Tag: Spiritual Warrior

We don’t sit in meditation to become good meditators. We sit in meditation so that we’ll be more awake in our lives.

PEMA CHÖDRÖN

At the end of 2019, I reflected on the quality I would like to approach the new year with and what immediately surfaced was Curiosity. A gentle curiosity, with no expectation, that would have me ask more questions, listen mindfully, and open my mind and heart so that I may be surprised by a particular situation, others and even myself.It takes tremendous courage to bring a curiosity grounded in kindness and non-judgment. Gentle Curiosity, in itself has no expectation of reaching a conclusion. It allows for observation and an open hearted awareness. It allows us to view things from a different perspective, and creates the space for deeper connections with ourselves and each other. It creates an openness in our relationships with ourselves and others that allows an unfolding, perhaps leading onto unexpected paths.

Gentle Curiosity, is also an essential quality to ground our practice of yoga, especially meditation. Meditation is not about clearing the mind of all thoughts, or becoming a calmer person. It is a process of getting to know our true selves, of befriending who we are at each moment no matter what that might look or feel like. Of creating the space to get to know our true nature. If we can approach meditation as a unique experience with no presupposed purpose, we can release expectations and free ourselves to be exactly where we are at that moment. Even when the thoughts are a constant chatter, we can simply say to ourselves, “Ah, thoughts”, then let them go. When feelings or discomfort arise, we can say to ourselves, “Ah, feelings” without engaging, and let them go. And, if we find ourselves analyzing, then allowing our curious nature to notice, “Ah, analyzing”, then let it go.When we sit to meditate, we can remind ourselves of the gentle curious inherent quality we all possess, we can bring a lightness and playfulness to our meditation practice. We can approach each time with an openness that allows for a fresh experience.

With gratitude,
Sandra
The Sacred Mat

“The root of suffering is resisting the certainty that no matter the circumstances, uncertainty is all we truly have.” ~ Pema Chödrön

Hello Friends,

If any of you have seen movies like the Last Samurai or Star Wars, the ancient warriors or jedis are compelling characters. A warrior accepts that she can never know what will happen to her next. Every time she goes into battle, she does not know what the outcome will be. In order to be able to be fully present, and see what she must do during these uncertain times, she trains and prepares.

Yoga, amongst many things, helps us to be a warrior of sorts. Its teachings and tools encourage us to experiment with becoming comfortable with uncertainty. To sit with the discomfort, to try not to run away from it or to push through it, but to sit, side by side with it.

When we practice asanas or meditate, thoughts, emotions, or physical sensations arise, and we have the opportunity to practice sitting with discomfort. And the more we “train”, we begin to see that these feelings are separate from us, and do not have to take us with them. We are not those feelings. This helps prepare us to sit with the uncertainty that life brings.

Sitting with uncertainty doesn’t mean we do nothing – learning to sit with uncertainty allows us to create the space, so that when we take action, it is with clarity. Our actions will not be distorted by fear, but be grounded in clarity and compassion.

Especially in uncertain times, I encourage each of us to turn to the practices that help us become comfortable with uncertainty. And I invite you to join me in “training to be a warrior of sorts”.

With gratitude,
Sandra
The Sacred Mat