Week 6: Enabling Action & Yog

On Yoga Day today, we are usually reminded of the New Year resolutions... when we decide to embark upon the journey of 'good things to do'... and Yoga Day becomes another occasion to create 'activity lists'...

Siddharth, my husband, has often cautioned me about falling into an 'Activity Trap' - that of mindless activities without cognition of the larger picture. That idea initiated an enquiry into the specifics and motives and driver's of action. And, as expected, the Vedic scriptures have an answer. They describe three layers in the process of action:

Ichcha: (Desire/Intention) the necessary ignition of all thoughts/intents ideas. When Ichcha is born, a karmic transaction also gets initiated. Any base desires/ambition/social & esteem needs... All of the items in Maslow's Heirachy and any other human needs & wants are at the core of all expression.

Jnana: (Knowledge/Attention) this is the respect/acknowledgment/examination of the Ichcha for its motives and the subsequent translation into action; the judgment and analysis of consequences thereof.

Kriya: (Action/Manifestation) here, finally is the effect of the cause that is the Ichcha. The physical/emotional/intellectual/spiritual behaviour that is the most visible or sthoola expression of our desires, needs or wants, filtered through the prism of judgement or analysis (known as jnana) is that which the external world observes and experiences of you.

So, for every action that you take, live in deliberate awareness of the origin of it's Ichcha, acknowledge and respect your own emotions, needs, wants, thoughts, accept the consequences of your actions/expressions... And then appreciate your own fulfillment of Ichcha through your Kriya...

So, examine your intention... do you want to do yoga because it is considered 'cool' to be doing so, or is this really your intention and desire from deep within...

Aham Brahmasmi

#52LifeMantras #52RedPills