Day 1
Happy 2021 y’all!
Today we begin our 40 Days of Practice.
Please be sure to take a look through the workbook and get clear on your practices for the 40 Days.
The first Sutra from the fundamental traditional yoga text, The Yoga Sutra of Patanjali is as follows:
‘Atha’ is an auspicious word, as Baba Hari Das explains, “Atha is like Om, the sound of creation.”
In this moment, the present, yoga is possible and what follows in the sutras is an exposition on the art, science and practice of yoga. Yoga is a pathway to peace, power and possibility.
‘Anusasanam’ basically means discipline. The word discipline is connected to the word disciple (student, to learn). Disciple here, means the capacity to be, to know and to learn.
Yoga is not known through study. It is known through practice and experience. The theory and philosophy is important, but it more about doing it and being done by it and experiencing. As Swami Sivananda wrote, "An ounce of practice is worth a ton of theory”.
"This is traditional yoga." - Srivatsa Ramaswami
"With prayers for divine blessings, now begins an exposition of the sacred art of yoga." - BKS Iyengar
"This is the teaching of yoga." - Barbara Stoler Miller
"Now the discipline of yoga." - Osho
"Now we will follow along with the scriptures of yoga and revere them." - Rama Jyoti Vernon
Atha - now, at beginning of text means let there be prosperity, auspiciousness
Yoga - meaning samadhi (deep meditation, concentration, sama (same) adhi (source) and also to become one, join unite
anu - to follow along, consistent
anusasana - literally written in stone, tradition
Now at this very moment all is possible. The past is history, the future is a mystery. Now is where its at. If you are through playing games, Patanjali says here, now, this is it. Be present, or as the Buddha taught, we just need to wake up.
artwork by Angel Ganev, deviantart.com
The Sunrise Ruby
In the early morning hour,
just before dawn, lover and beloved wake
and take a drink of water.
She asks, "Do you love me or yourself more?
Really, tell the absolute truth."
He says, "There's nothing left of me.
I'm like a ruby held up to the sunrise.
Is it still a stone, or a world
made of redness? It has no resistance
to sunlight."
This how Hallaj said, I am God,
and told the truth!
The ruby and the sunrise are one.
Be courageous and discipline yourself.
Completely become hearing and ear,
and wear this sun-ruby as an earring.
Work. Keep digging your well.
Don't think about getting off from work.
Water is there somewhere.
Submit to a daily practice.
Your loyalty to that
is a ring on the door.
Keep knocking, and the joy inside
will eventually open a window
and look out to see who's there.
-Rumi