Buddhist teacher Thich Nhat Hanh said that the greatest gift we can give others is our true presence. That means we show up, and we do so without any agenda, without any expectations, and without any distractions.
Everything we do in a yoga practice is training us to give that presence to ourselves. Our breathing reminds us we are here. Our asanas ground us in our body. Our meditation teaches us to bear witness to our mind. Try this. Say to yourself: I am present. I am here. I am available. Take it further. Examine all that arises. Bear witness to all those parts. Then say to yourself: I see you. I accept you. I will sit with you. Without judgment, without picking and choosing, without denying any part of yourself, sit with them all. Then say to yourself: I love you unconditionally. When we are able to practice true presence with ourselves, we develop friendship with ourselves, or what is called “maitri” in Sanskrit. Thich Nhat Hanh said true presence is the greatest gift we can give someone. Why not include ourselves as well?
0 Comments
|
Archives
March 2020
|