Sunday, January 30, 2011

Gandhi - Satyagraha

In Lady Yoga fashion, it is my goal to look back in history to see where we have come from, find the yoga in the moments past to keep us rooted in the present and passionate about where we are going in the future.
On that note...

Mohandas Gandhi died by assassination on this day in 1948. The political and ideological leader of India during the Indian independence movement, he was the pioneer of Satyagraha loosely translated as Soul Force, truth force or "holding on to truth," a philosophy and practice of nonviolent resistance developed and conceived by Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (also known as "Mahatma" (Sanskrit for great soul). Gandhi deployed satyagraha during this movement and also during his earlier struggles in South Africa. Satyagraha influenced Nelson Mandela's struggle in South Africa under apartheid, Martin Luther King, Jr.'s campaigns during the civil rights movement in the United States and a fury of other political and non-political unifiers of peace and standing of for beliefs.

On some level, we are always battling something either physically or emotionally. It's up to us to deal with those conflicts or wars in the most peaceful way possible. Treat yourselves with kindness. When we treat ourselves with that justice, it's easier to treat others with that same likeness.

We bring Satyagraha into our practice today. I'll lead a class and blog but it's up to you to hold on to your truth and what you are ready to commit in alignment with why you practice today and everyday you come to the mat.
In his words, we are inspired to move and contemplate.

A man is but the product of his thoughts what he thinks, he becomes.

A small body of determined spirits fired by an unquenchable faith in their mission can alter the course of history.

Action expresses priorities.

Always aim at complete harmony of thought and word and deed. Always aim at purifying your thoughts and everything will be well.

As human beings, our greatness lies not so much in being able to remake the world - that is the myth of the atomic age - as in being able to remake ourselves.

Be the change that you want to see in the world.

Culture of the mind must be subservient to the heart.

Each one has to find his peace from within. And peace to be real must be unaffected by outside circumstances.

Faith is not something to grasp, it is a state to grow into.

Glory lies in the attempt to reach one's goal and not in reaching it.

Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.

In a gentle way, you can shake the world.

Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.

Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.

The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.

Inspired always,
Lady Yoga

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