
What does this principle mean to me?
See notes from Cleanse Day 6.
The first of the Niyamas described by Patanjali is what in Sanskrit is called Saucha or purity. Purification of the body directly influences spiritual consciousness. Saucha is an aid toward yoga (samadhi).
Any block in consciousness which does not promote the goal of Yoga is an impurity. Sense movement (chitta vritti) towards satisfaction of desire is an impurity. Even a lack of reverence of daily life or community is an impurity. Purification is multilayered, interdepent with nature, others and the Divine. Patanjali does not expound on the minutiae but the Sutras suggest that purity includes the cleanliness of the body, speech, mind and even the environment worldwide.
Mental purity is tricky to manifest. Any thought that leads the mind in a direction other than that of Yoga, is an impure thought. Any desire is mental impurity.
In The Sunfood Success System David Wolfe suggests that as you cleanse within, you express the virtues and become beautiful without. Outer beauty is a reflection of inner beauty. You will look more beautiful. You will attract beautiful events and experiences and realize instant karma as amazing synchronicities occur.
How do I honour it on a daily basis? What could I improve?
Asana (postures) and pranayama (breath work) cleanse the physical body.
“The practice of asanas tones the entire body and removes the toxins and impurities caused by over-indulgence. Pranayama cleanses and aerates the lungs, oxygenates the blood and purifies the nerves” BKS Iyengar, Light on Yoga
Saucha also incorporates the practice of kriyas, cleansing techniques ranging from methods meant to address the hygiene of the physical body to methods meant to bring balance to the energetic body. These include daily bathing, brushing and flossing the teeth, cleaning the tongue, and flushing the sinuses with warm salted water (neti pot). One of the less familiar kriyas is the practice of trataka drishti, which involves gazing softly at a candle flame until the eyes water.
Clean food, clean air, pure thoughts, dharana, sweating, fasting, tapas, vairaga, meditation, nature all work together to cleanse. An environment of friendly animals and natural flora living in a beneficent synergy manifests spiritual consciousness.
Love thy neighbor.
Observations regarding the practice of my assignments:
Day 16 was, again, enjoyable. My body felt tremendously alive, once again, when I awoke. My skin is clear and glowing. My facial rosacea on both cheeks is disappearing. I performed a neti-pot nasal cleanse.
Sleep record:
I was not tired Saturday night, yet slept long, again.
Additional thoughts or feelings:
This is easy. I continue to be generally quiet, at peace and optimistic about the future.
Day 16 was, again, enjoyable. My body felt tremendously alive, once again, when I awoke. My skin is clear and glowing. My facial rosacea on both cheeks is disappearing. I performed a neti-pot nasal cleanse.
Sleep record:
I was not tired Saturday night, yet slept long, again.
Additional thoughts or feelings:
This is easy. I continue to be generally quiet, at peace and optimistic about the future.
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