I slept restlessly last night and woke early with concern for those who were in the metro crash. Being already a bit agitated, worries about getting things done at work also were arising. Despite my restlessness, I made sure to sit for meditation. Thoughts kept arising, but by the time I was into my sit, I was able to find a space, where I was not tangled or unsteadied by the thoughts. I felt more peaceful and able to meet the challenges of the day.
In times of agitation, I often find myself drawn to contemplate again Patanjali’s sutra 1.2: Yoga citta vrtti nirodaha. In classical yoga, it means to still the thought waves. This is meant to be the ultimate purpose of yoga: to still thought so that what is beyond mind and body can be revealed.
Practicing and studying from a tantric perspective, I think not so much of stilling my thoughts when I practice and meditate, but rather, finding a sense of alignment, an allowing of and making allowance within my being for the rhythm of the thoughts like a sailor getting sea legs on a boat, so that I can be steady (sthira) and have a greater sense of peace (shantaya) and light (tejase), no matter how wild are the thoughts arising and sensations entering in the field of my consciousness.
