The Fifth and Sixth Limbs of Yoga: Pratyahara and Dharana

Greetings Sadhakas,

This week in class we are exploring the fifth and sixth limbs of Yoga: Pratyahara – refinement and/or withdrawal of the senses and Dharana – concentration.

There is no greater trouble for thee than thine own self, for when thou art occupied with thyself, thou remainest away from God.  

 

                                                  – Abu Sa'id

Do you want to be free? Most of us are held hostage in life by our likes and dislikes. We are bound by countless little preferences in food, clothing, decor, entertainment - the list goes on and on.

The person with rigid tastes in one area, for example in food, is likely to have rigid tastes elsewhere as well. He will probably enjoy only one kind of music, she will appreciate only one style of art, and when it comes to people, he has very definite allergies. In any case, a rigid person is conditioned to be happy only so long as he gets everything the way he likes it. Otherwise - which may be most of the time - he is unhappy over something.

The way we respond to small matters reflects the way we will respond to the larger matters of life. If we can begin to release ourselves from our little likes and dislikes, we will find that we are gaining the capacity to weather emotional storms. Then we can begin to face whatever comes calmly and courageously.

Words to Live By: Inspiration for Every Day – Eknath Easwaran

The homework is to consider the fifth and sixth limbs of Yoga: Pratyahara – refinement and/or withdrawal of the senses and Dharana – concentration, as a way to help you observe your likes and dislikes.  As you observe see if you can challenge some of your automatic response patterns and rigidity.  See for yourself if challenging some of your patterns of response and rigidity allows you to approach life more calmly and courageously.

Blessings,

paul cheek

Rushing Water Yoga

417 NE Birch St., Camas, WA 98607

360.834.5994

www.rushingwateryoga.com

info@rushingwateryoga.com

Isvara Pranidhana

Greetings Sadhakas,

This week in class we are exploring Isvara Pranidhana. Translated as surrender to God and/or as dedication to humanity.

He that loveth not, knoweth not God, for God is love.  

 

                                                  – I John

These words sound so ethereal that most of us cannot connect them with daily life. What, we ask, do personal relationships have to do with the divine? I would reply that it is by discovering the unity between ourselves and others - all others - that we find our unity with God. We don't first get to know God and then, by some miracle of grace, come to love our fellow human beings. Loving others comes first. In this sense, learning to love is practicing religion. Those who can put the welfare of others before their own small personal interests are religious, even if they would deny it.

Words to Live By: Inspiration for Every Day – Eknath Easwaran

The homework is to consider the fifth Niyama (the Niyamas are the second limb of the eight limbs of Yoga), Isvara Pranidhana. Translated as surrender to God and/or as dedication to humanity. Learn for yourself if the art of dedicating all your actions to humanity allows for the reflection of your own inner divinity.

Blessings,

paul cheek

Rushing Water Yoga

417 NE Birch St., Camas, WA 98607

360.834.5994

www.rushingwateryoga.com

info@rushingwateryoga.com

The Practice of Letting go of Desires

Greetings Sadhakas,

This week in class we are exploring the practice of letting go of desires.

Remember that you ought to behave in life as you would at a banquet. As something is being passed around, it comes to you. When it comes to you, stretch out your hand gently, take a portion of it politely, but pass it on. Or, it has not come to you yet. Do not project your desire to meet it. So act always in life.

                                                                                    – Epictetus

This is the nature of desire: it jumps out from the present to the future. When you have a very pleasant event planned, the desire has jumped out already to meet it. Even though this particular event will take place on Saturday, and today is Monday, half of you is already living in Saturday.

And next Monday morning, you will be at your desk, remembering the great day you had Saturday.

Epictetus says, don't ever let your desire jump out to the future, and don't let your mind wander to the past, because you will never be present in the here and now.

If, for example, you are going to the theater to see Anthony and Cleopatra, it is only when you get into the theater that you let your attention dwell on it completely. Until then, you don't think about it. And when you are watching the play, you are there completely, with no wisp of consciousness wandering to what your boss said to you yesterday about the project that is late, and no wandering to what you would like for breakfast tomorrow. You are there completely, sailing down the Nile with Cleopatra.

  

Words to Live By: Inspiration for Every Day – Eknath Easwaran

The homework is to look at your desires with the idea that all desire leads to disappointment.  Then cultivate the practice of letting go of desires.  Make a list of some of the desires you are “holding” on to.  Be honest with yourself.  Let the list sit for a few days and then revisit it and see if any revisions are in order.  Then choose one thing from your list to completely let go of.  Say to yourself, “This moment is the perfect moment to let go.”  Continue with this practice and all that will be left is love.  

 
Excerpts paraphrased from “Living your Yoga, Finding the Spiritual in Everyday Life”, by Judith Lasater.
  

Blessings,

paul cheek

Rushing Water Yoga

417 NE Birch St., Camas, WA 98607

360.834.5994

www.rushingwateryoga.com

info@rushingwateryoga.com