Yogic principle for the day: the external discipline of PASSIONATE EFFORT.What does this principle mean to me?
There are a lot of levels to yoga practice from studying the Yoga Sutras themselves, meditation, hatha yoga practice. One must be motivated to practice … have passion for the practice, otherwise the study will be reduced to mechanical intellectual knowledge, facts belonging to the memory, a long running of trivia. In I.21, Pantajali says that spiritual consciousness is nearest to those of keen, intense will.
Firm will comes through effort; effort by faith. It is not enough to have good intentions or thoughts; we must act on them; we must live them.
How do I honour it on a daily basis? What could I improve?
Tapas is austere practice requiring burning, self-disciplined effort resulting in the purification of our character. Patanjali states in his Yoga Sutra that tapasya leads to perfection (siddhi) of the body and the senses. Tapasya is sustained and regimented endeavor to connect with the divine, while all obstacles are burned up and fall away.
Tapas is austere practice requiring burning, self-disciplined effort resulting in the purification of our character. Patanjali states in his Yoga Sutra that tapasya leads to perfection (siddhi) of the body and the senses. Tapasya is sustained and regimented endeavor to connect with the divine, while all obstacles are burned up and fall away.
The lifestyle of a householder makes it more difficult than for a monk to have an intense practice. Nevertheless make time for what is really important.
I love, in fact am even passionate about, my evolving, individualized, spiritual lifestyle.
Revisiting sutra 1.14, Patanjali stated that regularity and enthusiasm over a long period of time are what constitutes a firmly grounded practice. So do smaller amounts regularly and as this becomes doable, develop the practice in small steps.
Observations regarding the practice of my assignments:
Day 8 was, again, enjoyable. My body felt tremendously alive, once again, when I awoke. I did not perform a neti-pot nasal cleanse because I quickly left the house for the day.
Daily food/elimination comments:
I continue to enjoy the novelty, aroma and taste of the foods.
My timing was messed up today. Today I really only carried out the breakfast watery routines routine, because I was not home all day and spent a long evening enjoying Prokofiev’s War & Peace opera in Toronto. I ended up eating fruit smoothie for breakfast, fruit smoothie for lunch and some stir-fried vegetables.
Sleep record:
I was not so tired Friday night and had yet another long, satisfying rest, up to 10 hours. Perhaps I should be sleeping less. I am still considering adjusting sleep patterns.
Additional thoughts or feelings:
I’m getting it. My unique schedule has emerged; I can still tinker with it. Again, negative thoughts and memories did not pester me. I was often at peace and optimistic about the future.
Revisiting sutra 1.14, Patanjali stated that regularity and enthusiasm over a long period of time are what constitutes a firmly grounded practice. So do smaller amounts regularly and as this becomes doable, develop the practice in small steps.
Observations regarding the practice of my assignments:
Day 8 was, again, enjoyable. My body felt tremendously alive, once again, when I awoke. I did not perform a neti-pot nasal cleanse because I quickly left the house for the day.
Daily food/elimination comments:
I continue to enjoy the novelty, aroma and taste of the foods.
My timing was messed up today. Today I really only carried out the breakfast watery routines routine, because I was not home all day and spent a long evening enjoying Prokofiev’s War & Peace opera in Toronto. I ended up eating fruit smoothie for breakfast, fruit smoothie for lunch and some stir-fried vegetables.
Sleep record:
I was not so tired Friday night and had yet another long, satisfying rest, up to 10 hours. Perhaps I should be sleeping less. I am still considering adjusting sleep patterns.
Additional thoughts or feelings:
I’m getting it. My unique schedule has emerged; I can still tinker with it. Again, negative thoughts and memories did not pester me. I was often at peace and optimistic about the future.
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