Choice

“Meditation brings wisdom; lack of mediation leaves ignorance. Know well what leads you forward and what holds you back, and choose the path that leads to wisdom.”

Buddha

I stumbled upon this quote from The Buddha, as I was searching for meditation readings about Choice. It took me a while to really get a sense of how this message related to my personal experience. Here's what I understood. "Meditation brings wisdom". Yup! Got that... My practice of meditation takes different forms as does my life. What ever way I choose to meditate, one thing is clear: when I take the time to connect with my body and my breath I open the gates to awareness. I am able to come to my body as a wise teacher that has amazing tools to offer.

"Know well what leads you forward and what holds you back". This is the practice, is it not? When I connect with my body and become more aware, there still is a choice of what I bring awareness to and what I choose to ignore. Noticing my choices in my Yoga practice allows me to become more aware of my life patterns somehow.

"Choose the path that leads to wisdom" It seems that there is no right or wrong path. The wisdom lies in the ability to notice how I relate or react to choice itself. By noticing how I choose, what informs my choice, and what I choose for and against, I'm able to create space to choose what serves me best in that moment. If meditation means connecting to the moment, then this ultimately leads to (inner) wisdom. This is the path with no particular destination, only moment by moment awareness. Cool. I'll practice that!

Here's a way to explore Choice in your body: Practice your favourite pose. Choose the one that you just love. Ask yourself; what is it about this pose that I choose for, that I say yes to? Then practice your least favourite pose, the one that you choose against, that you say no to. Be curious about your choice. Be open to anything that may come forward. P.S. Have fun!

Acceptance

"Since patience or tolerance comes from an ability to remain steadfast, to avoid being overwhelmed by adverse situations or conditions, we should not see patience as a sign of weakness or giving in, but rather as a sign of strength. Responding to a trying situation with patience and tolerance rather than reacting with anger and hatred involves active restraint, which arises from a strong, self-disciplined mind." Dalai Lama

It came clear to me, as I read this quote, that patience and acceptance are one in the same. To prepare for this week's group theme "Acceptance", I have been exploring the question "to what extent am I able to accept this moment just as it is without trying to fix or change anything". I've explored this theme many times before, and every time I fool myself into thinking that "I've got this one down!. No sweat!..." Yeah right! Resistance shows up every time, in whatever shape or form. This week it has been a resistance to practicing period. "If I don't practice, I won't have to notice what I'm not willing to accept". "Hee! Hee!" says Universe. "You can't get away that easily!" So after receiving a few major life curve balls, I decided that my mat was the safest place to explore what's happening for me and what would serve me best in this situation.

Here's what I love about the Dalai Lamas quote: "we should not see patience as a sign of weakness or giving in, but rather as a sign of strength." True Dat! What I've understood is that Acceptance is not about resignation, it is about honouring the moment as it is without being concerned about the future. This action of letting go "what might be", creates space to receive what serves me best, in this moment. What has been the most helpful in my practice, is to explore, not the result of acceptance, but my relationship to it. "To what extent am I willing to accept what is?" This question allows my resistance to be part of the package. It seems that trying to resist my resistance has gotten me no where. So why not welcome it? "Hello resistance! Thanks for showing up! You always have great gifts for me. Thanks!" Noticing to what extent I can accept these gifts (or not) is my practice...

Your turn! What is your relationship to Acceptance. Where does resistance show up? Here's a suggestion on how to practice this on your mat. Explore a two-sided pose that you tend to resist (you know the one!). As you hold this pose ask yourself: "what is it about this pose that I say No! to?" No need to figure it out. Simply be curious. Now on the other side, ask yourself; "what is it about this pose that I say Yes! to?" Be open to anything that may arise, without trying to fix or change anything. What's happening now?...