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.
The temperature on Thursday night may get down into the teens or at least low 20s Fahrenheit. In the meantime, too much is in bloom for this time of year. Pretty for now.
I thought by this time, I might be feeling the cold and the dark, so I brought home a new orchid, which/who continues to bloom extravagantly.
To be a tantrica does not mean wild and indifferent sensual indulgence. On the contrary, it means fully engaging in all of life. A tantric life is one in which everything one does–work, family, relationship, consumption, citizenship–is steadily and progressively more informed by the teachings of yoga and infused with the fruits of the practices. A key aspect of participating fully in the life of a householder in a democracy is to educate oneself about politics and to participate. Please vote. Here’s a short video from the ACLU that you might want to watch and pass along to your friends and family.
