080. Sleeping into meditation …
This week, we are stepping back from the heavy philosophy and deciding to "lighten up" a little. While the rich philosophical underpinnings of yoga are fascinating and provide deep insights, it's equally important to remember to approach our practice with a sense of ease and joy. It's a reminder that while depth is essential, so is balance and the ability to lighten our load occasionally.
Patanjali, the Buddha, and the Bhagavad Gita have provided us with numerous snippets of wisdom that we use in this podcast. These ancient teachings offer timeless guidance that helps us navigate our modern lives. Their insights are not just historical artifacts but practical tools we can apply daily to improve our well-being and understanding.
For most of us, our yoga journey begins with Asana, the physical posture. This is a fantastic starting point, as Asana practice is beneficial for sports and rehabilitation as well as overall physical health. It's a practice that helps us build strength, flexibility, and mental focus, making it an accessible and inclusive entry point into the broader world of yoga.
However, ultimately, Asana leads us to meditation. Physical practice prepares the body and mind, creating the conditions for more profound meditative practices. Through meditation, we begin to explore the more profound aspects of yoga, delving into self-awareness, mindfulness, and the evolution of consciousness.
Jeff recaps the external practices, those aspects of yoga that an outsider can observe. These include Yama (ethical guidelines), Niyama (personal observances), Asana (postures), and Pranayama (breath control). As he discusses these, he also mentions Wim Hof as the last of the external practices, highlighting how breath control and physical endurance can lead to remarkable transformations.
On the other hand, internal practices are much harder to see. They are not visible to an external observer because they occur within the practitioner's mind and spirit. These include prattahara (withdrawal of the senses), dharana (concentration), Dhyana (meditation), and Samadhi (absorption). These practices require a deep inward focus and are integral to the true essence of yoga.
Jeff shares Tiwariji's analogy of the internal practices, likening them to falling asleep. Just as we can't force sleep, we can't force the transition to internal yoga practices. We can diligently practice the external limbs, creating the best possible conditions, but the shift to internal practices is a natural progression. We set up all the external practices and then 'fall' into the internal practices, allowing the deeper aspects of yoga to unfold organically. This analogy beautifully captures the essence of the journey from external to internal practices, emphasizing patience and the natural progression of the practice.
