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Yogavahini's 1st newsletter - January 2012
Dedicated to all my dear Yogis,
in whose heart, the seed of truth
and kindness is active and sprouting…
In this issue - AHIMSA & SATYAM
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1. Mujeeb's walk for personal honesty. And how it moved me.
2. A contemplation of Satyam and Ahimsa
3. A practice for inviting Satyam and Ahimsa into your life
1. MUJEEB'S WALK FOR PERSONAL HONESTY
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2012 is here, and like every year being born, it brings with it fresh dreams,
hopes, plans, resolutions… but this year seems somehow, more special!
In India, we seem to be heading towards some kind of a moral crisis;
wanting change; wanting to live in a corruption free environment.
We hold the politicians and policies responsible for the existing state of
affairs, and then, of course, it seems hopeless!
The change, yoga states, begins from within. And whenever we are able
to see and acknowledge that, whenever we are ready and willing to
take the first steps to bring that change within, we are in a state of “Atha”[1].
Here and now, I am ready and willing to become that change.
So, when I heard from my dear friend, Mujeeb Khan, of his initiative along
with a small group of young Indians who call themselves “Proud Indians”[2]
to walk the path of personal honesty, it stirred something in me at a very
deep level. The power of their penance, walking all the way from the
southern tip of the peninsular to Delhi, (around 5,500 km), living out of
Rs.32 per day (approximately 60 cents) pledging personal honesty as a path
to creating a corrupt free nation is indeed soul-stirring a huge step to raise
the collective consciousness of this nation, and this planet. It has left me with
a deep longing, to stop, pause and take a deeper look into myself, as a
practitioner, as a teacher of yoga.
[1] Yoga Sutra 1.1
[2] If you are on Facebook, please follow “Zero Corruption Day” by “Proud Indians”.
2. A COMTEMPLATION OF AHIMSA and SATYAM
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Over the years, my understanding of Ahimsa and Satya has been ever
expanding, revealing new dimensions, touching many, and now, almost
every aspect of my life. The Buddha and Gandhi have been my greatest
inspirations, but they seem so far away! The attempt to weave these values
into daily life has been sometimes exhilarating, but most of the time
frightening – when I realize how far I need to go. Setting goals that seem
too far away, and feeling despondent and fearful about what I may have to
forsake to get there, and when and how can I strengthen my courage and
conviction to stay on the path? And of course, longing for a teacher, for a
community that can guide me, walk with me…
Now I am aware, with the intensity like never before, of this little seedling of
Ahimsa and Satyam in my heart waiting for attention, waiting for nourishment.
The pain and anguish is heavy. Like a huge boulder seated on my chest, not
allowing the breath to flow through with ease, doubts flitting through my mind
like arrows, piercing my resolve, feeling weak all the way down to my legs.
Strangely, also feeling the shiver of excitement, of entering this inner laboratory
to continue the work with greater vigor and enthusiasm, knowing that there is
really nowhere to get to. It is just to be here and now, be aware, breathe, and
instead of burying this pain, burn and weaken these strands of the web that
keeps my little seedling stifled.
If you are also as excited as I am, to experiment with ahimsa and satyam in daily
life, here is a simple process to work with.
I invite you to use this if you find it meaningful.
3. PRACTICING AHIMSA and SATYAM
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Step 1:
Each of us have some specific patterns of thinking/behavior that come in
the way of our practice of ahimsa and satyam. Please identify some of the
most common patterns and write them down. The list can be endless, so
just write down 5-10, and then underline 1 or 2 that seem most repetitive
and bothersome. Put them down as questions, wondering about them
rather than as an act of policing. That makes it lighter and exciting to ponder
over.
For example, I have identified the following for myself:
- Can I touch somebody’s pain in their anger/accusation against me
and resonate with its truth rather than jump to defend myself? In the process
of defending myself, I have often failed to see and acknowledge the larger
truth, stuck with my point of view at the risk of sinking into more ignorance.
- Am I saying what I am thinking, and am I aware of my intentions behind
this action? To check for resonance between thought, word and action. An
honest reflection of the intention behind the action can be a great checkpoint
too.
- Can I listen without having the compelling need to agree, can I remain
neutral and not take sides to just “please” the other? This is closely linked to
the previous statement, the desire to appear good at the cost of being
dishonest to self.
- Once you have identified, you may choose just one or two to practice on,
everyday for at least 3 weeks, but just take each day as it comes, small,
baby steps .
Step 2:
Spend just about 5-10 minutes on self-reflection and setting the intention for the day.
I prefer early morning time for this, when the mind is still quiet from a (hopefully)
restful sleep. Ideally, before your daily practice of asana and pranayama
(if you are lucky to have that routine).
(a) Take a resolve to be in touch with the seed of non-violence and truth through
today – that you will use your conscious breath to guide you to your heart, to remind
you of this resolve through every conscious moment of your day.
(b) Read/reflect on these statement(s) you have written for yourself as reminders for
the day, and just resolve to be aware of them when these patterns arise during the
course of the day.
These statements can bring up initially related memories, and pain along with it.
Instead of fighting in the mind, giving excuses/ validations, instead of blaming,
complaining or feeling guilty, step down from your head into your heart.
Invariably, you will be able to feel pain/discomfort in some part of the body. For me,
it is often the emotional centre, the heart space. Stay with the sensation in the body
(wherever it arises) and continue to be guided by the breath that may have to constantly
bring you down from the thinking mind to your heart. Like Patanjali says, focusing on your
heart, you understand your mind[1]. I have found Vipassana practice immensely helpful –
to stay with body sensations and observing them with neutrality. But instead of moving on
to other parts, stay with the discomfort long enough to feel the depth of the pain, it may
move, the intensity might change, it may pierce and burn… don’t try to run away into the
recluse of the mind, be courageous to stay and burn that impression and breathe it out
slowly gently…
(c) Sometimes, this process may take longer... you may now continue with your daily
practice of asana and pranayama focusing on releasing the tension/strong sensation from
that part of the body through movement coordinated with conscious breathing. Find
interesting and creative ways by use movement to locate and open up those parts of the body
that have stored these impressions. Breathe into those parts, hold the breath there (after
inhalation) to intensify the burning and breathe out release and relax focusing on extended
exhalation. Having unlocked and released some of these sensations held in the body, you will
certainly begin to feel lighter and more energetic. The prana (vital energy) that was trapped so
long has now been unleashed and is at your disposal.
End the day, another 5-10 minutes of reflective meditation, you may repeat the process if you
like, lie down and exhale letting go…
If this practice is done regularly for a few weeks, it becomes more and more effortless. Then
we will be able to locate, burn and release many of these impressions as they are looking for
a place to settle within. When the patterns get weaker, it strengthens our awareness, our acceptance
of ourselves, our conviction in practice and also releases tremendous amount of energy to pursue
our goal.
Be excited about this practice! Use your body sensations and breath to guide you through the day.
Without trying to be hard or critical, but rather treating yourself as you would treat a little baby
taking its first steps, acknowledging, congratulating and patting yourself whenever you “get it”!
[1] Yoga Sutra 3.34
Wishing you peace and love, may you be guided and supported to always live in truth and
kindness… so that we can make this world a better place to live in.
Saras
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