A Joyful Practice

EXCERPT: “Focus/Concentrate on Peace and Non-violence” January 30, 2024

Peace and ease to all during this “Season of Non-violence” and all other seasons!

“This is an invitation to a high location
For someone who wants to belong
This is a meditation on your radio station
If you like it you can sing along”

— quoted from the English lyrics of the song “Ahimsa” by U2 and A. R. Rahman, featuring Khatija and Raheema Rahman

The following excerpt, which was the 2023 teaser to an earlier re-post, contains disturbing (but not explicit) references to violent acts:

“Today, January 30^th, is one of six days designated as ‘Martyrs’ Day’ in India. This Martyrs’ Day is the one observed on a national level, as it is the anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination in 1948. Today is also the day, in 1956, when the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s house was bombed and the day, in 1972, that became known as ‘Bloody Sunday’ in Northern Ireland. Since 1964, when it was first established in Spain, some school children around the world observe today as a ‘School Day of Non-violence and Peace.’ In 1998, Gandhi’s grandson (Arun Gandhi) established today as the beginning of the ‘Season for Nonviolence’ (which ends on April 4^th, the anniversary of Dr. King’s assassination in 1968. All of these remembrances and observations, just like the observation of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, are dedicated to the goal of honoring the lives of the victims (or martyrs) of past injustices and eradicating the violent tendencies that create more tragedies, crimes against humanity, and overall suffering. Today’s observations are also based on the foundation of ahimsā, one of the guiding principles of Gandhi, King, and those unarmed protesters in Northern Ireland.”

Click here to read more about these events and about how focusing on non-violence is part of the practice.

Yoga Sūtra 2.35: ahimsāpratişţhāyām tatsannidhau vairatyāgah

— “In the company of a yogi established in non-violence, animosity disappears.”

Please join me today (Tuesday, January 30^th) at 12:00 PM or 7:15 PM for a yoga practice on Zoom. You can 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 (for a slightly faster reply) you can email myra (at) ajoyfulpractice.com.

Tuesday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “01302021 Peace for the Martyrs”]

NOTE: Some incidental before/after music is slightly different on each platform.

“Even when a man takes revenge on others who hate him, in spite of him not hating them initially, the pain caused by his vengeance will bring him inevitable sorrow.” (313)

“When a man inflicts pain upon others in the forenoon, it will come upon him unsought in the afternoon.” (319)

— quoted from the English translation of the Tamil lyrics of the song “Ahimsa” by U2 and A. R. Rahman, featuring Khatija and Raheema Rahman (translation from IntegralYoga.org)

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.)

### GIVE PEACE A CHANCE ###