Showing posts with label compassion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label compassion. Show all posts

Wednesday, 6 May 2015

Sensitive as an Eyeball

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Sometimes when we hear of disasters in the world or are faced with our own crises closer to home, a feeling of being overwhelmed can paralyze our ability to act.  When tears and fears become our primary reactions, yoga can help.

My dear Teacher Swami Swaroopananda has described it this way:

He says, "The yogi is as sensitive as an eyeball."

Meaning, when you take a piece of cotton and rub it on your arm it feels pleasant.  On your cheek it is also pleasant.  Rub that same piece of cotton on your eyeball and it is irritating at best, likely even painful.

Many practicing yogis and yoginis will relate to this description.  You may find yourself so acutely sensitive to suffering that at times it becomes debilitating. 

If you're feeling too small to make a difference today, your yoga practice itself may offer some encouragement.

Here are a few suggestions:

Watch this video by Pema Chodron called Loving Oneself and Others:


Read this 3HO Tantric Numerology Forecast for May 2015

Chant these mantras by Deva Premal and Miten or listen to the Hanuman Chalisa.

Finally, in life and in your asana practice, focus on what you can do rather than what you can't.

As it says in the Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 2, Verse 40:

"Nothing is wasted on this yoga path.  Even the slightest effort saves one from the greatest turmoil."

Saturday, 14 July 2012

Sattvic Movie Saturday: I Am

A post-injury quest to communicate what is wrong in the world and what we can do about it led Tom Shadyac, director of Ace Ventura, The Nutty Professor, and Bruce Almighty to discover instead, what is right in the world.


This film is beautiful, funny, touching, and surprising.  It encourages us to shift our worldview away from competition, consumption and "survival of the fittest", to compassion and co-operation as the basis of human nature. 

Get your popcorn, and enjoy!