Yoga Shanti, Focus of the Month - Yogic & Buddhist Philosophy
'Gratitude' By Julie Wolfe
November 2010
The space between the breath... That pause that allows, brings expansive peace and love, a moment to go AH-HA. A moment to gaze at my sleeping son, smell the autumn air, notice the colors, details, the smiles. To quiet my mind and hear the laughter, tears, conversation and vibration of all around me. I feel the incredible love of that hug, without words And I know that is enough Just being present in the moment and soaking it all in. To experience it, everything For this, I am grateful.
Pema Chodron's Four Daily Reminders:
1.Maintain an awareness of the preciousness of human life. Beginning to realize how precious life is becomes one of your most powerful tools. It's like gratitude... once you have this feeling of gratitude for your own life and the preciousness of human birth, then it takes you into any realm.
2. Be aware of the reality that life ends; death comes to everyone. Life is very brief. If you realize that you don't have that many more years to live and if you live your life as if you actually had only a day left then the sense of impermanence heightens that feeling of preciousness and gratitude.
3. Recall that whatever you do whether virtuous or not, has a result; what comes around, goes around. The law of Karma is that we sow the seeds and reap the fruit. So when you find yourself in a dark place... you can think, "Maybe it's time to get a little golden spade and dig myself out of this place."
4. Contemplate that as long as you are too focused on self-importance and too caught up in thinking about how you are good or bad, you will suffer. Obsessing about getting what you want and avoiding what you don't want does not result in happiness.
With Thanksgiving around the corner it is only natural to be writing about gratitude. In this economic climate it is especially important to be grateful for what we have. To focus on the good things and know that we are all in this together. When I first started practicing yoga, I was going through a difficult time and I used to get overwhelmed at the thought of being alone. My teacher said to me, "we are not alone but are "All One". That has stayed with me over the years. Now, when I sit in meditation I am All One... one expansive breath... one vibration... one love, and that is incredible. I am grateful for the path that has led me to yoga and the wonderful people and teachers along the way. To all of you, everyone, I give thanks.
~ With love, Julie