisfactions to inner growth.” Ask yourself what steps you can take to develop inner growth? How can your yoga practice help you to answer this question?
Blessings,
paul cheek
Rushing Water Yoga
The BKS Iyengar Yoga School of Southwest Washington
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
This week in class we are considering the topic “inner growth.”
Beautiful young people are accidents of nature, but beautiful old people are works of art.
-Eleanor Roosevelt
The modern world puts a high premium on youth. By this standard, retirement brings the freedom to take on a second career, or find fulfillment in new hobbies, or to recapture the pleasures of youth. But the last years of life spent in such pursuits are often full of frustrations and regrets.
By contrast, from a spiritual perspective, the second half of life is the natural time to turn from physical satisfactions to inner growth. These are years of opportunity - of continued growth rather than decline. This is the time when we need to concentrate on spiritual development if we are to fulfill our highest potential and realize our immortality. All the world's religions agree that death is not the end of life, only the end of one chapter.
Words to Live By: Inspiration for Every Day – Eknath Easwaran
The homework is to consider what it means to “turn from physical satisfactions to inner growth.” Ask yourself what steps you can take to develop inner growth? How can your yoga practice help you to answer this question?
Blessings,
paul cheek
Rushing Water Yoga
The BKS Iyengar Yoga School of Southwest Washington
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
Thursday, December 2, 2010
One-pointed concentration and Love
Greetings Yogis and Yoginis,
This week in class we are considering the topic “one-pointed concentration and Love.”
Familiar acts are beautiful through love. – Percy Bysshe Shelley
By giving full attention to one thing at a time, we can learn to direct attention where we choose. Simple, yet essential to the practice of love! Being one-pointed means we can give the person we are with our complete attention, even if she is contradicting our opinion on tax reform or explaining the peculiarities of French grammar. Once we can do this, boredom disappears from our relationships. People are not boring; we get bored because our attention wanders. When we can give someone our full attention, our attitude says clearly, “You matter to me. You have my respect.”
Words to Live By: Inspiration for Every Day – Eknath Easwaran
The homework is to work on directing your attention to one thing at a time. Challenge the concept of multi-tasking and work to be present in whatever you do. In your personal relationships practice listening with full attention and when you wander away from being present, draw yourself back in fully.
Blessings,
paul cheek
Rushing Water Yoga
The BKS Iyengar Yoga School of Southwest Washington
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
This week in class we are considering the topic “one-pointed concentration and Love.”
Familiar acts are beautiful through love. – Percy Bysshe Shelley
By giving full attention to one thing at a time, we can learn to direct attention where we choose. Simple, yet essential to the practice of love! Being one-pointed means we can give the person we are with our complete attention, even if she is contradicting our opinion on tax reform or explaining the peculiarities of French grammar. Once we can do this, boredom disappears from our relationships. People are not boring; we get bored because our attention wanders. When we can give someone our full attention, our attitude says clearly, “You matter to me. You have my respect.”
Words to Live By: Inspiration for Every Day – Eknath Easwaran
The homework is to work on directing your attention to one thing at a time. Challenge the concept of multi-tasking and work to be present in whatever you do. In your personal relationships practice listening with full attention and when you wander away from being present, draw yourself back in fully.
Blessings,
paul cheek
Rushing Water Yoga
The BKS Iyengar Yoga School of Southwest Washington
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
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