The Art of Devotion and Blessings
I have a dear friend who always signs her letters and emails with "Blessings..."
A year or so ago - I remember my teacher, John Friend - the founder of Anusara Yoga say to a gathering of his teachers - that one of the most important practices we could ever do was to send blessings to others - especially to those we have difficulty with. He noted that we could radically shift the energy of a situation, a room, or even a person.
I have observed a significant shift in how I feel and act, since I have been doing the practices suggested in my previous blog entry. I am looking at situations or individuals that I couldn't imagine feeling positively about - very differently - with gentler eyes and a compassionate heart. There is a softness to how I am seeing and experiencing things. And, I breathe more deeply...All good!
I've come to realize that, that when we embody practices of forgiveness and gratitude - and send loving thoughts to all things and all people - it results in happiness and in aligning with the Divine. I think of these as devotional practices at their essence. Bhakti Yoga is the cultivation of the Yoga of Devotion.
I love this translation/interpretation of sutra 1.23 of the Yoga Sutras by Nischala Joy Devi:
Yesterday, I finished and sent off to the printers, my latest poetry book, Embraced by the Divine. The process of writing this book was a year-long journey and one I have engaged in every year for the last six. It was truly an act of love and devotion...
I also wrote another practice to add to the ones listed in my previous entry:
I know this practice will take me deeper. I invite you to join me - and watch your world and attitudes transform - with everything in it changing for the better!
For a copy of Embraced by the Divine, visit my storefront:
http://stores.lulu.com/aligningwithgrace
A year or so ago - I remember my teacher, John Friend - the founder of Anusara Yoga say to a gathering of his teachers - that one of the most important practices we could ever do was to send blessings to others - especially to those we have difficulty with. He noted that we could radically shift the energy of a situation, a room, or even a person.
I have observed a significant shift in how I feel and act, since I have been doing the practices suggested in my previous blog entry. I am looking at situations or individuals that I couldn't imagine feeling positively about - very differently - with gentler eyes and a compassionate heart. There is a softness to how I am seeing and experiencing things. And, I breathe more deeply...All good!
I've come to realize that, that when we embody practices of forgiveness and gratitude - and send loving thoughts to all things and all people - it results in happiness and in aligning with the Divine. I think of these as devotional practices at their essence. Bhakti Yoga is the cultivation of the Yoga of Devotion.
I love this translation/interpretation of sutra 1.23 of the Yoga Sutras by Nischala Joy Devi:
"Boundless love and devotion unite us with the Divine Consciousness."
Yesterday, I finished and sent off to the printers, my latest poetry book, Embraced by the Divine. The process of writing this book was a year-long journey and one I have engaged in every year for the last six. It was truly an act of love and devotion...
I also wrote another practice to add to the ones listed in my previous entry:
"See everything as a blessing.
Turn everything into a blessing.
Send everyone a blessing.
BE a blessing!"
Turn everything into a blessing.
Send everyone a blessing.
BE a blessing!"
I know this practice will take me deeper. I invite you to join me - and watch your world and attitudes transform - with everything in it changing for the better!
For a copy of Embraced by the Divine, visit my storefront:
http://stores.lulu.com/aligningwithgrace
Comments
Alex
Blessings on you!