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 mom ent,
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
360.834.5994
www.rushingwateryoga.com
Serving Yoga to Camas, Washougal, and Vancouver Washington
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