Rolf Gates makes it very clear that without the first two LIMBS OF YOGA (YAMAS and NIYAMAS), the other six Limbs are meaningless.....and I find it so interesting that the YAMAS (moral restraints) and the NIYAMAS (moral observations) are the REAL SUPPORT and STRENGTH of this 8 Limb Path~ more vitally important than yoga ASANAS (postures), PRANAYAMA (breathing exercises), PRATYAHARA (withdrawal of the senses), DHARANA (concentration), DHYANA (meditation), SAMADHI (bliss/Union with the Divine)....Rolf implies that 'Anyone can DO yoga postures'...the real question is: DO I CHOOSE TO LIVE MY YOGA, when I walk away from my mat?
And it's even more interesting that the FIRST YAMA IS: AHIMSA~ NON-VIOLENCE in our thoughts, words, actions....on the yoga mat, am I willing to explore the asanas, and do no violence to myself: not twist TOO HARD, and yet, 'go to my edge': where I feel sensations in my body, but not pain, not violence? Is my desire to do/be MY BEST, or 'keep up' with that awesome form next to my mat? "Wow, he does a masterful 'peacock pose'! I want to do that!"...Am I conscious of 'backing off' when my hip (or shoulder or back) hurt, or is my ego mucking up AHIMSA....if I choose to push, pull, harder, deeper, so I can KEEP UP with those around me....once again, muting the 'voice within me' IS VIOLENCE TO MYSELF! So, we could be doing a nice 'asana practice, with pranayama, and concentration' but experiencing the antithesis of AHIMSA....
As we've been discussing, AHIMSA takes many forms, whether it be people practicing a vegetarian diet because they choose "not to be violent to anything with 'eyes'" (eating no meat or fish, or any variation thereof), or 'not taking up "arms" to fight', or mindfully watching the thoughts they think and the words they choose to speak....
It's easy to say: "Oh, I'm not violent~ got that yama covered~ check!"...It seems to me that this FIRST ASPECT of the FIRST SPOKE entails far more contemplation, thought, meditation, focus and effort than we realize...than we may even want to consider...too much time, too much work, too much....
It's a TRUE JOURNEY, as we wheel our way through our lives, with each twist and turn in the road, to practice ahimsa, and yet, on our journeys, as we 'wheel along', we have ample opportunities to grow, to learn, to let go, to re-learn, to PRACTICE again and again~ AHIMSA...non-violence...
We're human, beautiful in our own unique ways; we're still here on the highways, the dirt roads of our lives, because OUR WORK IS NOT YET DONE. We're learning where the potholes are in our roadways; we're learning our lessons; we're learning ahimsa, again and again...and again....
And it's even more interesting that the FIRST YAMA IS: AHIMSA~ NON-VIOLENCE in our thoughts, words, actions....on the yoga mat, am I willing to explore the asanas, and do no violence to myself: not twist TOO HARD, and yet, 'go to my edge': where I feel sensations in my body, but not pain, not violence? Is my desire to do/be MY BEST, or 'keep up' with that awesome form next to my mat? "Wow, he does a masterful 'peacock pose'! I want to do that!"...Am I conscious of 'backing off' when my hip (or shoulder or back) hurt, or is my ego mucking up AHIMSA....if I choose to push, pull, harder, deeper, so I can KEEP UP with those around me....once again, muting the 'voice within me' IS VIOLENCE TO MYSELF! So, we could be doing a nice 'asana practice, with pranayama, and concentration' but experiencing the antithesis of AHIMSA....
As we've been discussing, AHIMSA takes many forms, whether it be people practicing a vegetarian diet because they choose "not to be violent to anything with 'eyes'" (eating no meat or fish, or any variation thereof), or 'not taking up "arms" to fight', or mindfully watching the thoughts they think and the words they choose to speak....
It's easy to say: "Oh, I'm not violent~ got that yama covered~ check!"...It seems to me that this FIRST ASPECT of the FIRST SPOKE entails far more contemplation, thought, meditation, focus and effort than we realize...than we may even want to consider...too much time, too much work, too much....
It's a TRUE JOURNEY, as we wheel our way through our lives, with each twist and turn in the road, to practice ahimsa, and yet, on our journeys, as we 'wheel along', we have ample opportunities to grow, to learn, to let go, to re-learn, to PRACTICE again and again~ AHIMSA...non-violence...
We're human, beautiful in our own unique ways; we're still here on the highways, the dirt roads of our lives, because OUR WORK IS NOT YET DONE. We're learning where the potholes are in our roadways; we're learning our lessons; we're learning ahimsa, again and again...and again....
Do we choose this direction or that? This road or that? Ahimsa or not? Our choice, our journey....Wishing you a 'smooth road' as you 'wheel on through this day'~ om shanti, om peace!
LeeAnn, thanks for the reminder to practice Ahimsa. This too applies to our own inner voice and how we can speak gently to ourselves. I'm working on all aspects of Ahimsa. Thank you!
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