Sunday 1 January 2012

Ahimsa & Satyam


Yogavahini's 1st newsletter - January 2012
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Dedicated to all my dear Yogis,  in whose heart, the seed of truth and kindness is active and sprouting…

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In this issue - AHIMSA & SATYAM
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1. Mujeeb's walk for personal honesty. And how it moved me.
2. A contemplation of Satyam and Ahimsa
3. A practice for inviting Satyam and Ahimsa into your life

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1. MUJEEB'S WALK FOR PERSONAL HONESTY
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2012 is here, and like every year being born, it brings with it fresh dreams, hopes, plans, resolutions… but this year seems somehow, more special! 

In India, we seem to be heading towards some kind of a moral crisis; wanting change; wanting to live in a corruption free environment. We hold the politicians and policies responsible for the existing state of affairs, and then, of course, it seems hopeless!

The change, yoga states, begins from within. And whenever we are able to see and acknowledge that, whenever we are ready and willing to take the first steps to bring that change within, we are in a state of “Atha”[1]Here and now, I am ready and willing to become that change.

So, when I heard from my dear friend, Mujeeb Khan, of his initiative along with a small group of young Indians who call themselves “Proud Indians”[2] to walk the path of personal honesty, it stirred something in me at a very deep level. The power of their penance, walking all the way from the southern tip of the peninsular to Delhi, (around 5,500 km), living out of 
Rs.32 per day (approximately 60 cents) pledging personal honesty as a path to creating a corrupt free nation is indeed soul-stirring a huge step to raise the collective consciousness of this nation, and this planet. It has left me with a deep longing, to stop, pause and take a deeper look into myself, as a practitioner, as a teacher of yoga.


[1] Yoga Sutra 1.1
[2] If you are on Facebook, please follow “Zero Corruption Day” by “Proud Indians”.

2. A CONTEMPLATION OF AHIMSA and SATYAM
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Over the years, my understanding of Ahimsa and Satya has been ever expanding, revealing new dimensions, touching many, and now, almost every aspect of my life. The Buddha and Gandhi have been my greatest inspirations, but they seem so far away! The attempt to weave these values into daily life has been sometimes exhilarating, but most of the time  frightening – when I realize how far I need to go. Setting goals that seem too far away, and feeling despondent and fearful about what I may have to forsake to get there, and when and how can I strengthen my courage and conviction to stay on the path? And of course, longing for a teacher, for a community that can guide me, walk with me…

Now I am aware, with the intensity like never before, of this little seedling of Ahimsa and Satyam in my heart waiting for attention, waiting for nourishment. The pain and anguish is heavy. Like a huge boulder seated on my chest, not allowing the breath to flow through with ease, doubts flitting through my mind like arrows, piercing my resolve, feeling weak all the way down to my legs. 

Strangely, also feeling the shiver of excitement, of entering this inner laboratory to continue the work with greater vigor and enthusiasm, knowing that there is really nowhere to get to. It is just to be here and now, be aware, breathe, and instead of burying this pain, burn and weaken these strands of the web that keeps my little seedling stifled. 

If you are also as excited as I am, to experiment with ahimsa and satyam in daily 
life, here is a simple process to work with. 

I invite you to use this if you find it meaningful.  


3. PRACTICING AHIMSA and SATYAM
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Step 1:
Each of us have some specific patterns of thinking/behavior that come in the way of our practice of ahimsa and satyam. Please identify some of the most common patterns and write them down. The list can be endless, so just write down 5-10, and then underline 1 or 2 that seem most repetitive and bothersome. Put them down as questions, wondering about them rather than as an act of policing. That makes it lighter and exciting to ponder over.

For example, I have identified the following for myself:

Ø       Can I touch somebody’s pain in their anger/accusation against me and resonate with its truth rather than jump to defend myself? In the process of defending myself, I have often failed to see and acknowledge the larger truth, stuck with my point of view at the risk of sinking into more ignorance.

Ø       Am I saying what I am thinking, and am I aware of my intentions behind 
this action? To check for resonance between thought, word and action. An 
honest reflection of the intention behind the action can be a great checkpoint 
too.

Ø       Can I listen without having the compelling need to agree, can I remain 
neutral and not take sides to just “please” the other? This is closely linked to 
the previous statement, the desire to appear good at the cost of being 
dishonest to self.

Once you have identified, you may choose just one or two to practice on, 
everyday for at least 3 weeks, but just take each day as it comes, small, 
baby steps.

Step 2: 
Spend just about 5-10 minutes on self-reflection and setting the intention for the day.

I prefer early morning time for this, when the mind is still quiet from a (hopefully) restful sleep. Ideally, before your daily practice of asana and pranayama (if you are lucky to have that routine).

(a) Take a resolve to be in touch with the seed of non-violence and truth through today – that you will use your conscious breath to guide you to your heart, to remind you of this resolve through every conscious moment of your day.

(b) Read/reflect on these statement(s) you have written for yourself as reminders for the day, and just resolve to be aware of them when these patterns arise during the course of the day.

These statements can bring up initially related memories, and pain along with it. Instead of fighting in the mind, giving excuses/ validations, instead of blaming, complaining or feeling guilty, step down from your head into your heart.

Invariably, you will be able to feel pain/discomfort in some part of the body. For me, it is often the emotional centre, the heart space. Stay with the sensation in the body (wherever it arises) and continue to be guided by the breath that may have to constantly bring you down from the thinking mind to your heart. Like Patanjali says, focusing on your heart, you understand your mind[1]

I have found Vipassana practice immensely helpful – to stay with body sensations and observing them with neutrality. But instead of moving on to other parts, stay with the discomfort long enough to feel the depth of the pain, it may move, the intensity might change, it may pierce and burn… don’t try to run away into the recluse of the mind, be courageous to stay and burn that impression and breathe it out slowly gently…

(c) Sometimes, this process may take longer... you may now continue with your daily 
practice of asana and pranayama focusing on releasing the tension/strong sensation from 
that part of the body through movement coordinated with conscious breathing. Find 
interesting and creative ways by use movement to locate and open up those parts of the body that have stored these impressions. Breathe into those parts, hold the breath there (after inhalation) to intensify the burning and breathe out release and relax focusing on extended exhalation. Having unlocked and released some of these sensations held in the body, you will certainly begin to feel lighter and more energetic. The prana (vital energy) that was trapped so long has now been unleashed and is at your disposal.

End the day, another 5-10 minutes of reflective meditation, you may repeat the process if you like, lie down and exhale letting go…

If this practice is done regularly for a few weeks, it becomes more and more effortless. Then we will be able to locate, burn and release many of these impressions as they are looking for a place to settle within. When the patterns get weaker, it strengthens our awareness, our acceptance of ourselves, our conviction in practice and also releases tremendous amount of energy to pursue our goal.

Be excited about this practice! Use your body sensations and breath to guide you through the day. 

Without trying to be hard or critical, but rather treating yourself as you would treat a little baby taking its first steps, acknowledging, congratulating and patting yourself whenever you “get it”!



[1] Yoga Sutra 3.34

Wishing you peace and love, may you be guided and supported to always live in truth and kindness… so that we can make this world a better place to live in.
Saras
www.yogavahini.com