Greetings Sadhakas,
This week in class
we are exploring Nine Obstacles and Accompanying Four Distractions as presented
in Patanjali's Yoga Sutras.
And God shall wipe
away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither
sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain.
- Revelation
We have all seen
those signs on the highway, "Go Back. Wrong Way !" Where roads are
concerned, we all understand this warning. We turn around. If only we could
understand life's signs so easily!
Sorrow is often a
warning with the same message: "Go back. Change your direction. You are
going the wrong way." Every creature is conditioned to avoid pain; this is
a built-in safety mechanism to protect our bodies from harm. When you eat more
than necessary, for example, you should feel reassured if your stomach hurts.
Your body is telling you, "Please don't do this again; it's not good for
me." Mental and emotional suffering often serve the same function.
Once we have
connected our sorrow with particular patterns of behavior, we will remember to
act wisely more often. Eventually, as we learn its lesson, personal sorrow will
fade from our life.
Words to Live By:
Inspiration for Every Day – Eknath Easwaran
The homework is
to study Patanjali's Yoga Sutras 1:30
and 1:31 reviewing what are referred
to as the "Nine Obstacles and Accompanying Four
Distractions". To learn how to use
your Yoga practices to cultivate the connection of our sorrow with particular patterns of behavior and learn to act wisely
more often, review Patanjali's Yoga Sutras 1:32 - 1:39. This is where Patanjali
presents the ways to prevent these thirteen impediments.
Blessings,
paul cheek
Rushing Water Yoga
360.834.5994
www.rushingwateryoga.com
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