We could surely spend an entire lifetime embracing the idiosyncrasies of this 4th YAMA, on our 8 LIMB SAGA....BRAHMACARYA....
As Rolf Gates so succinctly states: Brahmacarya, or temperance, gets a very bad rap in our culture. Most of us associate moderation with repression. The hero of the story loves the fair maiden, loves her passionately, and then the repressive forces come in to wreck the day. NO ONE EVER SEEMS TO DEDICATE POEMS, SCREENPLAYS, OR ODES TO THE JOYS OF MODERATION OR THE REWARDS OF PASSIONATE BALANCE. As a species we seem unable to see the forest for the trees. Despite the staggering amount of evidence that excess destroys our dreams, there appears to be a human blind spot when it comes to the possibility that our most passionate existence might actually be accessed through balance and moderation. Once we actually start to bring BRAHMACARYA into our lives, we find that this YAMA is about truly following one's heart. We see that the chaos of immoderation brings us pain and anguish ~ and that the calm, clear energy released by moderation actually affords us the opportunity to realize all our dreams.
The moment I fall off the moderation wagon, my mind becomes consumed by the fact that I am no longer living up to my potential. My mind fills with obsessive concern; I know all too well the ways I am self-sabotaging. My heart yearns for peace. Then I wake up one morning and find that I have a made a decision. I am ready to let go of whatever it is that's consuming me. I am ready to reestablish brahmacarya in my life. I am ready to follow my heart. " I listen to the wind, to the wind of my soul...."~ Cat Stevens
When we are ready, and willing, we, too, will listen to the wind of our souls.....
Are you ready to join me? Listen carefully.....
om shanti, om peace, om listen, om...................
lotus flower
Showing posts with label brahmacarya. Show all posts
Showing posts with label brahmacarya. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Thursday, December 15, 2011
BALANCE in the midst of giving and LIVING...
Wheeling along this journey in our lives, we turn onto the path of the FOURTH YAMA: BRAHMACARYA, which is translated to mean: BALANCE...
WHAT A PERFECT TIME OF YEAR TO EMBRACE THE DISCIPLINE OF BALANCE IN OUR LIVES~ the planet Mercury has just gone 'direct', and we are in the midst of the Holiday Season....where we encounter frantic schedules of shopping, food prep, partying, shopping, wrapping, rushing, hurrying, shopping, driving....BALANCE in the midst of this season of 'giving'....BALANCE in the midst of LIVING...
Where do we begin? For me, the very beginning of each day starts with my meditation....sitting down, breathing mindfully, grounding myself with my mantra...and, no matter what the day holds, beginning each day with this quiet time allows me to be more present to the rest of my day. As Deepak Chopra says: "The hour one spends meditating is for the other 23 hours in the day." It sets the tone of being a little more centered in the midst of life's ROLLER COASTER RIDE....
Oftentimes, Brahmacarya is associated with sexuality, and the expectation that one should be celibate, and thus, more enlightened...Brahmacarya is not a vocation of abstinence, but rather an invitation for temperance...to temper our thoughts, our words, our actions...to strive for a healthy balance in our lives.
During this season of hustling and bustling, are we also SCHEDULING TIME for quiet, solitude, a walk with nature, a quiet talk over tea with a loved one, time to just BE? While we share festive meals and snacks and drinks with business associates, neighbors, family & friends, are we consciously choosing to prepare healthy meals for other times of day? or, even to fast from specific unhealthy foods? As we're 'booking' our visits & party plans, are we also scheduling in quiet times to enjoy the decorations we put up, the gifts we so beautifully wrapped, the lights on neighborhood houses, as we take a stroll around the block?...
The choice is ours to make: time for ourselves AND others? or, just taking care of our list of things to do? We could CHOOSE to write on our "TO DO LIST": 'time for a soak in the tub'; or 'time for my yoga practice'; or both even; YOU get to CHOOSE.
May this Holiday season be extra-special because you are GIFTING YOURSELF with balance, with peace, with something simple that 'feeds your own soul'....
Om shanti, om peace~ as you wheel through your Christmas and the Holidays and New Year's... with balance & bliss!
WHAT A PERFECT TIME OF YEAR TO EMBRACE THE DISCIPLINE OF BALANCE IN OUR LIVES~ the planet Mercury has just gone 'direct', and we are in the midst of the Holiday Season....where we encounter frantic schedules of shopping, food prep, partying, shopping, wrapping, rushing, hurrying, shopping, driving....BALANCE in the midst of this season of 'giving'....BALANCE in the midst of LIVING...
Where do we begin? For me, the very beginning of each day starts with my meditation....sitting down, breathing mindfully, grounding myself with my mantra...and, no matter what the day holds, beginning each day with this quiet time allows me to be more present to the rest of my day. As Deepak Chopra says: "The hour one spends meditating is for the other 23 hours in the day." It sets the tone of being a little more centered in the midst of life's ROLLER COASTER RIDE....
Oftentimes, Brahmacarya is associated with sexuality, and the expectation that one should be celibate, and thus, more enlightened...Brahmacarya is not a vocation of abstinence, but rather an invitation for temperance...to temper our thoughts, our words, our actions...to strive for a healthy balance in our lives.
During this season of hustling and bustling, are we also SCHEDULING TIME for quiet, solitude, a walk with nature, a quiet talk over tea with a loved one, time to just BE? While we share festive meals and snacks and drinks with business associates, neighbors, family & friends, are we consciously choosing to prepare healthy meals for other times of day? or, even to fast from specific unhealthy foods? As we're 'booking' our visits & party plans, are we also scheduling in quiet times to enjoy the decorations we put up, the gifts we so beautifully wrapped, the lights on neighborhood houses, as we take a stroll around the block?...
The choice is ours to make: time for ourselves AND others? or, just taking care of our list of things to do? We could CHOOSE to write on our "TO DO LIST": 'time for a soak in the tub'; or 'time for my yoga practice'; or both even; YOU get to CHOOSE.
May this Holiday season be extra-special because you are GIFTING YOURSELF with balance, with peace, with something simple that 'feeds your own soul'....
Om shanti, om peace~ as you wheel through your Christmas and the Holidays and New Year's... with balance & bliss!
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