Greetings Sadhakas,
This week in class
we are considering the fourth and fifth limbs of Yoga, Pranayama and
Pratyahara.
The enemy is more
easily overcome if it be not suffered to enter the door of our hearts, but be
resisted without the gate at its first knock.
- Thomas
a Kempis
The body is rather
like a city with five gates, the five senses. We are fairly fussy about what
enters the gate of the mouth. But just as food enters the mouth and goes on to
nourish or damage the body, sense impressions enter consciousness through our
eyes, ears, nose, and skin, and in most of us the traffic is somewhat
unregulated. We all want to be open to experience, but we also need to be
watchful. When impressions come knocking, we need to check IDs.
Take popular films,
many of which glamorize violence. We can pretend this is only entertainment,
bearing no relationship to real life, yet every year violent crimes enact with
terrible precision episodes from television or movies. In our violent society,
how can anyone argue convincingly that witnessing casual cruelty on television
does not affect us? We all have a personal stake in not supporting any of the
mass media when they give us poisonous food for our eyes, our ears, and our
minds.
Words to Live By:
Inspiration for Every Day – Eknath Easwaran
The homework is
to consider the fourth and fifth limbs of Yoga, Pranayama and Pratyahara.
Pranayama teaches the aspirant to regulate the breathing, and thereby control
the mind. Pratyahara teaches the
aspirant to discipline the senses, helping free the senses from the thralldom
of the objects of desire. If you don't currently practice Pranayama talk to
your teacher and consider taking up this art. Additionally learn what it means
to practice Pratyahara. See for yourself how the practice of these two limbs of
Yoga can work together.
Blessings,
paul cheek
Rushing Water Yoga
360.834.5994
www.rushingwateryoga.com
Serving Yoga to Camas, Washougal, and Vancouver Washington
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