Ploughing and sowing for inner growth, by Michael McCann
The New Year is a time of new beginnings and resolutions, and too often we plant seeds of intention that soon are left untended and wither by the wayside. I know this from my own experience, so I hope I am not being unduly negative.
However, if we look to our Yoga tradition, there is great wisdom to inspire us to brush ourselves down and put our best foot forward. Yoga Psychology tackles the root of our problems, whether it is our weak willpower, conditioning, or negative mind- states.
The mind is like a garden, and just as we cultivate fruit and flowers by ploughing, weeding, and watering the plants, so we can cultivate positive thinking, habits and devotion by removing impurities.
NEGATIVE MIND STATES
Sadly, our “mind-gardens” are often full of weeds and thorns, which seem to sprout in each new season. Their seeds are known as “samskaras” (deep impressions or mind-habits). These mental impurities are fuelled by the negative energies of the “Yogic deadly sins”- the “Shat Ripus”: Mada (pride/egoism); Matsarya (jealousy); Lobha (greed); Kroda (anger); Kama (lust and desire); and Moha (illusion/delusion).
YOGA SUTRAS OF PATANJALI
The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali recognises these mental impurities as a great source of mental disturbance and obstruction to meditation. Patanjali recognised that you may be able to sit in a firm and steady lotus posture, but you will still be buffeted by an unstable mind. As the key text of Raja Yoga and Yoga Psychology, the Sutras show us how to plough, weed and cultivate the mind. The seeds of new growth are new karma, and here we should pause to consider the deep meaning behind the “the plough posture”: we are ploughing ourselves for new planting.
CLEANING OUR INNER WINDOWS
Yama and Niyama are often seen as outdated, rigid moral injunctions; in fact, they were prescribed by the master psychologists of Yoga to cleanse and steady the personality- to “clean our inner windows”. The Yamas and Niyamas gradually purge the mind-stuff of negative and neurotic patterns.
In the words of Donna Farhi, Yama and Niyama “create the conditions for living a sane and soulful life”. She lists the essence of these precepts as: “be truthful, be peaceful, be selfless, be aware, be open, be generous, and be still”.
The Yamas and Niyamas are not so much Ten Commandments, as skilful means to live in a mindful, harmonious way, in an ambience of peace. They are ways to awaken the heart and wisdom. What a positive way to begin a new year by making a firm, sincere vow (sankalpa) to incorporate them into your life!
YAMAS (Outer Observances)
Ahimsa: non- harming, non-injuring, in thought, word and deed, any other sentient creature; “a dynamic peacefulness that is prepared to meet all situations with a loving openness”. (Shearer)
Satya: Truthfulness, to ourselves and others, in intention, thought, action and communication.
Asteya: Honesty in our dealings, non-stealing, generosity of spirit.
Bramacharya: Responsible and compassionate use of sexual energy
Aparigraha: Non-grasping, non-attachment; being in the world, but not of it.
NIYAMAS (Inner Observances)
Shaucha: Purity, cleanliness of body; importantly, clarity of an uncluttered, uncoloured mind (vairagya).
Santosha: Contentment, equanimity, self-contained, being satisfied in the “now”, evenness of mind, centred in our being.
Tapas: Disciplined, constant practice, the zeal and purifying fire of mindful practice, where the inner light of awareness is kept shining.
Swadhyaya: Self-enquiry, mindful awareness of thoughts and mind states leading to self-discovery, self-reflective awareness, cultivation of wisdom, study of wisdom teachings.
Ishwarapranidhana: surrender, non-doing, constant remembrance of and connection to our Centre, poised living; leaving room for Grace; devotion: “not my will, but Thy will”.
SANKALPA
You may decide to choose a yama or niyama that speaks deeply to your own needs and circumstances. Such a heart-felt resolution is known as a “sankalpa”, a concept familiar to us as a key part of Yoga Nidra. We plant deeply the karmic seed of our positive affirmation (in this case the yama and niyama of choice) in the soft receptive soil of our consciousness as we enter the liminal stage of deep relaxation. Mentally intone with trust, deep sincerity and faith your resolve to bring your yama and niyama into your heart and ask the “Good Gardener” to help you to remember to nurture your little seed. At the second liminal stage at the end of Yoga Nidra, we water the little seed by repeating the sankalpa.
The sankalpa is a powerful vehicle of transformation whilst immersed in the deeply relaxed state of Yoga Nidra and of course this applies to any New Year resolution we may decide to make. You may be familiar with the old yoga saying on the transformative effect of affirmation: “sow a thought and reap an action; sow an action and reap a habit; sow a habit and reap a life; sow a life and reap an incarnation”.
However, we should always ask for the help of Grace (Kripa) in our heart-felt aspiration for transformation. It is never a matter of our efforts alone. This is surrender and is a niyama in its own right: “Ishwarapranidhana”. This niyama reminds us that we should place all our difficulties and strivings as an offering at the tender feet of the “Higher Power”. This cultivates acceptance, humility, and compassion.
THE KLESHAS AND KRIYA YOGA
As I have mentioned, the Yoga Sutras go right to the heart of our psychological problems. Patanjali does not judge or condemn us for our woes or weakness. The Master Physician sees deeply into the human condition and pinpoints five innate, existential conditions that afflict every one of us. These afflictions are called the “Five Kleshas: “ignorance; over-identification with ego; undue attachment to likes and dislikes; and fear of change”.
Space does not allow us to go into these conditions, but Patanjali sees them as the root of our myriad problems. What we do need to know is that Patanjali says that they can be gradually alleviated by “Kriya Yoga”, which he describes as a combination of three niyamas: tapas, swadhyaya, and Iswara pranidhana.
Tapas is of course regular Yoga practice, be it asana, pranayama, mantra, meditation etc. Swadhyaya is self-enquiry, insight, mindfulness, reflecting on wisdom and spiritual teaching. Ishwara pranidhana is constant devotion to God or connection with the Higher Power, the Higher Self or the Inner Guru, however you conceive a higher force operating in your life or destiny. Why not resolve to investigate the kleshas and to take up the path of Kriya Yoga?
THE FOUR BRAHMAVIHARAS
Rishi Patanjali recommends another often overlooked approach to instil a positive lifestyle: the Brahmaviharas. The practice of the Brahmaviharas protects the mind from disturbing influences, and it becomes peaceful and undisturbed. The Yoga Sutras (1: 33) state that the mind becomes clear and serene when the following qualities of the heart are cultivated:
Friendliness towards the happy and fortunate (Maitri
Compassion for those who are suffering (Karuna)
Celebrating the good and virtuous (Mudita)
Remaining indifferent with undisturbed calmness towards people of ill will (Prasadanam)
In “Bringing Yoga to Life”, Donna Farhi encourages us to apply the Brahmaviharas to all our relationships and life’s challenges. She asserts that “these qualities of the heart are conducive to peace of mind and thus can enable us to overcome the distractions that already exist in the mind and to prevent the production of more psychological distress”. A wonderful Sankalpa for the New Year would be to practise the Brahmaviharas.
PRATIPAKSHA BHAVANA: SHIFTING PERSPECTIVES
In Sutras 2:33 and 34, Patanjali gives us further advice in the form of “Pratipaksha Bhavana”- which means “cultivating the opposite feeling”. He encourages us to practise awakening the opposite feeling to any negative or afflicting emotion we may be experiencing. We are reminded of Saint Francis’ prayer, “Let Me Be an Instrument of Thy Peace”. Instead of hatred we cultivate love; instead of anger, we cultivate patience and peace; instead of fear, awaken a feeling of courage, and so on.
Swami Sivananda says: “negative thoughts that have arisen may be destroyed by originating good thoughts and maintaining them by repeating a mantra, performing positive actions, dwelling on the misery that arises from negative thoughts or analysing the origin of the thoughts”.
Let us learn to shift our perspectives in the year to come.
NEW YEAR ADMONITIONS
Swami Sivananda was a great yogi and saint. He believed implicitly in the power and potential of the human spirit and that a “saint is a sinner who keeps on trying”. His essential message embraced the four paths of yoga in the clarion call: “Serve, Love, Meditate, Realise; Be Good and Do Good”. Can you imagine how life would be transformed if we were to take up this challenge! Here are some of his wonderful admonitions:
“The Divine within you is stronger than anything that is without you. Therefore, be not afraid of anything. Rely on your Inner Self. Improve yourself. Build your character. Purify the heart. Develop the divine virtues. Make the lower nature the servant of the Higher through tapas, self-restraint, and meditation. Purify the heart first and then climb the ladder of Yoga steadily with courage and undaunted spirit.”
“Every day should be a Christmas Day. Bring the spirit of Christ in your daily duties. Behold the Christ in everything, in all. Cultivate sympathy, mercy for all beings. Expand your heart, embrace all. Greet the Christ everywhere. Perform every day the Christ Mass for yourself. Christ is in the priest, in the labourer, in the dog, in the saint, in the sinner, in all”.
“Life is a battle, fight it.
Life is a school, learn from it.
Life is a song, sing it.
Life is a mystery, unfold it.
Life is an opportunity, utilise it.
Life is a voyage, complete it. Life is a mission, fulfil it”.
I will conclude with a New Year blessing from this great guru: “May the blessings of the sages and saints be upon all. May God bless you and your family with health, long life, peace, and devotion”. Hari Om Tat Sat.
Michael McCann, January 2024