Greetings Yogis and Yoginis,
This week in class we are considering the topic “Cheerfulness.”
Cheerfulness is a spontaneous expression of a purified heart and a steady mind. A clear mind is naturally blessed with cheerfulness, and a cheerful person spontaneously loves all and hates none. A cheerful person is fulfilled within, and this cheerfulness overflows, affecting everyone who comes near. On the other hand, and impure mind teems with countless conflicts. Spiritually speaking, a person with such a mind is empty. One who is empty envies those who are fulfilled, and easily becomes angry and vengeful. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to cultivate those divine qualities that purify the heart and steady the mind, thereby allowing cheerfulness to unfold spontaneously.
- Pandit Rajmani Tigunait
The reflection from the quote is to learn what practices you can embrace that will help you steady the mind. Observe how much discipline it takes to steady the mind and how this steadiness can help you cultivate divine qualities that purify the heart.
Blessings,
paul cheek
Rushing Water Yoga
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
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Gentleness
Greetings Yogis and Yoginis,
This week in class we are considering the topic “Gentleness.”
Learn to be gentle with others and learn to be gentle with yourself. Violent people are violent because they are not at peace with themselves. So be gentle with yourself. Then you will be able to express gentleness in mind, action, and speech. It will come spontaneously.
- Swami Rama
The reflection from the quote is to start cultivating gentleness in mind first. Catch yourself the moment you start to belittle yourself or when you find yourself being critical of yourself in a negative way. Work to turn this negative energy into gentleness for yourself.
Blessings,
paul cheek
Rushing Water Yoga
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
This week in class we are considering the topic “Gentleness.”
Learn to be gentle with others and learn to be gentle with yourself. Violent people are violent because they are not at peace with themselves. So be gentle with yourself. Then you will be able to express gentleness in mind, action, and speech. It will come spontaneously.
- Swami Rama
The reflection from the quote is to start cultivating gentleness in mind first. Catch yourself the moment you start to belittle yourself or when you find yourself being critical of yourself in a negative way. Work to turn this negative energy into gentleness for yourself.
Blessings,
paul cheek
Rushing Water Yoga
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
Monday, February 9, 2009
The Fruit of Nonviolence
Greetings Yogis and Yoginis,
This week in class we are considering the topic “The Fruit of Nonviolence."
Nonviolence creates an ability in you to recognize the underlying unity of life. You can then gain great comfort in realizing that you are not separate or alone, but instead, part of the magnificent system of the world’s life. You do not, then, feel threatened by any life form, because any life form would be observed as part of yourself. All life would be your life, supported by the spiritual body.
- Alice Christensen
The reflection is to ask yourself what it would mean to you to “recognize the underlying unity of life?” How would your life change if this recognition was realized? What impact would it have on your relationships with people and the environment?
Blessings,
paul cheek
Rushing Water Yoga
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
This week in class we are considering the topic “The Fruit of Nonviolence."
Nonviolence creates an ability in you to recognize the underlying unity of life. You can then gain great comfort in realizing that you are not separate or alone, but instead, part of the magnificent system of the world’s life. You do not, then, feel threatened by any life form, because any life form would be observed as part of yourself. All life would be your life, supported by the spiritual body.
- Alice Christensen
The reflection is to ask yourself what it would mean to you to “recognize the underlying unity of life?” How would your life change if this recognition was realized? What impact would it have on your relationships with people and the environment?
Blessings,
paul cheek
Rushing Water Yoga
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
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Peace Overcomes Enmity
Greetings Yogis and Yoginis,
This week in class we are considering the topic “Peace Overcomes Enmity”.
The principle source of happiness is inner peace. Someone who has already had a practice in developing this peace, who already has a certain experience of it, will not be easily troubled by ordinary enemies. However, hatred, malice, and spite will immediately destroy this mental calmness. The true enemy, therefore, is malice. External enemies may be real enemies for a certain time, but it is quite conceivable that one day instead of harming us they may turn into friends. But the inner enemy will always be our enemy – in the beginning, midway through, and at the end; it is impossible that it will ever become useful to us.
-- The Dalai Lama
The reflection from the quote is to reflect on how your Yoga practice can help you cultivate inner peace. Then be reflective on the “enemy” inside. Notice your thought patterns and habits and how often the “enemy” comes up. Work to create different patterns and habits in your thinking that line up more with your practice of inner peace.
Blessings,
paul cheek
Rushing Water Yoga
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
This week in class we are considering the topic “Peace Overcomes Enmity”.
The principle source of happiness is inner peace. Someone who has already had a practice in developing this peace, who already has a certain experience of it, will not be easily troubled by ordinary enemies. However, hatred, malice, and spite will immediately destroy this mental calmness. The true enemy, therefore, is malice. External enemies may be real enemies for a certain time, but it is quite conceivable that one day instead of harming us they may turn into friends. But the inner enemy will always be our enemy – in the beginning, midway through, and at the end; it is impossible that it will ever become useful to us.
-- The Dalai Lama
The reflection from the quote is to reflect on how your Yoga practice can help you cultivate inner peace. Then be reflective on the “enemy” inside. Notice your thought patterns and habits and how often the “enemy” comes up. Work to create different patterns and habits in your thinking that line up more with your practice of inner peace.
Blessings,
paul cheek
Rushing Water Yoga
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
Healing Words
Greetings Yogis and Yoginis,
This week in class we are considering the topic “Healing Words”.
Learn to speak gently and lovingly, not only to human beings but also to animals, flowers, birds, trees and the whole of nature, for this is a divine habit. He who knows how to utter words that inspire and vivify possesses a magic wand in his mouth, and his words will never be spoken in vain…….
- Omraam Mikhael Aivanhov
The reflection from the quote is to start by speaking gently and lovingly towards yourself and work to make this a “divine habit.” Then work to expand this “habit” to include all beings.
Blessings,
paul cheek
Rushing Water Yoga
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
This week in class we are considering the topic “Healing Words”.
Learn to speak gently and lovingly, not only to human beings but also to animals, flowers, birds, trees and the whole of nature, for this is a divine habit. He who knows how to utter words that inspire and vivify possesses a magic wand in his mouth, and his words will never be spoken in vain…….
- Omraam Mikhael Aivanhov
The reflection from the quote is to start by speaking gently and lovingly towards yourself and work to make this a “divine habit.” Then work to expand this “habit” to include all beings.
Blessings,
paul cheek
Rushing Water Yoga
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
Monday, January 19, 2009
Don’t Judge Others
Greetings Yogis and Yoginis,
This week in class we are considering the topic “Don’t Judge Others”.
Let us guard against judging others. The Yogic attitude is to mind our own actions and not to be self-styled detectives of God. When we act, one-hundredth part of our personality is expressed outwardly and ninety-nine parts are expressed entirely on other levels. So to take one detail and judge the whole personality of man from that standpoint is surely wrong. The human personality is not merely a machine that acts. A sewing machine is judged on how it sews, but man is not a machine. He has deep complexes hidden in his personality, sometimes not known to himself. - Hari Prasad Shatri
The reflection from the quote is to evaluate for yourself what it means to “mind your own actions.” The next time you find yourself being critical of another person catch yourself and actively move away from criticizing. Then consider the things you need to work on. Be compassionate and non-judgmental when looking at your own life and at the same time be consciously reflective.
Blessings,
paul cheek
Rushing Water Yoga
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
This week in class we are considering the topic “Don’t Judge Others”.
Let us guard against judging others. The Yogic attitude is to mind our own actions and not to be self-styled detectives of God. When we act, one-hundredth part of our personality is expressed outwardly and ninety-nine parts are expressed entirely on other levels. So to take one detail and judge the whole personality of man from that standpoint is surely wrong. The human personality is not merely a machine that acts. A sewing machine is judged on how it sews, but man is not a machine. He has deep complexes hidden in his personality, sometimes not known to himself. - Hari Prasad Shatri
The reflection from the quote is to evaluate for yourself what it means to “mind your own actions.” The next time you find yourself being critical of another person catch yourself and actively move away from criticizing. Then consider the things you need to work on. Be compassionate and non-judgmental when looking at your own life and at the same time be consciously reflective.
Blessings,
paul cheek
Rushing Water Yoga
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
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Overcoming Jealousy
Greetings Yogis and Yoginis,
This week in class we are considering the topic “Overcoming Jealousy”.
To overcome jealousy, try to adopt a more advanced philosophical perspective. Begin to see yourself as a cosmic being, not as an individual, and all personalities as manifestations of the same Self.
Learn to see every human being as you would see your child or another near and dear relative. As such, they are all deserving of great joy. The happiness of all beings is yours. The world is your family, your own limb, your own Self. In the vast treasury of bliss that your inner Self enjoys, there is an abundance for all, and more is eternally forthcoming.
- Swami Jyotirmayananda
The reflection from the quote is to notice the next time the feeling of jealousy comes up and evaluate it in the light of every person deserving great joy. Consider what mental work has to be done to turn your jealousy into joy for this person.
Blessings,
paul cheek
Rushing Water Yoga
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
This week in class we are considering the topic “Overcoming Jealousy”.
To overcome jealousy, try to adopt a more advanced philosophical perspective. Begin to see yourself as a cosmic being, not as an individual, and all personalities as manifestations of the same Self.
Learn to see every human being as you would see your child or another near and dear relative. As such, they are all deserving of great joy. The happiness of all beings is yours. The world is your family, your own limb, your own Self. In the vast treasury of bliss that your inner Self enjoys, there is an abundance for all, and more is eternally forthcoming.
- Swami Jyotirmayananda
The reflection from the quote is to notice the next time the feeling of jealousy comes up and evaluate it in the light of every person deserving great joy. Consider what mental work has to be done to turn your jealousy into joy for this person.
Blessings,
paul cheek
Rushing Water Yoga
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
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