Monday, March 27, 2017

Myself and the Rest of the World

Greetings Sadhakas,

This week in class we are considering the original duality of “myself” and “the rest of the world”.

To have courage for whatever comes in life - everything lies in that.
                                    -Saint Teresa of Avila

For the majority of us, uncertainty is worse than disaster, because disaster comes to us only rarely; worry depletes us often. We never know whether we are going to get a brick or a bouquet. If we knew for certain a brick was on its way, there would be no anxiety. We would just say, "Throw it and be done with it."

We can learn how to handle both bricks and bouquets, praise and censure, success and defeat. When we can say, "Whatever comes, we will not be afraid because the divine Self is within us," then this resoluteness and faith will enable us to work free from tension, agitation, and fear of defeat. The person who works in this way is at peace, because he or she is not anxious about results.

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

The homework is to consider our habit of dividing the world into comparative pieces and our original division of life into the duality of “myself” and “the rest of the world.” Relate this pattern of self-prescribed dualities to Easwaran’s commentary especially in terms of certainty vs uncertainty. Would you be at peace if you were able to experientially transcend this duality? How do the practices of Yoga help move you in this general direction?

Reference: The Secret of the Yamas, A Spiritual Guide to Yoga - John McAfee. 

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

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