Day 9 of my daily reflection practice inspired by Meditations from the Mat by Rolf Gates and Katrina Kenison.
What struck me?
“Abhyasa is unconditional. It is the dedicated, unswerving application of what you believe in.”
What does this mean in my life and practice?
This one required more research and reading. I was surprised to see when I checked the Sutra 1:12 that it notes, “The formula for transforming our mind is simple and straightforward: abhyasa and (yesterday’s word) vairagya.” Abhyasa means practice and vairagya means non-attachment or letting go.
Bringing these two words together is pivotal for me. Abhyasa is practice, and vairagya is letting go. Together, they remind me that releasing what I’m holding on to takes practice, too. And perhaps that is how I make room for change.
This passage helped bring it together for me…
“We have the capacity to arrest our thoughts and attain mastery over our mind. By training the mind to be clear, calm, and one-pointed, we can change the nature of our thoughts and emotions and achieve mastery over our body, senses, speech, actions, and the word around us. We can be confident in our decision and pursue our goals fearlessly.” - Patanjali
Today, my practice is to notice what I’m holding tightly and begin to loosen my grip.
Life as I live it - L.