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OPEN MIND OPEN BODY The Yoga of Connection |
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Week 32: "Whatever you meet unexpectedly, join with meditation." - Chekawa Yeshe Dorje, The Root Text of the Seven Points of Training the Mind, 1100 A.D. Many Yogic texts have a set of short sayings, or "slogans," that have passed down through the centuries as specific points of contemplation. My own yoga practice often begins by reading a text or listening to a teaching. Often, a specific phrase or idea will resonate strongly, and I begin a breathing, asana, and meditation practice as a kind of reflection on, or response to, that phrase or idea. I might bring the phrase back to mind throughout the practice, or keep a sort of light awareness on the feeling or image I associate with the phrase. I notice whether my experience in the yoga poses seems to match that idea or feeling. Sometimes I write the slogan on a piece of paper near my mat, and let the words catch my eye throughout the practice. This week, I'd like to encourage you to try this kind of body- and breath-based contemplation, using the slogan offered above: "Whatever you meet unexpectedly, join with meditation." This slogan is meant to remind us to drop our expectations about what our practice should look like, and how our lives unfold. To meet something with meditation is to stay centered awareness and acceptance (or compassion). The practice is a process we do with the mind, and not a set of rules and restrictions for how the breath or body must behave. The practice of Yoga in asana is not dependent on what postures you practice or even how your body responds to the physical practices; the practice of Yoga in life is not dependent on what shows up outside your mind. Respond to this post online at: http://openmindbody.com/discuss login: yoga password: connect Take care, Kelly
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