#Yoga Today ~ The observance of Austerity

Austerity is one of the observances of yoga. It means that we should observe it as it pertains to our everyday life. It should be practiced mentally, physically and verbally.

 

 

 

Yoga defines austerity as the ability to withstand hunger, thirst, and heat as well as other discomforts. It is through the ability to withstand physical, mental and verbal austerity that a person is able to attain the unattainable.  With the onset of corona virus we have all had to endure discomfort. Today let’s focus on mental austerity and how it can help us to find peace and serenity even in difficult times.

 

To practice mental austerity you need to:

Quiet the mind by lowering the level of noise within. We call this noise chitta – the useless chatter of noise that spins through your mind.

You must learn to keep your composure especially in difficult times. It is easy when feeling discomfort to lose your balance, slip off the fine edge, react and create havoc. It takes discipline to keep your composure.

Control your natural tendency to behave in a certain way – for example if you are impatient, angry or quick tempered, you must learn to recognize it and control it when it arises.

When the mind is scattered and full of idle chatter it is difficult to find a sense of focus. Austerity means to clear the mind and simplify your thoughts. In this you will discover how to attain what might appear to be unattainable. To attain anything you must have a clear focus, a steady mind and self-control.  Peace and serenity is only attainable when you become quiet, composed and in control. This leads to self- awareness and self-awareness is the key to success for with self-awareness we learn to identify those things that are preventing us from moving through life with balance, strength, flexibility and peace.

There are three things that will prevent you from   discovering self-awareness:

Greed

Anger

Cravings

It is important to note that if the intellect is enslaved by any or all of these the mind is also enslaved. It is the nature of the mind to run outward towards objects and thus away from the inner self. It is through mental austerity that the mind removes outward distraction and moves back to inner awareness.

 

To master these requires the ability to withstand mental discomfort. It takes strength to identify these things within yourself and then to do the arduous work of mastering them.

This will require balance, flexibility, strength and the discovery of peace that can only be found within the quietude of your soul. Let’s get started:

 

Mental austerity means quieting the mind, keeping your composure, and maintaining control even in times of discomfort. Remember if the mind is enslaved by greed, anger and craving it is impossible to find inner awareness and thus inner peace. Simply your life, find the strength to withstand discomfort, be content and at peace with life as it is and you will find the ability to attain the unattainable; whatever that may be for you.

Extend out your index finger – the symbol of your ego. The ego always tries to avoid discomfort often times using greed, anger and cravings to establish its importance. If you pull in  your index finger and place your thumb on top – the symbol of your soul ,you will be reminded that to withstand discomfort by being quiet and composed you gain the ultimate in control – self-awareness and thus attain the unattainable.– in this you are wise.

Namaste ~ may you go with health, happiness and peace.

Doctor Lynn

 

Namaste ~ I celebrate the place where our souls meet

Doctor Lynn

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