Svadhyaya – Self study

“I refuse to be defined by how I am supposed to behave”
 
I got the best piece of advice indirectly from my son in law who said to my daughter once.  “Your mom is so reactive.’  It was years ago when my daughter confided this to me.
 
Lately I am affirming the need to allow and not react.  This is a challenge as I am quick ‘on the draw’ or should I say highly responsive to that which comes my way. 

Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra says: "Study thy self, discover the divine" II.44
 
What if:
After 911 we did nothing and just allowed ourselves to be the victim that we were. 
 
What if:
Our bodies didn’t have the robust response to the flu—would so many of us have died?
 
What if, …
We abstain from getting the last word in
 
What if…
We aim for peace instead of being right
 
What if…
We eliminated most of our laws or just simplified them
 
What if…
We didn’t try to eradicate weeds & pests
 
What if…
You can fill in your own blanks….
 
What if…
We just allowed life to happen on its own terms? Could we trust in a higher order of things to sort itself out?
 
What if...
​We didn’t react to these words but just took them in?
 
The great Tao flows everywhere, both to the left and to the right.
The ten thousand things depends upon it; it holds nothing back. 
It fulfills its purpose silently and makes no claim. 
It nourishes the ten thousand things,
And yet is not their lord.
It had no aim; it is very small
The ten thousand things return to it,
Yet it is not their lord.
It is very great.
It does not show greatness,
And is therefore truly great.
​Lao Tzu

 

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