“There are two kinds of unhappiness in the world. One is not getting what you want; the other is getting what you want.” Oscar Wilde
The second Niyama is SANTOSHA
Santosha invites us into contentment by taking refuge in a calm center, opening our hearts with gratitude for what we do have, and practicing the paradox of ‘not seeking’ and ‘not avoiding’. (And sometimes, we busy ourselves with seeking so that we avoid awareness.)
“Seeking and avoiding are expensive uses of our energy.” DA
Looking outward for fulfillment will always disappoint us, and will keep contentment one step out of reach. Allowing ourselves to be in the moment, not longing/planning/getting ready for something else. And practicing gratitude. This is like the concept of Spanda in yoga, which is the dynamic pulsing or middle ground between opposites. Think Cobra to Downward Dog, or Dragon to Pigeon.
“When it rains, I let it.”
“Advertisers magnify the quality of desire to the point that it’s a contagious plague. I am reminded of the wisdom of a 116 year old man, who, when asked the secret to his longevity, replied, ‘When it rains, I let it.’
Practicing gratitude protects us from our own pettiness and smallness, and keeps us centered in the joy and abundance of our own life.” Deborah Adele
Building on Saucha (purifying) and Santosha (contentment), our next Niyama is about transformation by ‘going thru the fire’.
SOURCES: ‘Get to Know the Eight Limbs of Yoga’, article in Yoga Journal 2007, Mara Carrico ‘The Yamas and Niyamas: Exploring Yoga’s Ethical Practice’, Deborah Adele, 2009 deborahadele.com/ ‘Ten Ways to Heal Your Life’, article from Yoga Conference, 2013, Randal Williams
Recent Comments