Every thought we think and every action we take has an impact on the world around us To be aware of this is to be conscious of our impact on the people in our lives. Sometimes we just want to do what we want to do, but considering the full ramifications of our actions can be an important part of our spiritual growth and awareness. At first, being more conscious requires effort, but once we have made it a habit, it becomes second nature. The more we practice this awareness of others, the more we find ourselves in easy alignment with our integrity. Our thoughts are an important place to begin this practice because our thoughts are the seeds of our actions. It is not necessary or beneficial to obsessively monitor all our thoughts, but we can perhaps choose one thought or action per day and simply notice if we are in alignment with this experience of integrity. For example, we may find ourselves replaying a negative encounter with someone in our minds. We may think that this doesn't affect the person about whom we are thinking, but the laws of energy tell us that it does. When we hold someone negatively in our minds, we risk trapping them in negativity. If we were this person, we might wish for forgiveness and release. We can offer this by simply letting go of the negative thought and replacing it with a wish for healing on that person's behalf. With regard to our actions, we may have something difficult to express to someone. Taking the time to consider how we would feel if we were in his or her shoes will enable us to communicate more sensitively than we would if we just expressed ourselves from our own perspective. When we modify our approach by taking someone else's feelings into account, we bring benefit to that person and ourselves equally. The more we do this, the more we reaffirm our integrity and the integrity of our relationship to the world. In the quest to create a gentler, more loving world, kindness is the easiest tool we can use. Though it is easy to overlook opportunities to be kind, our lives are replete with situations in which we can be helpful, considerate, thoughtful, and friendly to loved ones and associates, and even strangers. A beautiful mantra to consider: Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu लोकाः समस्ताः सुखिनो भवन्तु May all beings be happy and free, and may my thoughts, words, and actions contribute to the happiness and freedom for all. In the morning, send yourself and others love for the entire day and be sure to collect that love along the way. Just being here, being ourselves, is enough Most of us have the feeling that we are here to accomplish something big in our lives, and if we haven't done something that fits the bill we may feel as if we are waiting. We may feel incomplete, or empty, as if our lives don't yet make sense to us, because they don't line up with our idea of major accomplishment. In some cases, this may be because we really are meant to do something that we haven't yet done. But in most cases, we can let ourselves off the hook with the realisation that just being here, being ourselves, is enough. As we live our lives in this world, we share our energy and our spirit with the people around us in numerous ways. Our influence touches their lives and, through them, touches the lives of many more people. When we strive to live our lives to the fullest and to become our true selves, we are doing something big on an inner level, and that is more than enough to make sense of our being here on this planet at this time. There is no need to hold ourselves to an old idea in the back of our minds that we need to make headlines or single-handedly save the world in order to validate our existence. We are designed to work collaboratively and to pass on, share our experience and wisdom as we move through this life. Legacy is an easy hook, however if we change our mindset to one of 'redundancy', we can more easily approach our roles as teachers, parents, scientists or other with the intention to create strength and autonomy, or at least healthy inter-dependency in our relationships, affiliations or projects. Soon we will see the blossoming of inspiration, freedom and creativity that radiates out from these touchpoints of our influence. This is an inherent joy of kavi. If we can each look within our hearts to discover what is true for us, what gives our lives meaning, and what excites us, we can release ourselves from any pressure to perform that comes from outside of our inner sense of purpose. Staying in tune with our own values and living our lives in tune with our own vision is all we need in order to fulfill our time here. Our lives are a process of being and becoming so that we cannot help but co-create; being who we are, responding to each moment as it comes, we can trust that this is enough to become just what the Divine intended for us this lifetime. Be well. Be happy. Be free. Nurture in nature. Bhakti. If we aren't clear about what we want in life, it won't be able to find us The best way to get what we want from life is to first know what we want. If we haven't taken the time to really understand and identify what would truly make us happy, we won't be able to ask for it from those around us or from the universe. We may not even be able to recognise it once it arrives. Once we are clear about what we want, we can communicate it to those around us. When we can be honest about who we are and what we want, there is no need to demand, be rude or aggressive, or manipulate others that are involved in helping us get what we want. Instead, we know that we are transmitting a signal on the right frequency to bring all that we desire into our experience. As the world evolves, humanity is learning to work from the heart. We may have been taught that the way to get what we want is to follow certain rules, play particular games, or even engage in acts that use less than our highest integrity. The only rules we need to apply are those of intention and connection. In terms of energy, we can see that it takes a lot of energy to keep up a false front or act in a way that is counter to our true nature, but much less energy is expended when we can just be and enjoy connections that energise us in return. Then our energy can be directed toward living the life we want right now. Society has certain expectations of behaviour and the roles each of us should play, but as spiritual beings we are not bound by these superficial structures unless we choose to accept them. Instead, we can listen to our hearts and follow what we know to be true and meaningful for us. In doing so, we will find others who have chosen the same path. It can be easy to get caught up in following goals that appear to be what we want, but when we pursue the underlying value, we are certain to stay on our right path and continue to feed our soul. What makes a woman confident is her ability to call upon her feminine wisdom So often in our world we tend to think of strength as a quality that arises from a place of firm determination and a will to succeed no matter the cost. Even though we might want to think of a strong woman as being defined in this way, what really makes a woman confident is her capacity for listening to her true self and being able to call upon her feminine wisdom to any situation that may arise. A woman does not need to step into an assertive role or act like a man in order to be effective at what she does -- she simply needs to get in touch with her insight and sense of compassion to truly demonstrate the depth of her strength. Listening to the feminine side of ourselves may not seem easy at first for this type of energy is something that is often overlooked in many aspects of our everyday lives. If we can connect with this part of who we are, however, we will find that there is an unlimited wellspring of strength available to us. Our capacity to tap into our intuition and listen to our inner guides, to take into account the needs of those around us, and to view a situation with compassion and love are ways that we can show the world the true power that is part of our feminine nature -- our true nature. When we learn to integrate this source of strength into our daily tasks and decision-making, we will find that we can be more flexible and open to the things that happen around us and more receptive to new ideas. Not only will we see the world in a different light, but we will truly start to realise the potential for this form of energy to both empower ourselves and those around us. As we cultivate our feminine energy we can redefine the meaning of strength. By embracing our feminine power as something that is strong in its own right, we are able to use it with true assurance and determination and draw upon what truly belongs to us. Honouring the daily OM. When it comes to designing a yoga practice, it’s easier to picture doing seated forward bends and downward dogs than engaging with the yamas and niyamas (the first two rungs on the ladder of classical yoga) Postures fit solidly into a daily schedule and have beginnings, middles, and ends. But yogic attitudes such as non-harming and contentment are more contemplative in nature and require a measure of self-examination. As a result, they tend to fall off our practice map. Suppose, for example, that a fellow student in your yoga class turns to you and says, “I’m working on the fourth niyama. Do you have any suggestions for me? I could sure use some help.” Would you have advice to offer? If you think you might be stumped, perhaps it’s time to dig a little deeper into the underpinnings of yoga, where classroom work merges with philosophy, and the point of practice is to explore the nature of yoga itself. The fourth niyama is a perfect place to begin. SVADHYAYA: That mystery niyama? It’s svadhyaya—“self-study,” although the translation is a bit awkward. This Sanskrit word, like many, has a richer history than can easily be captured in one or two English words. Even within the Yoga Sutra (the bible of yoga, so to speak) the term svadhyaya picks up increasingly richer meaning as it winds its way through the first two chapters. To translate svadhyaya as “self-study” is, on the surface of things, quite precise. The first part of the word--sva—means “self.” The second part--dhyaya—is derived from the verb root dhyai, which means “to contemplate, to think on, to recollect, or to call to mind.” Thus, it works to translate dhyaya as “study”—to study one’s own self. By Rolf Sovik of the Himalayan Institute Read more of the complete article here: Yoga International It is a great act of love to leave the earth a better place when we leave, than which we found her We inherit this great planet from our parents and from the generations that came before. Then, in concert with the surrounding culture, our elders teach us how to care for the land and the sea, ourselves and each other. They model ways of being in relationship with every other expression of life on earth. But whether they act with care or carelessness, compassion or cruelty, generosity or greed, we have the ability to choose our own individual way of relating with the planet and her inhabitants. From our first breath here to our very last, we will find infinite opportunities to influence our environment for the better. We can decide now to act with intention in order to leave this amazing planet brighter and more beautiful than when we arrived. If we enjoy environmental activism, we might feel moved to clean up beaches or to plant trees. But, we need not feel limited in our ability to contribute positively. There are many ways to leave a legacy of love. We might begin by radiating affirmative thoughts and feelings about how magnificent the earth truly is. We might create and tend a special garden, one that provides an abundance of food and herbs for ourselves and our loved ones. Or we might create a garden filled with sweet smelling flowers to uplift our hearts. We might even honor the earth simply by trying to be the best person we can be while we are here. Such good will can have a domino effect, inspiring others to contribute in their own way as well. We spend our lifetimes being nourished and enlivened by the rain, sun, soil and wind. Our experience is blessed by other living beings, from plants to insects to birds and humans. We receive so much; giving back just naturally feels good. When we live our lives with intention of leaving this temporary home a better place for generations to come, we are perhaps leaving behind the best gift of all. Yoga creates an awareness of our connection to all of life...one way to enter is to begin to reflect on the teachings of the Yoga Sutras, and the Yamas and Niyamas are a perfect place to start your exploration of applied philosophy. One breath, one practice at a time, we begin from where we are and move towards where we want to be in the world. To shine bright and be of service to all. Om Tat Sat. Today I borrowed some words from the beautiful Madisyn Taylor. Can you Imagine a life free from pain and sorrow, and infused with joy and tranquility? The ancient yogis called this state Vishoka and insisted that we all can reach it. The key is a precise set of meditative techniques designed to unite the mind and breath and turn them inward. Grounded in the authentic wisdom of a living tradition, the simple—yet profound—practice of Vishoka Meditation is the perfect complement to your existing yoga practice, as well as a powerful standalone meditation practice. Each person I have shared this practice with has so far has spoken of a sense of joy, peace and inner nourishment - whether experienced yogi, meditator or new - that they tasted a glimpse of that state we are all aspiring to in our yoga sadhana. I began this practice with Pandit Rajamani Tigunait in his inaugural training at the Himalayan Institute in Honesdale PA USA, in May 2020 and have been practicing each day since. I was honoured to become a teacher of Vishoka in March 2021 and am now offering opportunities for you to experience this beautiful practice personally. I am teaching the foundations of this sublime practice online each Thursday and Friday in 45 - 60 minute small group sessions. Please contact me to arrange your personal introductory experience before moving into the group practices. email tania@kaviyoga.com.au or phone 0408061265. Om Tat Sat. How are you raising yourself and others up? The strength of your will can carry you forward as you reflect on what you hope to achieve in this life. Upon closer examination of the course you have set for yourself, you may come to recognise that your current rate of goal realisation is causing you to fall behind slightly in the pursuit of your purpose. You may be delighted to discover how assertive you can be when you want to move forward more quickly. This can be a good time to take on a greater degrees of responsibility at work, home, or in the community. One of the best ways to demonstrate that we are comfortable with the level of responsibility we currently shoulder is to expand our efforts so that we are once again challenging ourselves. We often do not realise how broad our potential really is because we have never seen the extent of our capabilities. The more proactive we are about undertaking new duties and obligations, the more others will sit up and take notice of our talents and abilities. Though the extra work we do may not be recognised as vital at first, the people with whom we share our environments will soon come to realise that we are worthy of their further consideration and be more than willing to go above and beyond the call of duty. Your assertiveness will take you further, and it is likely that you will not stop pushing yourself just because you can. In all ways, be gentle and patient with yourself and others as you expand, rise, and work to support and encourage others in elevating and thriving in the world. Shine your light bright on the path so others can see their way home. Be loving. Be kind. Be compassionate. Be friendly. Reflect on Yoga Sutra 1.33. By Pandit Rajmani Tigunait, PhD We all aspire to become immortal, but our confidence in our ability to attain immortality is overshadowed by our daily experience of death, destruction, and decay. We hope we will not die, but know our wish will not come true. The Yoga Sutra, the cardinal text of yoga philosophy and practice, tells us clearly that fulfillment of this wish is within the realm of human achievement. Patanjali, the author of the Yoga Sutra, is a living example of this truth. Indian tradition identifies Patanjali as much more than the author of the Yoga Sutra. The genius of another text, the Mahabhashya, which he also authored, shows him to be an extraordinary soul. The story about how this monumental text came to be written and how it was preserved is a testament to Patanjali’s status as a siddha master beyond death, destruction, and decay. Mahabhashya means “the great commentary.” On the surface, the subject of the Mahabhashya is Sanskrit grammar, but what makes this commentary so extraordinary is that in these pages, Patanjali takes us into the heart of mantra vidya. He describes the eternity of words, their oneness with meaning, and how a word and its inherent meaning flow together from the subtlest state until the word becomes audible and is identified with a particular language. Patanjali also describes the capacity of words to create a new reality. Thus, he enables us to comprehend the infallible transformative power of prayer and mantra sadhana. Dictating the Mahabhashya: A Thousand Patanjalis As is the case with many other masters, the time and place of Patanjali’s birth is shrouded in mystery. Both Eastern and Western traditions of scholarship, however, hold that Patanjali lived in the second century BC. The following story seems consistent with these academic conclusions. In these pages, Patanjali takes us into the heart of mantra vidya After teaching and guiding students for a long time, one day Patanjali made a decision to undertake a thousand-year-long practice of meditation. Until then he had been teaching the Mahabhashya orally but decided to put it into writing before going into solitude. He discussed his plan for doing this with a thousand of his select students. He explained that he would dictate the text to them while sitting behind a circular curtain. The dictation would be given under very strict conditions: The students must not attempt to see who was speaking from behind the curtain; they must focus only on what was being dictated to them and pay no heed to what was being dictated to those around them; and finally, they must not get up from their seats until the entire session was complete. Patanjali explained that a violation of any of these rules would have fatal consequences, and further, that a mistake committed by any one of the students would have dire consequences for all, because they all constituted one unified collective consciousness. A big circular curtain was erected around Patanjali. With pen and paper in hand, all thousand students sat in a circle facing the curtain. As soon as Patanjali invoked his yoga shakti, each student felt as if he were sitting directly in front of the master. As the dictation began, the students had the overwhelming realization that there was more than one Patanjali behind the curtain: there were a thousand, one for each student. The Catastrophe and Ensuing Dilemma As fate would have it, after awhile, one of the students needed to go to the bathroom very badly so he got up and left. Another student could not manage his curiosity and lifted the curtain. There he saw a gigantic snake with a body of fire. With its thousand faces, it was giving a separate dictation to each student. In the next instant, the fire confined to the inside of the curtain spread and incinerated every student—all except the one who had left his seat. Now he was fully aware of himself as a teacher, and his student stood before him. Patanjali withdrew his yoga shakti and the radiant snake with its thousand heads was reabsorbed into his body. While the master was reflecting on the catastrophe brought about by the student’s careless behavior, he saw to his surprise that one student remained alive and unharmed. When Patanjali learned that this student had left and returned only after the all-consuming fire had been reabsorbed into his body, he found himself facing a dilemma. By leaving his seat before the dictation was completed, this student had violated one of the conditions and therefore must reap the consequences and be incinerated like the other nine hundred and ninety-nine. But the other students had met their fate when Patanjali’s consciousness had transcended his individual human identity. Now he was fully aware of himself as a teacher, and his student stood before him. If the student were not incinerated, it would be a violation of the conditions. But if he did not protect his student from being incinerated, then Patanjali himself would be violating the fundamental principle of a teacher’s unconditional love, protection, and guidance. The Ingenious Solution After weighing all the pros and cons, Patanjali decided to help the student leave his body through spontaneous combustion. Then Patanjali passed on the complete knowledge of the Mahabhashya to this disembodied soul and assigned him a large banyan tree as a locus for his consciousness. Patanjali also blessed this student with unfailing memory and the capacity to communicate the knowledge of the Mahabhashya by writing on the leaves of the banyan tree. The blessing stipulated that as soon as he had transmitted the entire text in one uninterrupted session to someone with the stamina to keep his seat until the transmission was complete, the student would attain freedom from using the banyan tree as his body. Patanjali then vanished for a thousand years. Patanjali is much more than the master who codified the Yoga Sutra Time passed as the student waited in the banyan tree. Eventually, a great yogi and scholar, Govinda Swami, arrived at the base of the tree. His intuition told him he had found the tree he had been seeking and the student realized Govinda Swami was the scholar he had been awaiting. Thus the transmission began. Through his sheer intention, the student engraved the Mahabhashya on the banyan leaves and dropped them before Govinda Swami, who in turn arranged them in the proper order. But as the leaves were dropping from the tree a herd of goats rushed in to eat the leaves. Govinda Swami tried his best to protect them, but alas, some of them were eaten. Thus, even in today’s printed version of The Mahabhashya, we find in brackets aja bhakshitam etat, “It was eaten by goats.” This story demonstrates that Patanjali is much more than the master who codified the Yoga Sutra. He is the very embodiment of the Yoga Sutra and the long list of siddhis described therein. Patanjali’s immortality, his identity as the perennial source of knowledge, and his love for reviving wisdom and guiding students on the path leading to the summum bonum of life are further demonstrated when a thousand years later he returns as Govinda Pada to transmit the highest wisdom to Shankaracharya, the formal founder of our tradition. Please join the Wisdom Library for access to more of these pearls. It is important when pain comes our way to honor the experience, as it is usually a great teacher
Honoring the experiences we have in our lives is an invaluable way to communicate with life, our greatest teacher. We do this when we take time at night to say what we are thankful for about our day and also when we write in a journal. Both of these acts involve consciously acknowledging the events of our lives so that they deepen our relationship to our experiences. This is important because it brings us into closer connection with life, and with the moment. Only when we acknowledge what's happening to us can we truly benefit from life's teachings. It is especially important when pain comes our way to honor the experience, because our natural tendency is to push it away and move past it as quickly as possible. We tend to want to brush it under the rug. Yet, if we don't, it reveals itself to be a great friend and teacher. As counterintuitive as it seems, we can honor pain by thanking it and by welcoming it into the space of our lives. We all know that often the more we resist something, the longer it persists. When we honor our pain, we do just the opposite of resisting it, and as a result, we create a world in which we can own the fullness of what life has to offer. We can honor a painful experience by marking it in some way, bringing ourselves into a more conscious relationship with it. We might mark it by creating a work of art, performing a ritual, or undertaking some other significant act. Sometimes all we need to do is light a candle in honour of what we've gone through and what we've learned. No matter how small the gesture, it will be big enough to mark the ways in which our pain has transformed us, and to remind us to recognise and value all that comes our way in this life. Always grateful for the wisdom of a daily OM. |
TANIA
|