This Month's Article:

"Grace and Non-Attachment "
by Connie Habash

    Years ago, I used to love playing card games on my computer.  Yeah, I know, it's a little embarrassing to admit, but I would sometimes spend hours obsessed with it.  I noticed that I got quite annoyed with the other players -- mind you, they're just figments of the computer's imagination -- and frustrated when they were ahead. "I'm going to get you... I'm going to win!" I'd say to them.  And then this thought arose - "no, you're going to play your best, and whether you win or not is Grace." 

    The concept of Grace may seem like a revolutionary idea, but it's not a new one.  It refers to when you are blessed with something, when the Divine gives you a sort of boon.  What's wonderful about Grace is that it's unconditional.  It's not about how good you've been: it simply happens.

   The dictionary defines it as "the unmerited love and favor of God toward man."   I like this definition because it removes the idea that we have to earn Spirit's love through merits, through being good.  If we believe we have to behave perfectly in order to receive a blessing, then we will also believe that we're somehow bad if we don't, and then have to make up for it.  This cycle of judgment and repentance goes on and on, swinging us back and forth on the pendulum of "good child/bad child."

    Grace isn't like that.  Grace is a gift, given freely. And when we don't receive Grace, it's not personal.  It doesn't mean we are wrong or bad, or didn't do well enough.  Perhaps it's simply not time or in our best interests at the moment for us to have things the way we want.

     Grace, however, is also not random.  The Divine knows when we are ready to receive, or when it's most beneficial to experience something, and there we are -- we have Grace.  In fact, you may have had some experiences of Grace when you least expected it -- and those are blessed experiences, indeed.  Conversely, there are other times when we thought everything was just perfect, and it suddenly fell apart.  Where was Grace then?  Maybe, when we look back, we can see the purpose for that, but at the time it can be quite frustrating.

    So, if we are simply going to receive Grace or not, and it's not up to us, the question might occur to you -- why try?  Why put our effort into something if we don't think we can get some sort of reward?    

     Well, that's a commonly held attitude.  Often, we have an expectation of getting something in particular out of what we're doing, whether that's money, attention, success, or love.  And when we don't get it, it's upsetting.  Yet, if we continue to go about whatever we do in life with expectation of reward, we constantly put ourselves on that see-saw of win/lose, happy/sad, good/bad.  This leads us to discontent more often than not in our lives.

   The ancient sages taught us that, rather than have expectations, do your work and live in a state of non-attachment.  In the Yoga Sutras, Patanjali said that the state of union -- of oneness with the Divine -- is achieved by practice and non-attachment.  We do our best, and then we let it go.   

    According to TKV Desikachar's translation, Patanjali emphasizes that non-attachment (Vairaagya in Sanskrit) is "an absence of any cravings, either for the fulfillment of the senses or for extraordinary experiences."  This is the ability to do anything without needing a certain result to feel OK.  Everything is accepted, and we have a deep sense of peace within, regardless of the outcomes of our labors.  Knowing we did our best is fulfilling in itself.

    We continue on our paths of spiritual and personal growth not because we expect some reward (although rewards do motive us!), but ultimately because we know it's the greatest thing we can do.  If our world were purely motivated by what we got out of everything we did, who would be giving freely from their hearts, in service to others?   How much of our beautiful planet would be left?  It is from non-attachment and selflessness that truly magnificent things are achieved.

      As Don Miguel Ruiz says in "The Four Agreements":

    "...if you take action just for the sake of doing it, without expecting a reward, you will find that you enjoy every action you do.  Rewards will come, but you are not attached to the reward.  ...if we always do our best, then we are really enjoying life." 

     When we do our best and practice non-attachment, Grace just happens... when we least expect it.  Because we don't expect it.

     No matter how hard I tried at the card games, I won some and I lost some, too, even when I did my best. That is the nature of games... which is why it's better that I just go back to my yoga mat, and practice non-attachment.  Grace will come when I'm not looking to win, nor avoiding losing.

Copyright © 2001, 2008 by Connie Habash
     

YOGA FOR YOUR BODY-MIND TYPE (Ayurvedic Yoga) comes to WALNUT CREEK at the Yoga and Movement Center on Saturday, March 8th, from 2-4:30.  Explore the 3 doshas, or body-mind types of Ayurveda, through yoga practice, and discover which one best fits you.  Included is discussion of influences of the seasons, phases of life, and times of day on our well-being, and how different asanas and styles of yoga will affect each dosha.  $35 if registered by March 1st: $45 thereafter.  Register soon to ensure your space and recieve your discount!
Information HERE or at
http://www.yoga-movement.com/

YOGA FOR SPRING comes soon on Saturday, April 5th, frm 2-4pm at Yoga is Youthfulness in Mountain View.  What is the energy of spring like?  How does it affect our body, mind, emotions, and soul?  Come experience a yoga practice designed to enhance your well-being on all levels during the season of spring.  Includes specific asana, pacing, breathwork, and meditation/visualization practices for springtime.  $35, or $30 if registered by March 29th.  Click HERE for more info and to register.

A SEASON FOR NON-VIOLENCE:
January 30th - April 4th is a national campaign, inspired by Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., dedicated to demonstrating that non-violence is a powerful way to heal, transform, and empower our lives and communities. 
Each year, I celebrate this 64-day practice with the 5 Yamas (ethical prinicples) and 5 Niyamas (inner practices) of yoga.  Beginning with Ahimsa, non-violence, we will explore one of the yamas or niyamas each week for 10 weeks.  Starts the last week in January in all classes.
All of these are in articles on this website:

Yamas:

Ahimsa
Satya  
Asteya  
Brahmacharya 
Aparigraha 

Niyamas: 

Sauca  
Santosha
Tapas 
Svadhyaya (under Seasons)
Isvara Pranidhana 

HAVING COLDS OR SINUS INFECTIONS?
I highly recommend the practice of jala neti, or washing the sinuses with saline water.  This is the neti pot I use - it's stainless steel (I broke the ceramic one I had) and larger.  Much more effective for me!  See it HERE

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You may have noticed that the days, once again, have become longer.  We're slowly emerging out of wintertime (it's not over yet!), and approaching that pivotal point on the calendar - the Vernal Equinox (i.e., the first day of spring).  Light and dark become equal for a moment on March 20th as the daylight continues to lengthen up until summer.    This is an excellent time to explore your balance within.  There are so many ways that we strive to balance our lives:  between activity and rest, work and play, connecting with others and time for ourselves, outward activities versus inward activities, etc.  You may even observe how balanced you are between your right and left sides of the body.  How often do you use your non-dominant hand for regular activities?  What does it feel like when you do?  Have you noticed your body being a little off-balance from overuse of one side?  Here are some fun ideas for exploring balance on your right and left sides: Try brushing your teeth or combing your hair with your other hand. Catch a ball with your throwing hand, and throw with your catching hand. Draw with the non-dominant hand. Notice which eye is stronger:  cover the stronger eye with a bandana for an hour, and only use your weaker eye. Stand on one leg for a minute, with the other leg bent, like Tree Pose (Vrkshasana).  See which side has a better balance.       It's easy to imagine how to bring equilibrium to the body, but how about balance in the mind?  Do we allow our minds periods of activity and rest, or do we tend to overdo one or the other?  Meditation is an excellent way to give the mind - and body - conscious rest.  If meditation seems intimidating, simply watch the breath.  The mind fatigues from focusing on one type of activity for too long, like writing or working on your taxes, so a few minutes of simple breath awareness is a welcome break.  Make sure you also refresh yourself with exercise or time outdoors, in order to keep the mind and body in happy harmony.       Yoga practice includes a wide variety of balancing poses, which teach us not only how to create physical stability, but also how to steady the mind in a variety of situations.  Whether you're a balancing on one leg, your hands, or on top of your head, there are four basic keys to staying steady.  First, connect to the earth, like forming roots that stabilize the tree, from your center in your belly through whatever is in contact with the earth.  In arm balances, that would be from the abdomen and heart down the arms, through the hands, pressing into the floor.  Next, feel yourself drawing back into that center, usually by engaging bandhas such as Uddiyana Bandha (the abdominal lock) to bring lift and lightness.  Third, check in with the breath.  When the breath is choppy, short, or a struggle, so will your balance be.  Lastly, steady the mind.  This involves stilling the eyes (known as Drishti, or a soft, steady gaze) as well as reigning in distracting thoughts. If the mind is worried about falling, you likely will.  If you're looking at someone else, you're apt to tumble over like a domino if they do.  So, focus the mind's attention on steadiness and affirm it -- I am steady, strong, and balanced.  When the mind is calm, stillness follows suit.    True balance isn't static - it's an active process of moving gently back and forth between different activities, different sides of the body, different perspectives.  Consider walking.  We step one foot forward, then shift to the other foot as it steps forward.  If you follow the movements, you actually zig-zag back and forth.  Yet the result is moving straight ahead.     Therefore, when the mind fluctuates throughout your day, find the center within that is quiet and peaceful around which those fluctuations whirl.  This creates the inner steadiness which keeps you balanced, whether in Tree Pose, cooking dinner, or cold-calling a potential customer.  When you find your inner equilibrium, even if you topple over in Half Moon pose or blow up at your neighbor, you'll more easily find your steadiness again.  ©2002, 2008 by Constance L. Habash