What is Santosha
From an attitude of true contentment (Santosha), unexcelled happiness, mental comfort, joy and satisfaction, are obtained.
Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
Dot Fisher-Smith on Awe
Awe is all around us. With a little intentionality, we can reclaim our sense of wonder in the everyday, ordinary moments of life. Perhaps awe, while an ordinary response to the extraordinary, is also an extraordinary response to the ordinary.
Dot Fisher-Smith: To Be In Awe – WISDOM from a 96 year old
To Be In Awe
Awe is all around us. With a little intentionality, we can reclaim our sense of wonder in the everyday, ordinary moments of life. Perhaps awe, while an ordinary response to the extraordinary, is also an extraordinary response to the ordinary.
Dot Fisher Smith:
To Be In Awe – WISDOM from a 96 year old
What gives you a sense of awe? You might imagine standing on a wide-open plain with a storm approaching, or holding the tiny finger of a newborn baby. That word, awe – the feeling of being in the presence of something vast that transcends your understanding of the world – is often associated with the extraordinary. But you don’t need remarkable circumstances to encounter awe. You can find it every day, often in the humblest places. Staring up at a starry sky; looking at a sculpture that makes you shudder; listening to a medley of instruments joining into one complex, spine-tingling melody – those experiences remind us that we’re part of something that will exist long after us. Luckily, we don’t need to wait until we stumble upon it – we can seek it out. Awe is all around us. With a little intentionality, we can reclaim our sense of wonder in the everyday, ordinary moments of life. Perhaps awe, while an ordinary response to the extraordinary, is also an extraordinary response to the ordinary. Featuring Dot Fisher-Smith. Filmed in Ashland, Oregon, USA.
The First Step on the Path to Self-Realization
THE YAMAS OF PATANJALI: The First Step on the Path to Self-Realization
“Yama” in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras represents the foundation of yogic ethics, providing a framework for cultivating a compassionate lifestyle that supports the pursuit of spiritual growth and self-realization.
Patanjali’s Ashtanga Yoga (Eight) Limbs of Yoga
We all want Samadhi. We all want Bliss. But the very first step that will guaranatee us those high states, we vehemently avoid, or at least try our best to ignore. Every change we want to see in the world, we must first perfect within ourselves. What Patanjali wanted of each Yogi, was not being “nice” and speak the truth and not hurt others, but he wanted us to develop and awaken Power through the Yamas. Are you ready for that?
In Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, Yama (Sanskrit: यम) refers to the first of the eight limbs of classical yoga, also known as Ashtanga Yoga. Yama consists of five ethical restraints or abstinences, which serve as the foundation for a yogic lifestyle. These restraints are essential for cultivating inner awareness, self-discipline, and spiritual growth.
The five Yamas, as outlined in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, are:
- Ahiṃsā (Non-violence): Refraining from harming or causing suffering to oneself or others, physically, verbally, or mentally.
- Satya (Truthfulness): Speaking truthfully and honestly, without deceit or falsehood.
- Asteya (Non-stealing): Refraining from taking what is not given, including material possessions, ideas, or opportunities.
- Brahmacarya (Moderation un the use of the Senses): Practicing sexual restraint and moderation, and avoiding exploitation or harm to others.
- Aparigraha (Non-covetousness or Non-possessiveness): Letting go of attachment to material possessions, desires, and outcomes, and cultivating a sense of detachment and inner freedom.
These Yamas are not mere moral codes, but rather a means to purify the mind and prepare it for deeper states of consciousness. By observing these restraints, one can:
- Cultivate self-awareness and introspection
- Develop emotional intelligence and empathy
- Purify the mind and emotions
- Prepare for the practice of meditation and concentration
- Attain a sense of inner peace and liberation
In summary, Yama in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras represents the foundation of yogic ethics, providing a framework for cultivating a virtuous and compassionate lifestyle that supports the pursuit of spiritual growth and self-realization.
How can journaling help us with Yamas?
Thoughts disentangle themselves, passing over lips and
Michael Hyatt on Journalling
through pencil tips.
How can journalling help us with Yamas?
Unprocessed, undigested thoughts and emotions are the root cause underlying the physical manifestations of what we know as trauma, mental illness and also physical illness according to Eastern teachings. Enabling the release and expression of suppressed emotions is the start to healing. Journaling is a very powerful tool in enabling such expression and hence, initiating the healing process.
Michael Hyatt on Journalling
Thoughts disentangle themselves, passing over lips and through pencil tips.
Michael Hyatt
Yoga Sutras of Patanjali on True Contentment
From an attitude of true contentment (Santosha), unexcelled happiness, mental comfort, joy and satisfaction, are obtained.
Yoga Sutras of Patanjali on True Contentment
Madame Guyon on Rest Before God
Madame Guyon_ Attentive Silence as a Counterpractice for a Digital Age
Now do you understand what Silence is, it is being Still, ceasing your efforts to make things happen…no sooner do the bodily eyes close, than the soul is wrapped in prayer… it is amazing that so great a blessing enjoys an internal converse
Madame Guyon, Christian Mystic
which external matters cannot interrupt.
Christian mystic Jeanne Guyon’s devotional posture centered on what some call the inward way, or the “prayer of silence,” a means of communicating with God in humility, inward simplicity, and contemplation. Her situation was couched in a context that was quite different from ours, exacerbated by ruling authorities that were skeptical of any ideas that did not strictly conform to traditional thought. Guyon was able to break the bonds of her captivity through perseverance in the spiritual practice of attentive silence. Christians and others in the digital age can enjoy similar freedom from the temptations, injustices, and distractions that may hold them captive when use of mobile media is tempered by attentive silence and the goods discovered in a place of solitude. The attentive silence of Guyon helped her develop a holy listening that is much needed in our busy world of words.
Roland Trujillo reads and discusses On Rest in the context of Spiritual Progress. Roland talks about stillness and detachment and how meditation helps the sincere seeker find this blessed state. The Universal language of silence wherein GOD is equated as “Being in Presence” Being in the present moment, being aware, being out of thought and being timeless. Mindfulness practices are also talked about from the context of the digital aga an dhow relevant Guyons work is todays stressed demographics.
Christan mystics “controversial” for their engagement with this kind of prayer of silence to silence in silence – quietutde
Minutes 0-5 Reverence of silence in daily life – respect, humility, listening, Guyon found her strength and resilience in silence – in jail and unto death
Minute 31:Powerful rendering of yoga, silence and strength.
A beautiful sharing after the video clips” Patrick sharing : silence dissipated a conflicted parking situation – no ego to take the blows when he simply decided to listen to the other, steeped in anger – allowing its full expression simply took it to rest and resolution. Emily shared the power of listening – not personlizxing – just listening
“I remembered the importance of remembering our interconnectedness – who is fighting with whom – no words needed – there is no one other than parts of “me”.
Michael Johnson on the Foundations of Meditation
Remembering the Foundations of Meditation:
Ānapānasmṛti ≈ mindfulness of inhaling and exhalingMichael Johnson, Meditation and Yoga
- Vipaśyanā ≈ insight
- Maitrī ≈ loving-kindness
- Vicāra ≈ inquiry
The Practical Aspects of Preparing for Formal Sitting Meditation
Yama and Niyama from the Yoga sutras remind us of what not to do – Yama (stealing, being violent, being greedy, speakin untruth) and what conditions help – Niyama (like cleanliness – personal hygiene and a clean peaceful space to sit in, willingness for self study). The importance of a comfortable yet attentive physical sitting posture (asana) with head neck and spine aligned and a check in with our body parts including the placement of our tongue at the back of our top teeth, our geza or closed eye position, the position of our legs, crossed or not, etc; Pranayama – mindfulness of our breathing, Pratyahara: checking in and bringing to rest, out 5 senses, Dharana (one pointed concentration to pull in our fragmented mind under the lens of awareness, Dhyana and Samadhi. Amidst the latter stages would be the remembering of foundation of meditation as we entered the resting space of silence wherein the strong foundation is ever present…awareness of awareness.
Remembering the Foundations of Meditation:
Ānapānasmṛti ≈ mindfulness of inhaling and exhaling
– Vipaśyanā ≈ insight
– Maitrī ≈ loving-kindness
– Vicāra ≈ inquiry—Michael Johnson, Meditation and Yoga—
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