What Does it Mean to Look Within?

Greetings Yogis and Yoginis,

This week in class we are considering what it means to look within.

A sheltered life can be a daring life as well. For all serious daring starts from within.
-Eudora Welty

I am sitting in my chair at home in the country, looking out on the green hills. There is everything right here to satisfy me: birds, flowers, trees, reasonable comfort, loyal companions, and the precious opportunity of selfless service. Right here is everything I need for complete happiness always.

But as I look out of my cottage window I see a camper in the distance traveling along the road. Somewhere in my mind is the uneasy stirring of a desire to jump into that camper and go out chasing rainbows to find the pot of gold at the end. This belief that somewhere out there is the land of joy dogs our footsteps wherever we go. As long as we look upon happiness as something outside us, we shall never be able to find it. Wherever we go it will still be beyond our reach, because "out there" can never be "in here."

As Jesus says, "The kingdom of heaven is within."

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

The homework is to explore what it means to look within. Consider the idea that all of our happiness comes from within. What would it mean to no longer be dependent on something external to you for your happiness? How would this play out in life? How would this impact your relationships?

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