"Oh my mind, practice yoga in this way
Let your musical instrument be truth
Let your necklace be sincerity
Let meditation be the ashes you apply to your body"
I would like to share with you some of the things that came up reflecting on those words after chanting and meditating. Some points could be a source of debate, discussions,... please feel free to share your thoughts if some come up!
Be true to others: not lying, not hiding, not pretending, allowing vulnerability,... Such a beautiful ethics! It asks such courage, and trust that it is right. But when sincerity hurts? That really asks me to come back to my motivation, my intention: why do I say this? Is it coming from an ego place? Or a wise and loving place? Remembering to speak true but also kind, supportive, harmonious, meaningful words as much as possible.
Be true to myself: not flying away from what is there when it's uncomfortable. Find the courage to stop, look within, welcome, embrace even. The pain, the sadness, the hurt, the darkness,... For once, trying to not find a distraction, something pleasant to cover, to escape. Be with it. Dive with it. Not pretending I'm much further, so wise and realized. No. I'm here, with this, it's ok, no need for self-hatred, no judgment. I'm who I am with my darkness and light. AND movements of the mind (thoughts, beliefs,...) are not me! Finding a balance between going beyond, not identifying but also not by-passing. A space of self-compassion, radical acceptance and wisdom.
Remembering death: Meditate on death to come out of the illusion that next day in this body is due, that I'm going to live so way longer anyway. To practice with a wider dimension: not only this life, but infinity. To give more meaning to this life, take its essence, give it more worth, live it fully. To have no regret when death comes. Nothing spooky, nothing heavy, nothing sad, not more anguish. Remembering death is remembering life.
On a personal note, that was really interesting to reflect on those lines this week especially. I had to take a very hard decision at work: First I wanted to follow the fears, the comfort, habits, the easy way. But it came to me that it wasn't being true to myself, to what I'm aspiring to,... I found courage. I trusted that something right would come and jumped into the unknown. I said no. And guess what? They changed their mind!
Much love to all, See you very soon
Sar Santokh