REMINDER: “Practice Responsibly” (mostly an excerpt and links) July 26, 2023

Peace, blessings, and hydration!

Yoga Sūtra 2.30: ahimsāsatyāsteyabrahmcaryāparigrahā yamāh

– “Non-violence (or non-harming), truthfulness, non-stealing, walking in awareness of the highest reality, and non-possessiveness (or non-hording) are the restraints (or universal commandments).”

Yoga Sūtra 2.31: jātideśakālasamayānavacchinnāh sārvabhaumā mahāvratam

– “[The five restraints] are not affected by class, race, ethnicity, place, time, and circumstance. They are universal and become a great vow.”

Today is a day when I focus on some of the reasons why we do the things we do, the way we do them – and what sometimes gets lost when we get caught up in the momentum. In some ways it is a foundational practice. In some ways it is a cautionary tale.

It is also a reminder to practice responsibly.

The following (edited) excerpt is from a 2020 post and 2022 re-post:

“By separating the physical practice from the larger context, the book does the exact same thing so many people do: it removes the ethics. Yet what [William] Broad’s research reinforces, to me, is that one of the ‘rewards’ of the postural practice – the increase in physical health and power – becomes a risk if some kind of ethical component is not affixed to the practice.

Let us not forget, Patanjali gave us the ethical component when he codified the system – and he didn’t give it to us as an afterthought. He gave it to us first (just as the Buddha did). Most yoga teachers, and all teachers of Buddhism or the major religions, are aware of the ethics of their particular system. If they are not teaching those elements, they may not be practicing them. If they are not practicing the ethics of their system, in all aspects of their life, we end up with more suffering.”

Click here to read the entire 2022 repost. WARNING: The post contains references to teachers and spiritual leaders behaving badly and abusing their power.

Please join me today (Wednesday, July 26^th) at 4:30 PM or 7:15 PM for a yoga practice on Zoom. Use the link from the “Class Schedules” calendar if you run into any problems checking into the class. You can request an audio recording of this practice via a comment below or by emailing myra (at) ajoyfulpractice.com.

Wednesday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “04192020 Noticing Things”]

NOTE: Each playlist is actually two playlists and you can decide which one you use. You can start with Track #1, Track #11 (for the least breaks on either platform), or start with Track #12, #13, or #14 for a slightly psychedelic experience. Track #14 on the Spotify is self-contained.

In the spirit of generosity (“dana”), the Zoom classes, recordings, and blog posts are freely given and freely received. If you are able to support these teachings, please do so as your heart moves you. (NOTE: You can donate even if you are “attending” a practice that is not designated as a “Common Ground Meditation Center” practice, or you can purchase class(es). Donations are tax deductible; class purchases are not necessarily deductible.

Check out the “Class Schedules” calendar for upcoming classes.)

### “HOW YOU DO YOGA, IS HOW YOU DO LIFE” ###