Greetings Sadhakas,
This week in class
we are considering how to refine the practices of Yoga through Asana and apply these
practices to our life off of the mat.
Life consists in
what a man is thinking of all day.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
A compulsive desire
is like any other thought over which we have no control. It flows continuously:
"I want that; I want that; I want that." There seems to be no space between
the thoughts. But when your meditation begins to deepen, two things happen.
First, the thought process slows down. Second, you develop a new attitude
toward desires - you begin to realize that you needn't give in to the desire.
You have a choice.
Now, when a very
strong desire starts to overtake you, and your mind is just one long string of
"I want that," you catch sight of a tiny opening between the demands.
It may be only a split second in duration at first, but in time it grows long
enough for another thought, another kind of thought, to make itself known. "Hmmm,"
we think, "maybe part of me does want that - but do I? Is it really in my
long-term best interest to gratify this desire?"
Words to Live By:
Inspiration for Every Day – Eknath Easwaran
The homework is
to reflect on which of the eight limbs of Yoga help you to learn to slow your
thought process down. Consider your breath (Pranayama), one-pointed attention (Dharana),
and ?????? Discover how you learn and cultivate these
practices in Asana and how to apply them in your life off of the mat.
Blessings,
paul cheek
Rushing Water Yoga
360.834.5994
www.rushingwateryoga.com
Serving Yoga to Camas, Washougal, and Vancouver Washington
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