Saucha: Growing Love
Last September we began our 10-month journey through the Yamas and Niyamas, the first two limbs of yoga’s eight-limbed path. Last month we finished the Yamas, which addresses our relationship with the world. They include; Ahimsa (non-harming), Satya (truthfulness), Asteya (non-stealing), Brahmacharya (non-excess) and Aparigraha (non-attachment). This month we are moving on to the Niyamas, which address our relationship with ourselves. The first is Saucha, often translated as purity or cleanliness. This teaching is so much more than simply washing our bodies. It asks us to cultivate purity in our minds, bodies and hearts so we can expand our capacity for love in each moment.
Our culture sees the world through a dualistic lens so when we hear the word pure it’s natural to immediately move into judgement about what’s impure. Even more problematic is how swiftly we shift this focus to things outside of ourselves. Saucha prompts us to ask, “What am I holding onto that is creating suffering?” Through this practice we are invited to become aware of our relationship to each moment, to know the difference between being pure with something and trying to make something pure. This approach to purity invites us to release our ideals and expectations and even drop our image of purity in order to fully experience this gem. These questions arose as an invitation to cultivate this awareness:
Are my thoughts deepening my sense of connection with myself and others?
Are my expressions in the form of words and actions cultivating love?
What does my heart need to release or receive in order to deepen my experience of love?
Life these days can feel like it’s spinning out of control. Over the years, yoga has taught me that the only thing we have the power to control is our mind. When we witness the shift from fear to love in our world, we see the magnificent power of individuals to transform the collective. Developing an aware and loving mind is a practice that takes discipline and is so much easier when done with community support. More than ever I’m in awe of our Dayaalu community and the way we support healing in body, mind and spirit. I can feel the potent seeds we’re planting to grow love. And we can’t begin to imagine the power of this work as it ripples out into the world.
Much love,
Sue