tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9821512267041962572024-03-13T08:04:34.340-07:00Thoughts on YogaPaul Menardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17479459287969105177noreply@blogger.comBlogger97125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-982151226704196257.post-30751916739542497412015-10-22T05:44:00.002-07:002015-10-22T05:44:33.640-07:00Thoughts on the Yoga Sutras 1.12<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1.12 abhyasa-viragyabhyam tan-nirodhah</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Practice and detachment are the means to still the movements of consciousness. (BKS Iyengar)</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here patanjali announces the path to stilling consciousness. It is through this two-fold path that the yogi can reach the goal of yoga. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">BKS Iyengar, in his commentary, beautifully compares practice and dispassion as opposites. Sun and Moon (Ha and Ta), positive (practice) and negative (dispassion). And, as he states, they must be paired or the yogi is out of balance. Practice is a building or adding, and in a way, dispassion is a subtracting. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For me this is easy to see. In my experience, the practice is the easier part (while still challenging). For example, this month I have been working on practicing metta all day long; practicing my asana and pranayama; meditating, etc. But pushing away the sensual (which is really at the heart of dispassion) is much more difficult. I am hugely influenced by food (even when not hungry), I am attracted to external stimuli (anything glittery and shiny pulls me in - whether literally or figuratively), and the list goes on. It is my job, then, to pull myself into balance. I cannot spend money using just one half of the coin - it has to be the coin in its entirety. </span></div>
<br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In his commentary, Edwin Bryant brings up the idea of a person either moving toward liberation or away from liberation. And that path is determined by whether the individual is following this path or not. I have heard other yogis (Swami Tiogonanda comes to mind) who say that we are all moving in the direction of liberation, but our work either speeds up the process or keeps us moving at the regular slow sluggish pace. I like to believe that the latter is true. That we will get there eventually, but we can do our best to do what is right and be unperturbed by the realm of sensual desires.</span>Paul Menardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17479459287969105177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-982151226704196257.post-40574703577107325242015-09-10T04:46:00.000-07:002015-09-10T04:47:44.781-07:00Thoughts on the Yoga Sutras - 1.6 - 1.11 (the vrttis)<b><span id="docs-internal-guid-502d8b84-b715-bcf4-62ee-577c5e9a7f0c"><br /></span>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>1.6 Pramana viparyaya vikalpa nidra smrtayah</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">They are caused by correct knowledge, illusion, delusion, sleep, and memory.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This sutra shows that all thoughts can create movements of consciousness, although BKS Iyengar and Barbara Miller both state that some can be beneficial to the cause of yoga. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While each of these vrittis are outlined in following sutras, one thing that this sutra can lend us as practitioners is a context in which to bring our thoughts into awareness - a means for classification. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>1.7 pratyaksanumanagamah pramanani</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Correct knowledge is direct, inferred, or proven as factual. BKS Iyengar</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Like other lists in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, I believe that the vrittis are organized with pramana listed first, because correct knowledge is the most aklista (non-tormenting, non-harmful) and therefore the vritti most beneficial to our journey as yoga practitioners. As practitioners, however, we do need to be aware that while correct knowledge comes from direct, inferred or proven information; direct, inferred, or proven information is not always correct knowledge in </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">our</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> citta. There is one more vital piece to find correct knowledge - buddhi (intelligence). </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Correct knowledge invites buddhi (intelligence) into the process of perception. This quality (intelligence), BKS Iyengar describes as dormant - a quality that must be opened up, utilized and honed. When wrapped up in the citta vrittis, those vrittis can easily influence direct, inferred, or proven information. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For example: How often have we taken some piece of information (true or untrue) and heighten it to the uppermost level of truth without thinking or applying intelligence? How often have we been wrong? Like asana is intended to spread awareness throughout our bodies, buddhi is intended to spread awareness into our thought processes - allowing us to view thoughts for what they truly are and act with intelligence. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">BKS Iyengar states that direct knowledge can lead man beyond the conscious state (amanaskatva). </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>1.8 Viparayayo mithyajnanamatadrupapratistham</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Illusory or erroneous knowledge is based on non-fact or the non-real.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> BKS Iyengar</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This sutra, I feel, highlights that any type of vritti can be klista or aklista. Error, here, is a misconception, or mistaking one thing for another. So even a vritti based on direct knowledge can be misconstrued. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Have you ever taken something someone said as having a different meaning? </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>1.9 Sabadajnananupati vastusunyo vikalpah</b></span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Verbal knowledge devoid of substance is fancy or imagination. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">BKS Iyengar</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">According to this sutra, if there is no substance, this verbal knowledge is imagination. How many statements do we hear or make throughout the day that are devoid of actual substance. How many large claims, small claims never come to fruition or truth? This is important to note - any verbal testimony can be fancy - as long as it doesn’t have substance. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How many times at work have you heard a coworker say, “If this change happens, I will quit.” How about, “If this policy is enacted by the government, there will be anarchy.” Whether these statements come from fear, concern, or joy does not make a difference - they are all statements made in the heat of emotion. Emotions do not always come from a firm foundation of substance. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>1.10 abhavapratyayalambana tamovrttirnidra</b></span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Deep sleep is when the mind is overcome with heaviness and no other activities are present</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Desikichar</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In my mind, the idea that no other activities are present is gigantic. This, as BKS Iyengar explains in his commentary, can be a monumental tool for the sadaka. This same state when awake and aware is samadhi. The main difference here, as Edwin Bryant points out, is tamas (intertia - a heaviness). We are too still and without awareness here to actually experience this samadhi-like state. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>1.11 anubhuta-visayasampramosah smirtih</b></span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Memory is the retention of [images of] sense objects that have been experienced</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Each object we experience creates a pratyaya or imprint. A collection of pratyayas create a samaskara. A memory is a samaskara that does not fall away. Some commentators suggest memories that stay can either be easily accessed or are more difficult to access. Similar to rocks in a pond. If the pond is clear (Satvic mind), those rocks can be easy to retrieve. If the pond is murky, they are not as easy to retrieve. The murkiness is related to tamas - a clouded sensation. (Choppy waters being compared to rajas - between clarity and murkiness). </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In addition, memories are influenced by the state of the mind at the time of its entry. A memory can be favorable and clear (sattvic), It can be influenced by aversion (rajasic), or it can be murky and ignorant (tamasic). </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">BKS Iyengar states in his commentary that these memories can resurface correctly if utilizing discrimination. However, each of these memories is a vritti. So it can be a memory based on correct knowledge, incorrect knowledge, metaphor, etc. And as Desikachar states, “it is not possible to tell if a memory is true, false, incomplete, or imaginary.”</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In addition, it is believed that multiple clusters of samaskaras can be combined, therefore influencing memory incorrectly. Yogis believe that dreams are memories. The more vivid the memory, the more likely it will appear in the dream. The combinations of these memories making it possible to dream that you are an elephant with a human head. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This sutra shows us that discrimination must be applied to memory. Not all memory is based on correct knowledge. And our memories could actually be some conglomeration of samaskaras that can be likened to our elephant body with a human head. So discrimination is not just for incoming information and the processing of it, but needs to be applied to the constant churning of our minds and the memories that are lifted to the surface while it is churning. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; line-height: 20.2399997711182px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The above post is a self-unpacking of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. I am not a professional historian, I am only sharing my thoughts on the topic. The Thoughts on the Yoga Sutras postings came about as preparation for a weekly study group that I attend at Karuna Center for Yoga and Healing Arts (www.karunayoga.com). Please feel free to share your thoughts and ideas in the comments section.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666669845581px;"> </span></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>Paul Menardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17479459287969105177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-982151226704196257.post-58852504895658729212015-09-03T04:53:00.000-07:002015-09-03T04:53:04.545-07:00Thoughts on the Yoga Sutras - 1.5<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">vrttaya pancatayyah klistaklistah</span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-502d8b84-9310-1ab7-33d5-9c4da8455848" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The movements of consciousness are fivefold. They may be cognizable or non-cognizable, painful or nonpainful.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I particularly like this translation because of the word “may”. It isn’t until much later that we may find the movements were klista/aklista. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Whether these activities are beneficial or create problems cannot be immediately seen. Time alone will confirm their effect.” - Desikichar </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“It is important to note here that even the most subtle and benign workings of thought are obstructions to freedom of the spirit.” (Miller)</span></div>
<br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Whether these thoughts are happy or painful, they are all the same, culminating in a cycle of varying thoughts and emotions throughout our life. Even the most happy moments of our life can be surrounded by thoughts or emotions opposing the experience immediately and over time. (births, deaths, marriage, love, etc.)</span><br />
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<i style="line-height: 20.2399997711182px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The above post is a self-unpacking of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. I am not a professional historian, I am only sharing my thoughts on the topic. The Thoughts on the Yoga Sutras postings came about as preparation for a weekly study group that I attend at Karuna Center for Yoga and Healing Arts (www.karunayoga.com). Please feel free to share your thoughts and ideas in the comments section.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666669845581px;"> </span></i>Paul Menardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17479459287969105177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-982151226704196257.post-88093836730954031772015-09-03T04:51:00.000-07:002015-09-03T04:53:48.692-07:00Thoughts on the Yoga Sutras: 1.4<div>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-502d8b84-930e-34a4-de97-bdce881fc0ed"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At other times, the seer identifies with the fluctuating consciousness.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">BKS Iyengar uses the word uniting in his commentary. The seer identifies with the fluctuation of consciousness to such a degree that it unites with the objects seen or with consciousness or thought itself. So much so that the seer confuses prakriti (or matter) as the truth. </span></div>
<br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This sutra explains why the practices outlined in this text are so important - because if we do not move in the direction of the text, we are instead allowing, as BKS Iyengar states, for “objects to act as a provender for the grazing citta, which is attracted to them by its appetite.” It is for this reason why practice is defined later in the sutras as constant and over a long period of time, because it only takes moments for the citta to continue grazing</span></span></div>
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The above post is a self-unpacking of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. I am not a professional historian, I am only sharing my thoughts on the topic. The Thoughts on the Yoga Sutras postings came about as preparation for a weekly study group that I attend at Karuna Center for Yoga and Healing Arts (www.karunayoga.com). Please feel free to share your thoughts and ideas in the comments section.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666669845581px;"> </span></i>Paul Menardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17479459287969105177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-982151226704196257.post-73722862667436330862015-08-31T04:41:00.000-07:002015-08-31T04:41:30.858-07:00Thoughts on the Yoga Sutras: Sutra 1.3<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1.3 tada drastuh svarupe vasthanam</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Then, the seer dwells in his own true splendor. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Once the seer is isolated from the turnings of thought” (Miller) “they can no longer distort the true expression of the soul. revealed in his own nature, the radiant seer abides in his own grandeur (BKS Iyengar).”</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I often see this reflected in day-to-day life. When I can move beyond my own brain, my own insecurities, my own desires, I can feel a glimmer of a shining experience. It is in this moment that I feel like I am my own true self, or perhaps the best version of myself. This experience, I can only believe, is on the micro level - one short moment in time. The first step in Imagining what it would be like to live in the glory of freedom from our own insecurities and fears. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Think of a moment in time when you were “in the zone.” You were focused and clear. You did not worry about the outcome, you did not worry about what others were thinking, and you were absorbed in the moment. You may have been looking at something beautiful, you may have found a moment of complete quiet, you may have just opened your eyes in the morning. What did it feel like? How did you feel? Did it feel free? Spacious? </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Really operating from our true nature - without the suffering of the mind. It is practically impossible to truly imagine. I think it is important to have something to remember, a moment when we are operating without the restrictions, complications, or influence of thought. This thought could potentially be our first step toward understanding.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Desikachar says of this sutra that when we are in our true nature, “The tendency not to be open to a fresh comprehension or the inability to comprehend are overcome.” </span><br />
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<i style="line-height: 20.2399997711182px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The above post is a self-unpacking of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. I am not a professional historian, I am only sharing my thoughts on the topic. The Thoughts on the Yoga Sutras postings came about as preparation for a weekly study group that I attend at Karuna Center for Yoga and Healing Arts (www.karunayoga.com). Please feel free to share your thoughts and ideas in the comments section.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666669845581px;"> </span></i>Paul Menardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17479459287969105177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-982151226704196257.post-11381719921354527522015-08-12T06:00:00.003-07:002015-08-12T06:00:25.056-07:00Thoughts on the Yoga Sutras: 1.2<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1.2 yogascittavrttinirodhah</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yoga is the ability to direct the mind exclusively towards an object and sustain that direction without any distractions.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (TKV Desikachar) </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I chose Desikachar’s translation as I find that this translation ties most directly to the 8th petal of yoga - samadhi. Instead of leading the practitioner to the idea of silencing or stopping consciousness, he takes us back (by directing us for the first time) to the idea of samadhi, beyond concentration and beyond meditation, moving through the limbs of yoga.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I feel it is important to notice that this sutra states the goal. This goal is nirodhah (cessation) of thought - stopping the turnings of thought. In this sutra, yoga is a goal - not the practice. The practice is the working of the 8 limbs which bring us to this goal (in that the first 7 limbs lead us to success in reaching the 8th). So this sutra can be seen as the goal - not the practice. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One of my favorite concepts to consider is that one cannot still the mind. One can come to a quiet place to influence the mind, but cannot quiet it directly. That, comes from the practice of coming to a quiet place. We use the tools outlined in the sutras to move closer to nirodhah - there is no nirodhah switch to turn or try. </span></div>
<br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Miller says, “Insofar as the subtle mental processes are active, the subject or self is necessarily unstable and agitated. The goal of yoga is to stop the thought processes so that the spirit can be free, isolated from the turmoil of thought from which it mistakenly takes its identity.”</span><br />
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<i style="line-height: 20.2399997711182px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The above post is a self-unpacking of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. I am not a professional historian, I am only sharing my thoughts on the topic. The Thoughts on the Yoga Sutras postings came about as preparation for a weekly study group that I attend at Karuna Center for Yoga and Healing Arts (www.karunayoga.com). Please feel free to share your thoughts and ideas in the comments section.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666669845581px;"> </span></i>Paul Menardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17479459287969105177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-982151226704196257.post-44206431372734612532015-07-30T12:15:00.001-07:002015-07-30T12:17:12.276-07:00Thoughts on the Yoga Sutras: 1.1<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="font-weight: normal;">"And now, the teachings of yoga"</b><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“the disciplines of integration are here expounded through experience and are given to humanity for the exploration and recognition of that hidden part of man which is beyond the awareness of the senses.”</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">BKS Iyengar</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Often this sutra is unpacked as an introduction - the announcement of the sutras. “hello, the teachings of yoga.” I have heard many emphasize the word “now,” as though the teachings need to take place in this moment - in the present. This view is not often agreed upon.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Atha does, however “in sanskrit literature, carry the connotation of a prayer both for an auspicious beginning and a successful conclusion to the work which follows.” (TKV Desikachar) For this reason, I do think that the first sutra is beyond an introduction, instead wishing the reader/practitioner success in exploration and recognition of that hidden part of themselves. The use of the word Atha makes the exploration of this the yoga sutras more of a spiritual quest than a topic for discussion - a life path, rather than a philosophy. </span><br />
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<span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i style="line-height: 20.2399997711182px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The above post is a self-unpacking of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. I am not a professional historian, I am only sharing my thoughts on the topic. The Thoughts on the Yoga Sutras postings came about as preparation for a weekly study group that I attend at Karuna Center for Yoga and Healing Arts (www.karunayoga.com). Please feel free to share your thoughts and ideas in the comments section.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666669845581px;"> </span></i></span>Paul Menardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17479459287969105177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-982151226704196257.post-5225312856195679132014-12-05T06:46:00.001-08:002014-12-05T06:46:54.872-08:00Coming into Balance<div><img class="-webkit-dictation-result-placeholder" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; width: 24px; height: 22px; max-width: 24px; max-height: 22px; display: inline-block; border: none; outline: none; opacity: 0; vertical-align: bottom;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">As February (2015) draws near, I'm getting more and more excited about a balancing workshop that I'm offering In Northhampton. It's incredibly fun for me, because balancing poses are challenging, both in the way that they are taught as well as for the practitioner, for the student. These challenges are both physical as well as psychological.</span></div><div><br></div><div>In a physical sense, it's often hard to find balance because we are either too cautious or not cautious enough. We are too risky, or maybe afraid of taking a risk. It's strange, because this is often tied to the make up of what we believe and what we believe we are. We train our minds with our experience, creating patterns of practice to become pathways in our brains and our lives.</div><div><br></div><div>Because of these patterns, stepping outside of our comfort zone and into balance is scary, creating a fight or flight response, or fear. Fear of death or dying, Patanjali says, even affects the wise. Testing our boundaries and becoming fearful or scared. It is then no surprise that we cannot find balance in our own lives, or in the physical postures we attempt on our mat.</div><div><br></div><div>I make no secret that I consider our asana practice to be training for life. Just as we need to learn the opposite of our habits, risking, or protecting, we need to apply the same tools to our lives. This is something that I've begun to work more and more with as I balance my work life and my passion. It's a struggle I think most of us are trying to overcome. Finding work-life-balance, spending more time with our loved ones, or taking the opportunity to just enjoy our lives is often pushed to the back burner because were too afraid we won't make enough money, will disappoint others, or maybe disappoint ourselves. </div><div><br></div><div>These fears become one more block to finding a true selves, and realizing our life's potential. In the spirit of self-study, I encourage you to look deeply into your own habits and see if there's a point to balance in your own life. Take the step and enjoy the risk or the safeguard, even if it is scary.</div><div><br></div><div>For more information on my workshop, you can visit the Karuna Center for Yoga and Healing Arts website at www.karunayoga.com</div><div><br></div><div>Namaste!</div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQbVMnzjzr5BjeUpvba-bkunH09y7BhCeubzvy5QRYfJMTLSIjksoMZHWLy4z4Y4xRFWrFYgq4QiAP4hAdvwYRHURm5AOjHqR-qIhSRJWEkN_7BFBRE2J1tBOTZ7eKSlMPXSbaZ7yk_quA/s640/blogger-image-1694071495.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQbVMnzjzr5BjeUpvba-bkunH09y7BhCeubzvy5QRYfJMTLSIjksoMZHWLy4z4Y4xRFWrFYgq4QiAP4hAdvwYRHURm5AOjHqR-qIhSRJWEkN_7BFBRE2J1tBOTZ7eKSlMPXSbaZ7yk_quA/s640/blogger-image-1694071495.jpg"></a></div>Paul Menardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17479459287969105177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-982151226704196257.post-84230348816402986792014-11-06T11:46:00.001-08:002014-11-06T11:46:46.183-08:00Bringing Us TogetherI recently watched a video of the amazing Mary Dunn teaching Pranayama. On the video she did the legendary thing that I have heard about her - she waited until everyone did exactly what she said before moving on - for Sukasana! She was the queen of sticklers. I have to admit that I was rooting for her. Every once in a while I have a student that does not sit exactly the way I ask, or do something the way I ask and I always question myself. How do I handle it?<div><br></div><div>The beauty of this exercise was <i>how</i> she handled it. She said that "these directions are what bring us together." How gorgeous is that! I always try to plan my instruction based on my experience. For this reason, I want others to share my experience. Why wouldn't I insist on everyone doing the same thing(safely)? Why shouldn't I be a stickler? Anyone who is teaching yoga from their experience has the right to share their experience. And every student should be open to sharing that experience. After all, they paid for that class, they chose that teacher. So, why not try to achieve the experience they are creating.</div><div><br></div><div>Moving forward, as a student, I will take a vow of compliance. I will do my best to share in the experience of the instructor(safely). And as a teacher I will trust in the validity of my experiences. These promises to ourselves and to our teachers will do exactly what Mary suggested - bring us all together. Feel the same experience (or at least try). Be open to the vulnerability of a new experience. Trust in each other in the safe zone of our communities.</div><div><br></div><div>namaste!</div>Paul Menardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17479459287969105177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-982151226704196257.post-10793967385144643742014-03-05T05:10:00.001-08:002014-03-05T05:16:05.134-08:00Yes, I am okayI would like to thank everybody for reading my blog. I know a few of you have mentioned to me that with the posts I've been sharing, it may seem that I am in a bad place. I want you to know, that I am fine. I'm delving really deep into the idea of contentment. While I do this, I am trying to share as openly and honestly as I can. Who knows? Maybe this isn't the right forum for it, but I'm not one to stop something once I've started.<div><br></div><div>Part of yoga is delving deeply into oneself. I know this often is not related in a yoga class, but is a deeper part of the practice if you're willing to try. That is merely what I am attempting to do. I'm trying to dive a little deeper into the ethical principles and observances of yoga. I am generally a very contented person, but everyone has bad days or times of transition. Your concern moves me and I appreciate it very much. <br><div><br></div><div>Thank you again for thinking of me, and for reading my blog. See you soon.</div></div>Paul Menardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17479459287969105177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-982151226704196257.post-19475564589129374202014-03-05T05:06:00.001-08:002014-03-05T05:06:29.992-08:00Interesting dayAs I continue on my journey with Santosa, every day brings something new. Some days are great, some days are not. Part of me wonders if my magnifying glass on contentment makes things that way. Yesterday I found myself completely wrapped up in the negative. I let the things around me that were bothering me completely take over. All in all, a bad day.<div><br></div><div>So this morning I went right back to my current favorite book, the Yamas and Niyamas. I find that on my journey with contentment, it has been such a great tool. When I find myself really struggling with the idea of contentment it has some wonderful words of wisdom. Today I flipped right to the Santosha chapter and found some advice.</div><div><br></div><div>One section of the book talks about emotional disturbances. Basically this section discusses how we should not let out emotional disturbances take over our lives. For example, what other people say, how other people offend us, or how other things or situations offend us.</div><div><br></div><div>I found myself yesterday being bothered by the silliest things. Anything from a past conversation to the noise in my own home. It's so funny, once we find ourselves taken over by one emotional disturbance, they all come to the forefront. </div><div><br></div><div>What really stuck out to me from the book was a Japanese proverb the author shared. "The noise does not disturb you, you disturb the noise." The way I took this is, when we fight against what life gives us, when we battle with what is, we are the ones disturbing life. What an interesting idea.</div><div><br></div><div>This is not to say that there are things in life we should avoid. This is also not to say that there are bad things in life we should just accept. This is saying that our emotional disturbances themselves are the brains reaction to what is going on. Sometimes we need to listen to that, and make the correct changes. Other times, we need to evaluate what the brain is actually making us feel. We waste too much time being upset, we waste too much time being offended by our situation. Sometimes we just need to move forward.</div>Paul Menardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17479459287969105177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-982151226704196257.post-82673940975942119952014-03-03T09:35:00.001-08:002014-03-03T09:35:59.187-08:00Mornings have BrokenSo, I have tried to focus my efforts in beginning my day on a positive note. I have to say that it has created a marked visible change. I feel much more positive during the day. <div><br></div><div>Here were my big morning issues:</div><div><br></div><div>1. I was waking up every morning later than my original intent. I wanted to get up earlier and practice, but I just could not commit myself to it. This left me feeling guilty and frustrated. My solution: make time to practice later in the day. My day is already long, making it longer was making me tired and groggy. Now I wake up without guilt, without being upset.</div><div><br></div><div>2. I was prepping myself for a bad day. The stuff that makes me upset during the day does not need to take over my morning. My morning is valuable me time, why not keep it that way. </div><div><br></div><div>The change in morning attitude has been wonderful - now onto tackling the rest of the day.</div>Paul Menardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17479459287969105177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-982151226704196257.post-34362546112289966282014-02-25T21:56:00.001-08:002014-02-25T21:56:08.799-08:00Waking up to ContentmentFor some reason, one of the hardest things to do is wake up contented. How is this? The day is just beginning. The rising sun is a metaphor for newness - everything starts again. But so many of my mornings are spent in full-on grump. What's the deal?<div><br></div><div>After a few days (or more) of waking up to discontentment, I have decided to wake up tomorrow excited. We shall see how it goes. Wish me luck.</div>Paul Menardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17479459287969105177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-982151226704196257.post-61354710275968770912014-02-23T07:19:00.001-08:002014-02-23T07:19:49.209-08:00Today's Journey to ContentmentThis morning I have been honing my focus to my current situation. While there are things in my life that I am trying to overcome, that does not mean that I have to loathe those parts of my life. As a person (like everyone else), I want to do what I like and prefer not to do the things that I dislike. Life, however, deals is additional cards. The game does not always close in our favor. We win some, we lose some, and every now and again we tie - landing midway toward our goal. <div><br></div><div>But here is the struggle - we aren't losing when we have to do the things we dislike, those things are just part of life. Some of our dislikes can be removed from our lives, stepped away from, or abandoned. Others cannot. If we are in unhealthy relationships or if we dislike our jobs, we can get out. We cannot, however, stop taking out the trash - no matter how much we dislike it. </div><div><br></div><div>For me, in a time of transition, my work is to find contentment in the things that no longer serve me - for now, while they are still part of my life. I cannot allow myself to spend those moments wishing or comparing. Each moment is as it is - it cannot be something else. There is no other moment but this moment.</div>Paul Menardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17479459287969105177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-982151226704196257.post-50808984545168977202014-02-20T20:44:00.001-08:002014-02-20T20:44:36.233-08:00Duty with Pure JoyI have been working hard to maintain my contentment practice in the past few days. I have to admit, it is easier with snow days :-). <div><br></div><div>I read a new definition of Santosha (contentment) today - performing duty with pure joy. What a challenge. I can see in my nature that I prefer to do what I enjoy over the duty that I have at hand. It is easier to want something new or something more exciting than the duties as they are laid out in front of me. The word duty suggests that we are obligated or expected to perform that action. Taking the trash out - or shoveling snow is a duty - joy in cleaning the toilet is something I have not felt. </div><div><br></div><div>This is my day's mission for tomorrow - performing my duties with complete joy. I am starting easy, as I have a half day at work. We will see how it goes.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div>Paul Menardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17479459287969105177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-982151226704196257.post-46304363279442588962014-02-15T15:07:00.001-08:002014-02-15T15:07:28.437-08:00Om Gum Ganapatayei NamahaSo everything has been going very well regarding my Santosha (contentment) practice. Everything was feeling light and easy. I have felt very present and am giving myself time for myself, which I have not done for a long time. <div><br></div><div>There was, however, one thing that I could not be content with - that I know I need to face regularly. This one thing happens to be a MAJOR part of my life. (Pardon my vagueness, I am trying to share without giving away too much). I have been telling myself for a long time that something needs to change regarding this part of my life, but I feel very stuck. So, I decided to do something about it. I decided to take on a 40 days of chanting. Like many spiritual practices, that you may see in the bible or other spiritual books, some if the deepest practices take a commitment. Chanting for a result is one of them. </div><div><br></div><div>So I chose a chant to Ganesh, which I am particularly fond of (Om Gum Ganapatayei Namaha). This chant is known as the most effective at removing obstacles of all kinds. Since I feel so held back by this particular part of my life, I would like to do my best to remove any obstacles and either accept it as it is or move on.</div><div><br></div><div>After one day of chanting, I feel a new purpose. I have already begun taking new steps to move on, and this rather heavy piece of my life has become more acceptable to deal with. </div><div><br></div><div>Om Gum Ganapatayei Namaha!</div><div><br></div><div>One more step toward Santosha.</div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRTaaBrrKJwReoJQs_Jyr_rWUz_yk9257OBXFsGDbWISuJg7-jHcKamlizjlfirbTd0P5Y8MT94zlNYDG8hXOmvmk-nJRCzH-0T4CpMPceRmuoUiDkM7456RPDSHG6gH2D6GqDVHDGXDie/s640/blogger-image--72981449.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRTaaBrrKJwReoJQs_Jyr_rWUz_yk9257OBXFsGDbWISuJg7-jHcKamlizjlfirbTd0P5Y8MT94zlNYDG8hXOmvmk-nJRCzH-0T4CpMPceRmuoUiDkM7456RPDSHG6gH2D6GqDVHDGXDie/s640/blogger-image--72981449.jpg"></a></div>Paul Menardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17479459287969105177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-982151226704196257.post-14611711972352411902014-02-13T07:15:00.001-08:002014-02-18T18:34:33.487-08:00Nothing exists but this momentThere is a saying that nothing exists but this moment. While this may be true, my mind thinks differently. I learned from my experience the other day at the fireplace that I no longer have to react negatively to this truth. <div><br></div><div>When I sat to meditate today, I decided to think of the situation as funny: every time my brain jumps to something in the future, I decide to take it lightly. I typically get upset when I watch my mind do this. I have decided to change my reaction to that of old friends who love eachother for their flaws. I am trying to be content with things that bring me discontent. I will try to disconnect myself from that feeling of frustration - so I feel the best thing I can do is the opposite, love my mind for what it is. I do feel like my mind is trying to do good, it just doesn't know how to stop and stay present. </div><div><br></div><div>Om gam Ganapatayei Namaha!</div>Paul Menardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17479459287969105177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-982151226704196257.post-81332652374517422282014-02-13T07:08:00.005-08:002014-02-13T10:38:37.093-08:00GrippingI was blessed today to have a day by myself - completely alone in quiet. It is the perfect day - there is snow falling outside and I am bundled up by the fire in my little house. I decided to give myself the joy of doing all of the stuff that I always want more time for. Some of those things include meditation, sitting in front of the fire, reading, and enjoying my own asana practice.<div><br></div><div>I decided to read more about contentment (as I am working with contentment in my life). I read about pain and pleasure and how we naturally hold onto our need for pleasure instead of just enjoying it. This need to grasp (and I am not sure if it comes from fear or our mind's natural aptitude for creating miserable self-fulfilling prophesies) makes it even harder for us to enjoy our lives.</div><div><br></div><div>I was so intrigued by this that I decided to test this idea. I sit down in front of the fire to meditate for a short time. I close my eyes and I automatically start to get restless. I start to think, "the fire is so beautiful, what if I miss it?" Instead of enjoying the fire with my eyes closed, feeling the warmth and listening to the soothing crackling sound, I start to grip onto the idea of the fire. For some reason I could not let myself enjoy it, perhaps because it will eventually be gone or I will be away from home soon. Regardless of the reason, I was so shocked that I could not stop gripping at the idea of enjoyment - I was gripping so much I could not even allow myself to enjoy it. </div><div><br></div><div>Then it happened. I started laughing. How absurd! I wanted nothing more to sit and enjoy - but I could not let go. My laughter slowly helped to release something - and I began to just listen to the crackling and absorb the warmth. </div><div><br></div><div>How often do we deny ourselves? How much of our lives are spent holding on for dear life? How much time do we waste by worrying and clinging?</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbZ4EGUzA43FJjYwLL7pJ1C6je7IiWgTVAtMovHlXNm3PPs8npemj6uttZsV1iNzV8wz203h0ATq7m8yfmJTjjpJLQ8zeo-Xg3Uz2S_M0fRZt3L2CNOh7V7TOHQ0ngDtyt_ydNg0uJ7tCM/s640/blogger-image--528576913.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbZ4EGUzA43FJjYwLL7pJ1C6je7IiWgTVAtMovHlXNm3PPs8npemj6uttZsV1iNzV8wz203h0ATq7m8yfmJTjjpJLQ8zeo-Xg3Uz2S_M0fRZt3L2CNOh7V7TOHQ0ngDtyt_ydNg0uJ7tCM/s640/blogger-image--528576913.jpg"></a></div>Paul Menardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17479459287969105177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-982151226704196257.post-44370030068699841722014-02-11T19:10:00.001-08:002014-02-11T19:20:26.346-08:00Day 1 - SantoshaSo I have been giving Santosha a chance. Here was the task - note any instance of thinking g about the next thing or look for happiness outside of myself. I stopped writing them all down because there have been so many. <div><br></div><div>I am not going to make a laundry list, but I will say that there is some work to be done. Especially looking for happiness outside of myself - I do this chronically. I look for happiness in my job, I look for happiness from friends, my partner, and more. </div><div><br></div><div>I tried spending this evening looking at my life as it is and be grateful for it. I have been trying to enjoy, take in, and be a part of every moment. I need to do this more often!</div>Paul Menardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17479459287969105177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-982151226704196257.post-1700727643482879722014-02-10T07:11:00.001-08:002014-02-10T07:11:54.560-08:00Ok, I'm Back (Or Hope to Be) - Revisiting SantoshaOk, I know. I have not written a blog post in forever - seriously, forever. For some time I have been kicking myself for not writing. The longer I put it off, the harder it became to start again. <br />
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<li>My new mission - trying to write every day. </li>
<li>What will likely happen - trying to write once a week</li>
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I am just coming off of the most amazing weekend. This past weekend was my last 500 hour advanced teacher training weekend. I feel so blessed to have worked, studied, shared, and created with a small group of profoundly wonderful people. This inspiration has pushed me to bring a new fervor to my practice, including working more deeply with my blog. For those of you reading this from Facebook - I swear, I will not post every post, just the ones I REALLY like. :)</div>
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I shared with the group on Saturday that I have been struggling with a severely negative attitude lately. I may not have been showing it (I try to keep it to myself), but it has been influencing me very deeply. I feel that it has influenced both my work and home life and it is about time I do something about it. </div>
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So here is my remedy - Santosha (Contentment). Santosha is one of yoga's Niyamas (rules, observances, restrictions). For the next month I will try my best to live the Niyama of Contentment. So here we go. </div>
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I am arming myself with a few tools. My main tool is a book that I have fallen in love with recently - <i>The Yamas& Niyamas </i>by Deborah Adele. If you have not picked this one up - do it! she says that Contentment is falling in love with your life - exactly what I need. </div>
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In her book, Adele gives a month's plan for developing Santosha:</div>
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<li>Week 1: Journal when you find yourself getting ready for the next thing or look for contentment outside of yourself.<br /></li>
<li>Week 2: Notice how much energy you expend moving towards what you enjoy and avoiding what you dislike.<br /></li>
<li>Week 3: Take responsibility for emotional disturbances. Trace every annoyance back to yourself.<br /></li>
<li>Week 4: Practice gratitude and non seeking. Be content with each moment as it is.</li>
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This will be a challenge. I know that it takes 30 days of consistent work to create new habits/break old habits, so I am glad that she has created these tools the way she did. I will let you know how it goes.</div>
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Namaste!</div>
Paul Menardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17479459287969105177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-982151226704196257.post-36468021738160395012013-09-04T06:27:00.001-07:002013-09-04T06:27:25.242-07:00Month of Shoulder Stand - Day 16This week I have been working regularly with chair shoulder stand and its variations. There is nothing like shoulder stand to feel completely on top of your shoulders. I have been working with blocks under the shoulders, blankets under the shoulders, and a bolster over the shoulders. My favorite variation at the moment is coming into Nira Lamba Sarvangasana - lifting the torso away from the chair, so that my torso is completely vertical.<br />
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Being in a completely vertical line gives the pose a different feel altogether - deeper Jalandara Bandha, less curvature of the Lumbar spine, but if done right, the chest can be just as open.<br />
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My new mission - try using taller props in traditional shoulder stand.Paul Menardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17479459287969105177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-982151226704196257.post-70469479569496181992013-08-22T09:57:00.001-07:002013-08-22T09:57:37.122-07:00Month of Shoulder Stand - Day 4So I tried it, Shoulder stand without thinking about alignment too much. Well, I tried anyway. I realized that I have to be ok with readjusting. I will collapse, so I will have to readjust. <div><br></div><div>I do have to think about alignment. BKS Iyengar has been quoted as saying that God is on the midline of the body. Just like in meditation, we have to ensure that the body is in proper alignment. That alignment of the spine is the means for the travel of energy in the body. </div><div><br></div><div>So here is my new goal - align the body without it being the focus. </div>Paul Menardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17479459287969105177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-982151226704196257.post-90879084036785920292013-08-20T19:22:00.001-07:002013-08-20T19:22:08.610-07:00Month of Shoulder Stand - Day 3Today's practice was all about alignment and placement. In class tonight, we worked with Setu Bandha up the wall, as a means for aligning our shoulder stands. <div><br></div><div>I often have my students work in this way, drawing the tailbone into the center of the room, groins toward the wall, and hands moving down to the shoulder blades. </div><div><br></div><div>This made me realize that I am often very focused on alignment - to the point of perfection - trying to get my hands as close to the floor as possible, tailbone so very forward, groins back, tops of the shoulders, etc. </div><div><br></div><div>Tomorrow, I plan on attacking the pose in a softer way- without attacking. Keeping it soft and without judgement. Relaxed. Lets see how it goes.</div>Paul Menardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17479459287969105177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-982151226704196257.post-27408695578707342912013-08-20T08:23:00.001-07:002013-08-20T08:23:05.244-07:00Month of Shoulder Stand - Day 2As I practiced shoulder stand today, I couldn't help digesting something that I had heard yesterday. I was at a workshop with the amazing Kevin Gardner, when he shared something beautiful about Jalindara Bandha. Kevin said that when we are in the very earliest stages of life, the heart and the brain are the first parts if the body to develop (heart first, brain second). And they're developed right next to each other, in incredibly close proximity. So when we do shoulder stand, it is just like bringing the two back together.<div><br></div><div>I found this incredibly touching at the time, but it means much more and is so much deeper when meditating on this while doing shoulder stand. I can't help but be completely focused on this idea. It makes me wonder how influenced my brain was by the heart at the time, in the womb. And if I continue to bring them together, can I bring myself back to that original state? Can we return to leading from the heart, before the brain existed? Is this the point?</div><div><br></div><div><br></div>Paul Menardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17479459287969105177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-982151226704196257.post-19159235778045845172013-08-18T08:38:00.001-07:002013-08-18T08:38:40.283-07:00Month of Shoulder Stand - Day 1As many of you know, over the last year I have been recommitting myself to my pranayama practice. One thing that is very important to pranayama is Jalandara Bandha - which is perfected in shoulder stand. I feel like I have been neglecting my shoulder stand a bit - so I have determined that I will go back to doing 5 minutes of shoulder stand every day. <div>
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I realized today how far I have drifted away from comfort in shoulder stand. I don't have a lot of trouble when others are telling me what to do (from a teacher in class), but when I practice on my own, I often back away from shoulder stand sooner than I originally intend to. Today I started easy (for me), by holding shoulder stand for about two minutes, then doing three minutes of halasana. I believe that my issues with the pose come from my shoulders and groins. Tightness and fatigue often pull me away from my holding, so I know that I have a lot of work ahead of me - to loosen up and maintain the holding for longer.</div>
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I will try to write something every day - try! Wish me luck.</div>
Paul Menardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17479459287969105177noreply@blogger.com0