Awareness and Transformation

February 22, 2011 by Sally Kempton

Continued from Page 2

A friend once told me about a practice she used during a particularly difficult season at her university department. She had a hostile colleague who would interrupt her, question her agendas, and generally harass her. She got through it by reminding herself, "You are in the peaceful mind of God."

A man with a tendency to lose his temper during moments of frustration works with a famous yogic technique called "Practicing the Opposite" from Patanjali's Yoga Sutras. When he notices rage surging up inside him, he takes time to become aware of the thoughts associated with the feelings, and then fills his mind with counter-thoughts like "I have great tolerance and respect for these people." Even though it isn't always true, holding the positive thought calms his mind enough to make him less reactive.

For me, a line from the Bhagavad Gita, "You have a right to the work alone, but not to its fruits," often comes up when I'm caught in desire for a particular outcome. Contemplating this resonant, mysterious teaching helps me detach myself from my fears, my wants, and my expectations so that I can act more objectively.

So once you have paused, checked yourself out, and recognized the way it feels to be out of your center, you have many options for beginning to come back to yourself. As you keep working with this threefold process of recognition, self-inquiry, and practice, you learn to navigate your own rough waters and to find the harbors that are always there.

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2/22/2011 5:00:00 AM

Hindu

Meditation for Life

Awareness

Meditation

Sacred Texts

Hinduism

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About Sally Kempton

An internationally known teacher of meditation and spiritual wisdom, Kempton is the author of Meditation for the Love of It and writes a monthly column for Yoga Journal. Follow her on Facebook and visit her website at www.sallykempton.com.

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