Every so often, I take my own classes. Either by tape recording, reading notes, or videos. What I have noticed is true progress. Not the kind of progress measured by getting better at what I do, but progress measured by my ability to let go and enjoy who I was then and who I am now. Everyone has heard that we are our own worst critic. We sometimes hear that that is what drives people to accomplish goals. I can see that. But what I miss from that type of drive is the belief that what I share matters. All too often, I find that my critiques for myself need more gratitude, because they take away from my feelings of credibility. How many more people would openly share their heart song if they did not worry about the little details that MIGHT be taking away from their works? Centering my intentions on equanimity while I reflect on my works brings a sense of honor to my experience for where I was, regardless of how unpolished it may have been. When considering the duality of enjoying the journey and constructive criticisms~ I will continue to look at my "mistakes" with more ease. I don't want to look blindly towards progress if it makes me miss out on who I was and the authenticity of the moment. We can set goals to direct our energies effectively, but never really own many parts of our future. The future is a gift that we may or may not receive in this human experience. How can one truly appreciate the rawness of the human experience without loving the original form that we have polished ourselves from? What I have gained in the last seven years is not knowledge. It is the experience of appreciation and deeper humbleness for the sacredness of everything whether originally seen as good or bad. I will learn to find compassion for myself, so that I can give it wholeheartedly to others. ॐ Namaste dear friends and pat yourself on the back for... yourself. It is good to be you! My words may fail me sometimes, but my heart has not. This online class is a blast from the past, that I visited on my mat and in my mind today.
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Find the bright side... You only own your self in the sense of what you do with this very- moment. "Meditation is, at least for me, Recognizing my own ignorances," Said Karmela, one of the teachers at the Salt Lake Buddhist temple. She then continued by explaining that we are all looking at reality, right now, but through a peephole. Think of that peephole as your perspective, how you see things. You see, there are no good days or bad days based on the circumstances that are around you. The good in a given day is found in your action within the circumstances that are presented to you. Today I invite you to taste and digest exactly what you are in this very moment. Savor the flavor of reality. Use your senses to feel, see, taste, and listen to the world around, and inside of you. Then let go of the thoughts and things that don't serve your highest hopes. It is a profound moment when we are able to accept what is going on around us, and in our minds. In that moment of recognizing anything in a positive light, we grow. We begin to widen our circle of influence by being proactive. There are no good days or bad days based on circumstances. There are good choices and poor choices based on circumstances. All in all just do your best. Afterall, it is called practice. (not perfect) In your next meditation;
1. Using your senses, identify the subtle aspects of this very moment. 2. Pay attention to the breath process or something you can label as the truly existing, presently. 3. Notice when your thoughts are of something that is not real quite yet,or from the past moments. Let go of the thought process by mentally labeling that thought as past or present. Return to your breath and repeat. Inhale the good shit, exhale the bull shit... NAMASTE Sarah Lotus We are studying the first and second chapter of the Bhagavad Gita this week. These chapters are about our distractions against evolved consciousness or being, and how yoga can be used as a tool to let go of false realities and discover our essential nature. The translation of this yogic text that I suggest for you to read is Eknath Eswaran's. Some questions to consider today after reading: 1. Why should you study life's questions? 2. What is the war within? 3. How do your senses affect your perspective? 4. In the search for freedom are we accountable to others? 5. How does the path of yoga bring clarity into our life's? Theme for yoga practice: Let go and welcome. All you have is this moment so enjoy it as it is... Let go of the desire to change, stop, or keep anything. Just experience now without creating a story around it... When you are caught up in self indulging pleasures you are controlled and unsettled by your desires and aversions. Yoga (in this case pratyahara) is a tool we use to create evenness of the mind and shed light on our essential nature. Here is my diagram of the war we experience within, via our senses, between our perspective and our essential nature. |
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July 2014
AuthorIt is my mission to teach people to realize happiness independent of circumstance. This blog is dedicated to raising that awareness in different ways. I am grateful to be the wife, daughter, sister, grand daughter, aunt, and friend of truly beautiful people. Namaste! Categories
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