Svadyaya- Self reflection & inner learning
Svadyaya- The continuous practice of inner learning..
Brain on holiday
I scuttle as slowly as I can, to not roar with sweat, trying to keep pace with my "normal" self, failing in the heat, as I keep forgetting vital things like where my fan is, and that my sunglasses are indeed still on my head and not lost, and that certain words will have melted out of my head, or been obscured by the space created by said heat in my brain, scrambling sentences (although strangely people still seem to understand the rough idea of what I'm trying to communicate). So the brain and the heat are having some fun thinking this is a holiday- How strong association is! Which is as usual brilliantly aligned with this weeks thoughts on yoga, namely Svadyaya, the practice of getting to know oneself.
The first question is; who are we?
It's a quirky riddle, but not beyond us. As we simmer in this bit of time; the quantum monster that is ever changing us beyond our control, and skewing our preferences to adjust to what we are actually doing with our lives as opposed to what we think & perceive we are doing with our lives. This is one of the reasons it's great to have some friends, or should I say, people who will be honest with us. Sometimes, we can't always see what it is we are doing or creating in a particular scenario, and could do with a bit of feedback.. however, they also have a bunch of filters too, ie. conditioning & preferences, so worth asking round.
I suppose rather than asking "Who am I"? we could ponder a more convoluted but perhaps more helpful thought:
"finding out that we aren't who we thought we are begins to open up the possibility of knowing our true nature" D. Adele
This of course suggests that we might not be who we think we are. Which is not so hard to fathom, as we know we change as time moves us through activities and experiences inevitably changing us as we gazumph through life. So what is this question getting to?
The sea
Some of you will have heard this in my sessions last week, & I make no apologies for misquoting the Yoga Journal, as this belongs to all of us.
Each wave travelling across the surface of the sea is likened to an individual being, it is distinguished by it's location in space, and time, its' shape and colour etc. But the substance of every wave is the sea itself.
Therefore as they appear and disappear they neither increase nor decrease the immensity of water to which they belong.
A wave is never other than ocean, though it has it's individual identity so long as it is manifested on the ocean's surface."
Sva=Self
Adyaya=inquiry/study
This implies this practice is something we have to keep reminding ourselves about. As we meander through life, with it's HMRC moments, cinema trips and phone bills as well as events that rock us, like weddings and funerals, it is worth considering that "witness factor" that popped up in the "Santosha" week.
Svadyaya isn't psycho-analysis of our thoughts feelings associations & fantasies, it is the continuous practice of self reflection and inner learning.How?
Some pointers that can help us in everyday life, I know very well how difficult it is to keep up any practice, but occasionally something will stick with me. I hope this little list helps:
-Pause & reflect
-Watch your physical habits
-Observe inner dialogue
-Read the story of the breath.
The Gunas
Let me introduce you to 3 friends, the Gunas, these are three fundamental qualities or forces that make up the universe and the human mind:
Tamas- Obscurations of "mind stuff" ie; thoughts, repetitive habits and mind mutterings.
Rajas- The activeness of the body, and how physical activity can "fill space" and help us be distracted from the activities of our minds through our bodies.
Sattvic- When the mind is transparent, not distracted by competing thoughts or disturbed by likes and dislikes, it does not conceal the true nature of the "Self".
So seeking discipline of mind and body to prepare the way for a "sattvic" balanced state of "Svadyaya" to arise, revealing to us the true nature of the only consistent refuge available to us: The Self.
Mantra
In some disciplines Mantra, or repeated holy sounds are considered a conduit for a Sattvic mind state, therefore easing our way to Svadyaya & therefore self knowledge. Kundalini yoga emphasises Mantra and Japa ( 24 hours of mantra repetition) as a practice to heighten one's sate of mind and elevate us to a higher frequency than our general standard of living gives us.
It's worth bearing in mind that the way we humans are designed gives us a sense of clarity that shows us that this mind-state is a temporary reminder that this is one step on the path to Nirvana rather than enlightenment itself. It is however a lovely thing to do, & our OM's in session are a glimpse of the richness of the true nature of Self.
A massive percentage of what bothers others has nothing to do with you."
Practice taking responsibility for yourself & letting others get on with the business of themselves.
"When a mantra permeates the mind, it draws awareness in while the outward going aspects of the mind become silent"
OM MANE PADME HUM as inspiration on our journey is not a new concept.
Find the jewel in each lotus, each moment.
Your body holds so many secrets! Let your attention reveal them to you. In asana practice each position your body experiences has a new meaning ( jewel ) each time you come to them.
Jimmy wheeler
The Bhagavad Gita
Jimmy H Wheeler
Much love to you all.
OM Shanti
Katie
