The first Yoga Sutra is often overlooked because at first blush it sounds like it’s just simply the introduction to the real stuff to come.
“Now, the practice (or discipline) of yoga.”
Utha Yoga Nusashanam
What I love about this is the first word. NOW. Not tomorrow, and not next month. Now. Whether you can get on the mat or not. Now. Begin it now.
This helps me in so many ways! Not even just with yoga practice, but with whatever task I have ahead of me. I try to be present NOW, and it helps me know what I need and want to do.
This, for me, is another example of yoga helping me off the mat. That is one of the joys of yoga, seeing it help us live our lives more fully.
Namaste,
Barrett
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Congrats on the new blog! And guess what, I am procrastinating right now. I am applying for an environmental leadership fellowship and the application is due tomorrow… So, “begin it now” is really helpful and must be why I came to your blog. With that said…
Namaste.
I am looking forward to reading this! It’s funny that in this week’s class–when you were talking about self-study–I was wishing that you had some kind of teacher training program so that I could learn more from you about yoga generally. So this is great!
This reminds me of the famous Jewish religious leader Hillel from 2000 years ago who said “If not now, when?”. This has been a mantra for me for many years. I really internalize it when I’m about to walk away from something half finished. I literally say to myself wait… “if not now, then when?”. It’s a wonderful way to finish projects.
In preparing this comment, I looked up the quote and found out I only knew the end. The whole quote is actually:
“If I am not for myself, then who will be for me? And if I am only for myself, then what am I? And if not now, when?”
Strangely I don’t really get the middle part “If I am only for myself, then what am I?”. I can understand if it said “if I am only for myself, then what am I worth” or something like that. I can assume that is the meaning, but I’m not sure if there is a deeper sense in which Hillel is trying to equate self identity with communal aspirations.
What do you think?
carpe diem. seize the day. horace had a similar idea. and the great sufis always brought us back to the immense power of the present moment. here, now, begin. all you must do and be.
i end with an old favorite from Ezra Pound:
And the days are not full enough
And the nights are not full enough
And life slips by like a field mouse
Not shaking the grass
A response to the multiple comments:
I love when quotes beget quotes! Thanks, Gadi and Zeenat, for the further reflections. Gadi, in the past, I’ve thought about the Hillel quote you wrote about as a call to social action. Stick up for yourself, but also stick up for others. This is a good quote to bring up on the eve of Yom Kippur, which I think I might write about tomorrow! Thank you, Zeenat for reminding us that across time and cultures, there is a universal sense of needing to be in the here and now.
Of course, all of this makes the contrarian in me think of the sarcastic twist on a famous quote:
“Never do today what you can put of til tomorrow.”
I’m glad you didn’t listen to that advice, Erica! Good luck on your fellowship – let us know! And Lisa, maybe I’ll write a post about the self-study we were talking about in class. Thank you!
Barrett,
I’m digging the blog very much. Please write about Yom Kippur as we are approaching Kol Nidrei and I’m contemplating my last meal before the fast. Any thoughts or advice on fasting would be much appreciated! I’m starting to feel hungry already…
Josh