January the month of new beginnings and cherished memories.
New beginnings are marked with change and letting go of the old. Change is sometimes challenging for us. Do we have the courage to do it? As I heard the predictions for the New Year about an economic depression that is slowly getting better, I couldn’t help but to think about Aparigraha (non possesiveness ), one of the 8 limbs of yoga. "The yogi feels that the collection or hoarding of things implies a lack of faith in God and oneself to provide for their future. Aparigraha implies that letting go of our attachment to things and circumstances, an understanding that impermanence and change are the only constant.” The fear in the mass consciosness reminded me of what an old friend once said, "Do you see the birds worrying about what they are going to eat tomorrow”? They just fly or do their work without expectations and find food every day”. Similar is the Christian prayer " Give us today our daily bread’, it doesn’t say give us food for tomorrow, or when we are old. Like anything, I think there is a balance between the extremes and yo do want to honor your work and be useful, but it is also a matter of choice… fear or faith. I think practicing Aparigraha this year would make us notice how abundant we really are. Like when we clean our closets and get rid of what we don’t use. We are creating space for the new, or if anything for more space.
Thank God for our yoga practice,to help us accept changes in our lifes. Yoga is a tool that helps us connect to our spirit, because nothing lasts forever like the fire in our souls. The routine of a yoga practice can give us a sense of certainty and of being back home. Riding the waves of our breaths can be very calming for our minds. Just being aware of our breathing can give us that sense of stability we might be craving in this ever changing world. Being one with our breath and letting go of our thoughts over and over again as they come up in the yoga class teaches us about focus ( Abhyasa) and non-reaction ( Vairagya). The practice of focusing and non-attachment that are gained practicing yoga can be very practical in leading our everyday lives.
In a time lacking in truth and filled with anguish and despair, knowing what you love is a good starting place for living in 2011. I hope this year we can clearly distinguish this and be grateful for our lives and for being alive at this moment in time; so much so that we feel moved to help other less fortunate than us.
Like Elaine said at the last class of the year." Let’s perceive things happening for us, not to us.
I wish you all peace, love and joy in this New Year and always. I pray that if there is a time when you don’t feel peaceful, full of joy, loved or loving, that you strive with all your spirit to get to that place again.
Know that it is your divine right…and if we see somebody else in despair, let us extend our love to help them cast away any doubts, fears, and sadness and regain their natural state of completeness.
Live in the present and embrace the New Year one moment at the time. Always remember that in the big picture, we are all perfect beings in God, completely loved and supported, RIGHT NOW!
New beginnings are marked with change and letting go of the old. Change is sometimes challenging for us. Do we have the courage to do it? As I heard the predictions for the New Year about an economic depression that is slowly getting better, I couldn’t help but to think about Aparigraha (non possesiveness ), one of the 8 limbs of yoga. "The yogi feels that the collection or hoarding of things implies a lack of faith in God and oneself to provide for their future. Aparigraha implies that letting go of our attachment to things and circumstances, an understanding that impermanence and change are the only constant.” The fear in the mass consciosness reminded me of what an old friend once said, "Do you see the birds worrying about what they are going to eat tomorrow”? They just fly or do their work without expectations and find food every day”. Similar is the Christian prayer " Give us today our daily bread’, it doesn’t say give us food for tomorrow, or when we are old. Like anything, I think there is a balance between the extremes and yo do want to honor your work and be useful, but it is also a matter of choice… fear or faith. I think practicing Aparigraha this year would make us notice how abundant we really are. Like when we clean our closets and get rid of what we don’t use. We are creating space for the new, or if anything for more space.
Thank God for our yoga practice,to help us accept changes in our lifes. Yoga is a tool that helps us connect to our spirit, because nothing lasts forever like the fire in our souls. The routine of a yoga practice can give us a sense of certainty and of being back home. Riding the waves of our breaths can be very calming for our minds. Just being aware of our breathing can give us that sense of stability we might be craving in this ever changing world. Being one with our breath and letting go of our thoughts over and over again as they come up in the yoga class teaches us about focus ( Abhyasa) and non-reaction ( Vairagya). The practice of focusing and non-attachment that are gained practicing yoga can be very practical in leading our everyday lives.
In a time lacking in truth and filled with anguish and despair, knowing what you love is a good starting place for living in 2011. I hope this year we can clearly distinguish this and be grateful for our lives and for being alive at this moment in time; so much so that we feel moved to help other less fortunate than us.
Like Elaine said at the last class of the year." Let’s perceive things happening for us, not to us.
I wish you all peace, love and joy in this New Year and always. I pray that if there is a time when you don’t feel peaceful, full of joy, loved or loving, that you strive with all your spirit to get to that place again.
Know that it is your divine right…and if we see somebody else in despair, let us extend our love to help them cast away any doubts, fears, and sadness and regain their natural state of completeness.
Live in the present and embrace the New Year one moment at the time. Always remember that in the big picture, we are all perfect beings in God, completely loved and supported, RIGHT NOW!
I want to leave you with an inspiring poem from Marianne Williamson that Nelson Mandela used later in one of his speeches.
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