Restraint

This is an excerpt from an article by Deborah Adele on the Yamas by Patanjali. 
"Perhaps these are the things Patanjali considered when he laid out the eight-limbed path. The way to move from suffering to freedom, he tells us, is to begin with the yamas, or restraints. We don’t begin the path with grandiose attempts to be something we’re not. Instead we begin by stopping ourselves from being who we are: careless participators in the pain and suffering of the world. In the way a court restraining order protects someone from the abuse of another, Patanjali asks us to place a restraining order on ourselves to keep us from causing harm to anyone."

It's not often that we as individuals are asked to consider how we might be creating pain and suffering in our world. Usually, it is just the opposite; that we are looking externally for those people or things that are hurting or harming us in some way. I can't help but wonder what kind of community or world we would live in if we all were more mindful of our thoughts, words and behaviors and took a bit of time to reflect on their possible impact. 

I keep coming back to yoga practice for a variety of reasons, but one of the reasons is that yoga helps me find a place of calm and provides space for me to reflect and be quiet. I start to let go of some my need to rush, some of my need to control things around me, and some of my need to judge and criticize events and other people. Yoga helps me find some restraint and allows me to be less reactive in times of stress.

How can I try out this yama in daily life? Evey time I feel irritated or a bit miffed, I can try to breathe and pause and decide how to respond with quiet strength rather than lashing out or getting angry. This is a pretty countercultural idea as the theme in recent days (especially when observing our political process) is to find fault, to name call, and to generally tear down everyone who might disagree with us. I am going to work on moving from suffering to freedom by trying to be more mindful and aware of how my own words and actions can be a force for good and for reconciliation.

May you have a peaceful and non violent day, full of restraint and compassion for yourself and others.