Sunday, May 15, 2011

Neponset Valley Yoga Newsletter - May 2011


Yoga Practice
Taming the Mind   

Yogis say that life itself is an optical illusion - what we see is not necessarily reality.  If we believe that life is hard, then it is - if we find ease and joy everywhere, then life will be gentler.

Discernment is the fruit of practicing Dharana (concentration), Dhyana (meditation) and Samadhi (oneness or bliss). When we are skilled at withdrawing the senses and focusing our attention, how we view the world changes in ways that we may not expect.

Take a look at this image, and try concentrating on the parts of it, then try softening your gaze. Notice how you can literally change what you see. So what's real, and what's not? Life's kind of like that...

  

What's My Responsibility?
How Consciousness Changes the World


With world disasters and human suffering seemingly on the rise around the globe, it's hard not to get caught up in the drama of helplessness. One approach is to look at what we can reasonably be responsible for, and what we can't.

Once clear on the things that we can own, we can then to create more peace and compassion the world through right action.

Eckart Tolle has a gift for communicating the esoteric art of thriving as both a human and spiritual being.