Greetings Sadhakas,
This week in class
we are considering practices that help us "control the mind".
Let me not to the
marriage of true minds
Admit impediments.
Love is not love
Which alters when
it alteration finds,
Or bends with the
remover to remove.
- William
Shakespeare
Many of the
disruptions that take place in personal relationships can be prevented by
learning to control our attention, for attention is closely linked with
loyalty.
I can illustrate
with that most fascinating of relationships, the romantic. Suppose Romeo and
Juliet had turned out differently, and the two lovers had married and settled
down to a normal domestic life. After a few years, as sometimes happens,
Romeo's attention gets restless. Once the sight of Juliet made him think of
flowers and bubbling brooks and the "light, sweet airs of spring";
now she reminds him of the laundry and his morning espresso. After a while, his
attention falls on Rosaline, his old flame. Now she reminds him of flowers and brooks;
his attention seizes her and will not let go.
Today, Romeo would
most likely receive the advice, "Follow your desires. That is where
happiness will be." But that is just where unhappiness will be. If Romeo's
attention cannot stay with Juliet, how is it going to stay with Rosaline? If he
cannot get control over his attention, happiness can only recede farther and farther.
Words to Live By:
Inspiration for Every Day – Eknath Easwaran
The homework is
to consider how our Yoga practices help us to "control our attention"
and why that would be helpful in all areas of life. Ask yourself which practices are most relevant to this work. Dharana?
Tapas? Pratyahara? Pranayama? Dhyana? Svadhyaya? Isvara Pranidhana?
Blessings,
paul cheek
Rushing Water Yoga
360.834.5994
www.rushingwateryoga.com
Serving Yoga to Camas, Washougal, and Vancouver Washington
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