Letting Go

Today is day 45 of my most recent sadhana, 31 minutes of kirtan kriya.  46 days ago I knew I needed to do 31 minutes of kirtan kriya.  Not just whatever amount of time I thought I had time for,  not just whatever meditation I felt like doing, but a real sadhana that is practiced daily no matter what.

This has been quite a different experience than my first 40 day sadhana.  Then I was pushed forward by all the amazing things I was learning and experiencing.  Then I occasionally did less than 31 minutes, but when I practiced 31 minutes the time flew by.

Not this go around.  I'm not gonna lie.  It was tough.  Each time I practiced I felt the seconds tick by slowly.  My body wouldn't sit still most of the time.  My mind continually resisted.  I would put it off until evening most days, one day I got started at about 11:20 p.m. (not proud to admit it).

But I persisted.

I reached out for help when I needed it from a friend doing the same meditation - only she was approaching 365 days.  One of the things that made it difficult for me was that once I began I knew this time it wasn't going to be just 40 days.  The number that was given to me then was 120.  So I continued, knowing I needed to make this a real habit to reach that number, all the while wondering how I would make it.  During this time I was reminded that this meditation is great for generational healing if done for a year.  So for now, my goal is 365 days....but I have a hunch that number will grow as well.

An interesting thing occurred on day 41.  I felt fear for continuing my sadhana and the changes that it was going to bring.  Real fear.  I sensed this was because now the real work was to begin. (God has been somewhat quiet as I plowed on for this sadhana.)  Now, I know that this is why I practice - to find real, deep level changing that I know won't take place any other way, but fear is not rational.  One lesson I've learned is that it's important to feel our feelings, all of them, so I relaxed into the moment and allowed the tears.  A mantra came to my mind, one I used a great deal during my first 40 days.  (I had forgotten that there was fear involved in those days as well.)  The mantra Chattr Chakkr Vertee is used in a meditation for eliminating fears.  It is so beautiful that I memorized it during my first 40 days so that I could use it at any time. It was nice for it to come to mind when I needed it. My doubts were calmed.

As I practiced kirtan kriya the minutes flew by.

The root of all resistance is fear. Fear of change.  Fear of letting go of the oars and allowing God to transform us in the best way only He can.  We are taught that we are in control of our lives but I think we forget that this "we" - this "me" image in our mind is the one that we have created over the span of all the years we have lived.  We forget that our soul is on a mission, and only God can help us with that.  No matter what we may want in this life, there will always be some things that only cause distress and unhappiness when we  resist God- even if what we want is righteous.

One brief example of this in my life was my sincere desire to have children.  I have never in my life been pregnant.  I can't even begin to describe the grief and anguish during the many years of trying - of begging God to bless me in the way that I wanted.  But once I let that go, my daughter was born exactly 9 months later through another woman.  That was a divine answer enough for me.


So this morning when I was in that stage of waking but trying to talk myself out of getting out of bed and then trying to find reasons why I deserved to stay in bed instead of wake early and meditate, I suddenly had the thought that this isn't about me, this is about God.  And I could no long, not for one second, stay in bed. While meditating I learned why I felt distant from God these past weeks: me. That's all.  Nothing more.  Me and all the things in life that I want, that I feel are sincere and right.

God has a plan for us and I know that before this life we had a say in that plan and knew it was for the best.  God knows what is best for our soul's development.  No matter how right we think our aspirations are, no matter how right we think we are, there is always something better that we cannot even comprehend.

Let go of the oars. Let go of the fear. Your life is guided by the One who knows more.  

Sat Nam,
Samantha

Let the Mind Expand

"There is no harm for any man or woman letting the mind expand to lay hold upon all that God has revealed, and to ponder upon it, as the ancient children of God did. . . . When we have prepared ourselves by getting all the knowledge we possibly can from that which is written, God will give us more". -Orson Pratt 

Love this quote!  There is so much to reflect on.  Here is another thought to consider:

 "One of the grand fundamental principles of 'Mormonism' is to receive truth, let it come from whence it may." -Joseph Smith

Some thoughts:

• Do we allow our minds, let alone our hearts, to be open enough to receive truth "come from whence it may"?
• As LDS we have been taught if we are righteous and obedient and seek the things of God, our faith in Jesus Christ can grow until we are worthy to have all things revealed to us (Ether 3:1-20, James 2:14-20, Ether 12:6, D&C 88:67-68;93:1, 27-28) and when we are prepared, the Lord will reveal more sacred records to us (Ether 3:21-4:18, 2 Nephi 27:7-11).

I know that sadhana, a daily spiritual practice, is helpful here.  Searching, pondering (meditating), and praying daily to receive further light and truth. Some kind of daily practice is crucial.  It takes commitment.  It even takes courage.  But it is so worth it!

Sat nam,
Samantha

Is Yoga Compatible with Christianity?

Short answer:

Yes.  I believe it is completely compatible.  I have my own experience of my faith deepening immensely when I began my practice sincerely and there are so many other faithful members of The Church of Jesus Christ Latter-Day Saints and Christians of other denominations who have found the same deepening of their faith due to their own personal practice.

Long Answer:

I believe wholeheartedly that it most definitely is, but unfortunately some do not understand the strength yoga can provide spiritually and they say no to its compatibility, their reasoning being that:

"The practice of yoga is based on the belief that man and God are one. It is little more than self-worship disguised as high-level spirituality." (Source)

I strongly disagree.  For example:

•  Look at the word "Atonement" more closely = At - ONE - ment: 

"The literal meaning of the word "Atonement" is self-evident: at-one-ment, the act of unifying or bringing together what has been separated and estranged." Jeffrey R. Holland

• The definition of "yoga" comes from the same root as "yoke" and means "union," specifically union with God.

And there are numerous accounts in scripture to help us understand:

• Psalms 82:6 - "I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High." 

• Luke 17:21 - "For, behold, the kingdom of God is within you."

• 1 John 4:16 - "...God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him." 

• John 10:34 - "Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?"

• John 17:11 - "That they may be one, as we are."
• John 17:22 - "And the glory which though gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one."

I want to point out our egocentric notion of what "Christianity" means with a few quotes:

"... non-Christian faiths teach many truths too ... God raises up wise men and prophets here and there among all the children of men, of their own tongue and nationality, speaking to them through means that they can comprehend; 'not always giving a fullness … of the gospel of Jesus Christ; but always giving that measure of truth that the people are prepared to receive.'” - R. Lanier Britsch

“The world’s religions are not just corruptions of an original message but rather the product of a purposeful plan of God to reach all of his children, meeting them exactly where they need to be met. While some of the truths in other faiths may be the product of the original gospel passed on, many had brand new beginnings in meetings between the founder and his God. Falling into this category would certainly be Nanak, Zoroaster, Abraham, Muhammad, and Baha’u’llah. God seems to have given them new messages designed to raise the people of their day to new spiritual heights.” – Roger R. Keller, Light and Truth: A Latter-Day Guide to World Religions.

“Now we stand in the full blaze of the restoration of the Gospel.  If people in other spiritual traditions and philosophies even without the restored Gospel, obtain such marvelous manifestations as those recorded in the world’s spiritual literature, it may be that many of us have hardly begun to plum the riches and powers of the restored Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.” – M. Catherine Nelson

And finally...Fear not:

• "Fear not the reproach of men." - Isaiah 51:7

• "God hath not given us the spirit of fear."- 2 Timothy 1:7

• "Fear not little flock; for it is the Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." - Luke 12:32

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Yoga is consistent with Christian teachings and in alignment with Christ-centered values and beliefs, such as taking care of the body and growing closer to God.  There are also reasons why people with no religious affiliations are drawn to it.

"We are not human beings having a spiritual experience.  We are spiritual beings having a human experience." - Pierre Tiehard de Chardin

When one uses yoga and meditation as a tool to grow closer to God, self-worship is not a part of the picture.  In fact, it is a sacrifice, a personal commitment which develops self-discipline and builds character.  I can see how the adversary does not want that, so I guess there will always be the naysayers.