I couldn't help but feel overwhelmed by this past weeks news stories and daily events happening in my life and others...I don't have a TV for that reason, and in fact haven't had one for 10 years, but somehow the tragedies percolated into my consciousness. I felt sadness, grief, anxiety, fear, uncertainty. All the emotions that media feeds off of to make us more dependent on those THINGS that will keep us more safe, or happy, healthy, horny, more satisfied and worthy....
So as I found it hard to shake the sadness, I meditated and read upon one of the 8th limbs of yoga I had never heard or understood so well before- Pratyahara.
Yoga sutra 2.54 states,
" Sva Visayasamprayoge Citta Svarupanukara Ivendriyanam Pratyaharah."
Which translates to " Withdrawing the senses, mind and consciousness from contact with external objects, and then drawing the senses inwards towards the seer, is pratyahara."
There is so much chaos and stimulation nowadays that it's sometimes hard to filter out and block the things you don't want to enter your consciousness. Our nervous systems are overworked! and our minds cluttered by filth. So what can we do about it! In Bhava Ram's book, " The Eight Limbs of Yoga, Pathway to Liberation," he suggests that you reduce your exposure to mass media, get away from hectic noisy environments, stay clear of negative people, speech, novels, and shopping malls! (ah malls are scary). Instead, try embracing more time in nature, times of stillness and silence, positive thoughts of gratitude,massages (ooo yaaa), awareness of breath, self affirmations (sounds like a yoga class!).
So as I found myself taking in this deep wisdom from the wise Bhava Ram, a few tears ran down my face, and then my mind began to still, my nervous system calmed, my breath became more deep and full. I began to withdraw my sense of self pity and anguish and realize that I have a choice, and I have the power to mindfully choose what I want to enter my consciousness and furthermore my subconscious!
As I taught yoga Sunday morning I shared these thoughts with my very supporting students. As we sat there in stillness, we chose to take in the fresh air around us, the damp grass beneath us, the harmonious sound of the waves bombarding their positive energy towards us. The birds singing sweetly to us, the wind gently whispering past our faces, the sun kissing our cheeks, the palm trees swaying silently, the presence of everyone around us taking in and sharing the exhales of mother earth.
mmmmmmmmmmmm so sweet. Thanks to all who shared this pure moment of truth and sincerity with me.