What does it mean to surrender to one's True Self? Probably not what we imagine it to mean... How does one go about surrendering to one's own self? The answer is definitely not what we think....
To surrender to one's self is not a matter of simply submitting yourself to all that is beautiful and wonderful within you, but it is to also give up those beautiful images that we have of ourselves. It is both the beautiful and ugly aspects of ourselves that are equally untrue. Beneath the notions of beautiful and ugly, is a formless, shapeless, empty fullness that is truly who one is. Allowing any image we have of our selves to be sunk into that Mystery...is to truly surrender to one's True Self.
We'd love to hear about what Ishvara Pranidhana means to you? Has there been a moment of realization that you've experienced related to this niyama that you'd like share?
Showing posts with label niyamas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label niyamas. Show all posts
Friday, January 7, 2011
Sweet Surrender - Ishvara
Ishvara can be defined as the True Self, or purusha. The Bhagavad Gita stanza 18.61 refers to the "transcendental Self that abides in the heart region of all beings". Pranidhana is to "throw down", "give up", or "surrender". So, the last of our niyamas (yogic guidelines for living) Ishvara Pranidhana is to surrender to what is True within each of us.
As we shine the light of awareness on our lives through yogic practices, we give up attachments to egoic pursuits, identities, patterns, and delusions. We live from Heart, Truth-- staying sincere to what is True to our experience with curiosity and interest and Love. With bhakti/devotion, exploring freedom from the ignorance/avidya of living a contrived life of shoulds, expectations, and attachments.
Simpy living a life devoted to surrendering each moment to Truth. To what you KNOW to be True in your Heart. This Truth can not be taught, but only experienced. The yogic practices may or may not ready you for the experience of Truth, depending on your sincerity.
As we shine the light of awareness on our lives through yogic practices, we give up attachments to egoic pursuits, identities, patterns, and delusions. We live from Heart, Truth-- staying sincere to what is True to our experience with curiosity and interest and Love. With bhakti/devotion, exploring freedom from the ignorance/avidya of living a contrived life of shoulds, expectations, and attachments.
Simpy living a life devoted to surrendering each moment to Truth. To what you KNOW to be True in your Heart. This Truth can not be taught, but only experienced. The yogic practices may or may not ready you for the experience of Truth, depending on your sincerity.
Once in a Blue Moon...
The blue moonlight mist on this New Years Eve is beautiful. I, too, am reflecting like the moon, with grateful presence, on the joys and challenges of this Life. Adi and I began today harmonizing yoga with sweet sounds of truth sung so amazingly by Michelle...in 2009, we welcomed a son and lost a mother.
Moving into 2010, I am reminded that our Flow sangha/community is growing into its seventh year. The tradition of new year reflection and hope toward the future is as natural as the change of seasons. However, this year, I am shining the light of awareness on my perspective a little more wholly.
Goals tend to be external and time-focused, and although they can be empowering they are only temporary. This is why some of us have given up this tradition. The yoga approach is more internal and presence aware. Realizing that we truly can not change anything about who we really are. Who we really are is eternal, present, Truth. We are not these beautiful bodies, brilliant minds, and talented hands (although deeply grateful for this experience of them), but something more.
So, this year, instead of goals, I am fine-tuning my affirmations/intentions to become reminders written in the present tense. Now, once, during this blue moon, I write this with the full awareness that these are perspectives that I shine and reflect...on this divine play, lila, called Life. I also completely release any attachment to them, surrendering them to the blue moon sky and the whole of the universe with faith and gratitude...simply shining the light of awareness:
~Resting each evening, knowing the many facets of the jewel I shine & reflect
~Gracefully surrendering to mothering, giving SO MUCH LOVE with humor & gratitude
~Feeling healthy, cultivating vital energy, & resting when it feels natural
~Pausing to reflect, being gratefully present with those I love, including myself
~Finding inner silence and stillness
There is no lasting change, everything is temporary. However, I have experienced the grace of transformation. Transformation occurs naturally when awareness allows true acceptance of what is and the Truth of who you are. All the goal-setting, trying, effort, intending, affirming, etc in the world may provide you temporary change, attachment, pleasure. However, true transformation is effortless..GRACE...naturally arising from the presence of awareness and acceptance.
Moving into 2010, I am reminded that our Flow sangha/community is growing into its seventh year. The tradition of new year reflection and hope toward the future is as natural as the change of seasons. However, this year, I am shining the light of awareness on my perspective a little more wholly.
Goals tend to be external and time-focused, and although they can be empowering they are only temporary. This is why some of us have given up this tradition. The yoga approach is more internal and presence aware. Realizing that we truly can not change anything about who we really are. Who we really are is eternal, present, Truth. We are not these beautiful bodies, brilliant minds, and talented hands (although deeply grateful for this experience of them), but something more.
So, this year, instead of goals, I am fine-tuning my affirmations/intentions to become reminders written in the present tense. Now, once, during this blue moon, I write this with the full awareness that these are perspectives that I shine and reflect...on this divine play, lila, called Life. I also completely release any attachment to them, surrendering them to the blue moon sky and the whole of the universe with faith and gratitude...simply shining the light of awareness:
~Resting each evening, knowing the many facets of the jewel I shine & reflect
~Gracefully surrendering to mothering, giving SO MUCH LOVE with humor & gratitude
~Feeling healthy, cultivating vital energy, & resting when it feels natural
~Pausing to reflect, being gratefully present with those I love, including myself
~Finding inner silence and stillness
There is no lasting change, everything is temporary. However, I have experienced the grace of transformation. Transformation occurs naturally when awareness allows true acceptance of what is and the Truth of who you are. All the goal-setting, trying, effort, intending, affirming, etc in the world may provide you temporary change, attachment, pleasure. However, true transformation is effortless..GRACE...naturally arising from the presence of awareness and acceptance.
Silence, Winter, & Svadhyaya
When trees have blossomed, fruit has ripenened, and leaves have fallen, we are left with just the bare naked self. In the dead of spiritual winter we have this deep invitation to turn our attention inward, to look at ourselves very deeply.
We may look, as in svadhyaya, at the patterns, conditioning, phenomena of the mind, body, and emotion. And we may look simply through silence, through remaining in the still dark quiet beneath thought, body, and emotion. This time of cold, of short days, of resting, is opportune to begin investigating our lives so that this season may be used to get to the root. When springtime comes, the fruit blossoms very sweet.
We may look, as in svadhyaya, at the patterns, conditioning, phenomena of the mind, body, and emotion. And we may look simply through silence, through remaining in the still dark quiet beneath thought, body, and emotion. This time of cold, of short days, of resting, is opportune to begin investigating our lives so that this season may be used to get to the root. When springtime comes, the fruit blossoms very sweet.
Svadhyaya
Svadhyaya is the movement to understand one's self on an intellectual, emotional, and mental level. As we become more conscious of our body, mind, and breath, our yogic practice allows us to become more aware of how we react or rejoice to each moment of success, challenge, or stillness.
It is when we can understand the nature of our thought and feeling that we can discover what we are not. Finding out who you are not gives rise to the spaciousness in which you find your Self as you really are--Unknown, Mysterious, and Unconditioned.
Svadhyaya allows us the opportunity to learn about all the little ins and outs of our little person, and how we've come to believe in this story called "me". When we see that our lives have been toward living out this little story, there is the grace of something much more vast taking over our lives, our being.
It is when we can understand the nature of our thought and feeling that we can discover what we are not. Finding out who you are not gives rise to the spaciousness in which you find your Self as you really are--Unknown, Mysterious, and Unconditioned.
Svadhyaya allows us the opportunity to learn about all the little ins and outs of our little person, and how we've come to believe in this story called "me". When we see that our lives have been toward living out this little story, there is the grace of something much more vast taking over our lives, our being.
Santosha
Santosha is the practice of relaxing into life. Realizing that there will always be ups and downs in life. Like the Chinese say, “10,000 joys, 10,000 sorrrows”. Accepting that chaos can interrupt even the greatest effort to “balance” our lives, we don’t have a choice in that. However, we do have a choice in how we respond or react to life’s disruptions. Really trusting that all is unfolding perfectly; and, that everything that happens offers a life experience for deepening our awareness and understanding. Flowing through life with gratitude, appreciation and trust, so that we can allow ourselves to be more relaxed, more present, and, therefore, more content.
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