From our discussion last week, I shared this with you.
Jack Kornfield writes in his a brief article entitled, "Set the Compass of Your Heart", "No matter what situation we find ourselves in, we can always set our compass to our highest intentions in the present moment." If you have enough awareness, you take the pause and ask yourself, "what is my highest intention in this moment?"
Recently I had an opportunity to use this skillful action. It made all the difference. I was not tempted to go back into the past and feel the grievances from before. I let them go and set my heart compass.
Everyday we can set our compass... but we will only do this if we take the time to press the "reset button". :)
Monday, March 12, 2012
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Registration for Spring Quarter
Can you believe it, we are coming up to Spring Quarter... SO, that means time to register for classes.
Don't wait... classes fill up, especially the Wed morning class.
Don't wait... classes fill up, especially the Wed morning class.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
APARIGRAHA- Non-attachment, non-possessiveness.
When we discuss non-attachment it invites us to look at how we so often cling to wanting life to go the way we want. However, we see that in fact we are never sure how things will unfold and turn out.
We also find that everything changes.
If we identify too strongly with what we think, our understanding, our opinions, our likes and dislikes we may find our world becoming more and more narrow and we become more contracted.
The practice of letting go is built into our yoga practice. Our last pose, Savasana, is the pose of surrender, the pose of deep rest and release. When we practice Savasana, we embody this quality of yielding and accepting what is in the moment. However, we do not have to be in the pose to practice this. Everyday we have opportunites to let go of a thought, a negative feeling, a judgement, a disappointment, and invite in something new... we become more spacious, more open to change.
We become more curious and more loving.
We also find that everything changes.
If we identify too strongly with what we think, our understanding, our opinions, our likes and dislikes we may find our world becoming more and more narrow and we become more contracted.
The practice of letting go is built into our yoga practice. Our last pose, Savasana, is the pose of surrender, the pose of deep rest and release. When we practice Savasana, we embody this quality of yielding and accepting what is in the moment. However, we do not have to be in the pose to practice this. Everyday we have opportunites to let go of a thought, a negative feeling, a judgement, a disappointment, and invite in something new... we become more spacious, more open to change.
We become more curious and more loving.
Brahmacharya- right use of energy, moderation, restraint.
This yama focuses on using energy wisely... physical energy, mental energy, emotional energy, sexual energy etc.
If we overindulge, we have little energy left for things that we value and are part of a healthy life.
One can overindulge in almost anything... including things we may think are essential or part of a wholesome life. When we practice restraint, we are able to create balance and wholeness.
Some examples of things we might indulge in are: working, shopping, watching TV, sleeping, exercising, eating, using the computer, talking and answering cell phones and so on. We can become addicted to almost anything... It might be helpful to examine your routines and rituals to see if there is anything that deserves some restraint.
If we overindulge, we have little energy left for things that we value and are part of a healthy life.
One can overindulge in almost anything... including things we may think are essential or part of a wholesome life. When we practice restraint, we are able to create balance and wholeness.
Some examples of things we might indulge in are: working, shopping, watching TV, sleeping, exercising, eating, using the computer, talking and answering cell phones and so on. We can become addicted to almost anything... It might be helpful to examine your routines and rituals to see if there is anything that deserves some restraint.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
ASTEYA: Non-stealing, non-envy
If we say we do not steal physical things or property, we may steal other more subtle energies such as time. How do we steal time? We might unconsciously steal time from another by being chronically late or forgetful. We might steal energy when we exhaust someone over and over by our needs. Asteya means to not take something that is not freely given. It can also refer to refraining from wanting or craving something that you have not worked for or was not meant to be yours. That can be a quality, a talent or an experience, aswell as an object.
When we say off-handedly, "Oh I am so jealous!", we move away from the experience of just being happy for someone else's good fortune...also know as "sympathetic joy".
If we are controlling others we may be "stealing" their opportunity to live freely, to have their own experiences, to make their own decisions, to learn from their mistakes.
When we steal we come from a place of insufficiency, of lacking. When we live from a place of abundance we feel grateful and content.
When we say off-handedly, "Oh I am so jealous!", we move away from the experience of just being happy for someone else's good fortune...also know as "sympathetic joy".
If we are controlling others we may be "stealing" their opportunity to live freely, to have their own experiences, to make their own decisions, to learn from their mistakes.
When we steal we come from a place of insufficiency, of lacking. When we live from a place of abundance we feel grateful and content.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Satya- truthfulness
When we share something about another we always have the option of PAUSING and asking ourselves: Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary? If is does not pass this test, then maybe it should not be spoken. This comes from Islamic teachings and is called "the three gates".
I like this "filter". Sometimes we might share something that cannot even pass through one of these gates...
When we consider the act of telling the truth, this is a simple and helpful reminder. Ahimsa and satya go hand in hand: non-harm and truthfulness.
It is also helpful to consider what is our intention behind what we share. In order to do that we have to be completely truthful about what our purpose was. We may be surprised to find out that it did not come from a caring place but more from and place of ego, or control.
Getting to know ourselves at a deeper level is not an easy journey, yet is is a deeply fulfilling one and can move us toward freedom of heart, mind and spirit.
I like this "filter". Sometimes we might share something that cannot even pass through one of these gates...
When we consider the act of telling the truth, this is a simple and helpful reminder. Ahimsa and satya go hand in hand: non-harm and truthfulness.
It is also helpful to consider what is our intention behind what we share. In order to do that we have to be completely truthful about what our purpose was. We may be surprised to find out that it did not come from a caring place but more from and place of ego, or control.
Getting to know ourselves at a deeper level is not an easy journey, yet is is a deeply fulfilling one and can move us toward freedom of heart, mind and spirit.
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