The Sixth Limb of Yoga: Dharana or One-Pointed Concentration

Greetings Sadhakas,

This week in class we are exploring the sixth limb of Yoga: Dharana or one-pointed concentration.

All spiritual disciplines are done with a view to still the mind. The perfectly still mind is universal spirit.

                                    - Swami Ramdas

Meditation is the regular, systematic training of attention to turn inward and dwell continuously on a single focus within consciousness. With practice, we can become so absorbed in the object of our contemplation that while we are meditating, we forget ourselves completely. In that moment, when we may be said to be empty of ourselves, we are utterly full of what we are dwelling on. This is the central principle of meditation: we become what we meditate on.

Eventually, meditation will make our mind calm, clear, and as concentrated as a laser which we can focus at will. This capacity of one-pointed attention is the essence of genius. When we have this mastery over attention in everything we do, we have a genius for life itself: unshakable security, clear judgment, and deep personal relationships.

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

The homework is to bring the same kind of attention that you use to maintain balance in your Asana practice to some of your regular daily activities.  Try to be as present as possible while you brush your teeth or when you are eating.  Work to bring Dharana, one-pointed concentration to these activities.  Then work to generalize this "mastery over attention" to everything else in life.

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

Isvara Pranidhana

Greetings Sadhakas,

This week in class we are exploring the fifth Niyama, Isvara Pranidhana. Translated as dedication to humanity or surrender to God.

No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main.

                                    - John Donne

The unity underlying life is so complete and pervasive that when we inflict suffering on the smallest creature, we injure the whole. When we refrain from habits that harm others, when we take up jobs that relieve suffering, when we work to put an end to anger and separateness, we strengthen the whole.

There is nothing more important in life than learning to express this unity in all our relationships. Violence, war, and insensitivity to our fellow creatures are external manifestations of the disunity in our consciousness. When we begin to practice spiritual disciplines, right from the first day, however slowly, we begin to transform our character, conduct, and consciousness. When the divisiveness which has been agitating us and making life difficult begins to mend, we get immediate evidence in our daily life. Our health improves, long-standing personal conflicts subside, our mind becomes clearer, and a sense of security and well-being follows us wherever we go.

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

The homework is to review the fifth Niyama, Isvara Pranidhana. Translated as dedication to humanity or surrender to God. To practice Isvara Pranidhana is to dedicate all that you do in life towards humanity. It is an act of surrender whereby we allow the universe to unfold as it is without our judgment or interference. When we surrender to the path of yoga, we leave behind our earthly desires and attachments. Learn for yourself if dedicating all your actions to humanity allows for the reflection of your own divinity and to bringing more healing, health and growth to our world.

References:

Light on Yoga and Light on the Yoga Sutras, by BKS Iyengar , The Yoga-Sutras of Patanjali, by Chip Hartranft, The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, by Sri Swami Satchidananda, and The Essence of Yoga, Bernard Bouanchaud

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

Pratyahara – the Withdrawal and Emancipation From the Senses

Greetings Sadhakas,

This week in class we are exploring the fifth limb of Yoga Pratyahara – the withdrawal and emancipation from the senses.

For the outer sense alone perceives visible things, and the eye of the heart alone sees the invisible.

                                    - Richard of Saint-Victor

The senses - the eyes, ears, touch, and taste - are wonderful instruments for observing the outer world. But these instruments function at their best when they are trained. If they clamor for what is damaging to our health, it is not their fault. It is ours, because we haven't sent them to school.

"Why do you want to eat that?" we ask the palate in exasperation. "You know it's going to add to the pounds."

"I can't help it," the palate replies. "You never trained me."

It may take a long period of education, but the senses can be trained. Then, the palate might clamor briefly for the chocolate mousse, but a friendly "Careful!" brings it back to the fresh strawberries.

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

The homework is to consider the fifth limb of Yoga Pratyahara – the withdrawal and emancipation from the senses. Select a day (or an hour!) to study your sensual experiences. Note which experiences bring up feelings of attachment – “I want more!” and, note which bring feelings of aversion – “Never again!” Consider what actions follow those sensual experiences. Are your actions based on an intellectual decision that you’ve made? Or are your actions based on the unconscious drive for more or less of the sensual experience?

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

Patience

Greetings Sadhakas,

This week in class we are exploring patience.

Living the Good Life

Patience

Why do we hear so little about patience today?  There almost seems to be a conspiracy in our modern civilization to counsel just the opposite: be impatient, be angry, “look out for number one.”  But what is life without patience?....We seldom realize what power there is in patience.  All the energy consumed in exploding against others, in retaliating, in unkind words, in the anger that brings grief to others and ulcers to ourselves – all that energy can be harnessed as positive, creative power, simply by learning patience…….Imagine someone who cannot be disturbed even if you are rude or unkind to him.  Imagine someone who moves closer to you when you get angry, instead of running away; someone who keeps showing respect even when you try to strike out and hurt him.  Simply being around such people is a joy.  Their practice rubs off.  Gradually we want to be like them.  When we have a selfish impulse, we reject it; we have seen something higher.  Once we have an ideal like this to live up to, we try to stretch ourselves a little every day; we see opportunities in every challenge.

                                                                        -Eknath Easwaran

                                                                      

Yoga Gems: A Treasury of Practical and Spiritual Wisdom from Ancient and Modern Masters – Edited by Georg Feurstein  

The homework is to notice when you are being impatient with yourself and work to turn this impatience into patience for yourself.  Then encourage this practice to “rub off” into other areas of your life.  Start with the little interactions that make up each day and be slower and more patient.

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