A Gift of Love -Swami Ramananda
Genuine care for someone is expressed in many ways besides a holiday gift. We can offer our love in many meaningful ways, like forgiving mistakes, appreciating good qualities, and taking time to listen deeply.
Simplicity Day -Swami Ramananda
Try a simplicity day. Speak only when necessary – which isn’t much. Eat only fruit or vegetables. Fast from social media. Spend time in the healing silence of meditation or in nature, or both.
De-Cluttering -Swami Ramananda
One potent form of simplifying our lives is de-cluttering our homes. We can sort out unneeded clothing, furniture and miscellaneous possessions and donate them to organizations that support homeless and poor. At Christmas or Hanukkah, we can regift things that we don’t need instead of buying each other trendy things or knick-knacks that end up filling our closets. An uncluttered home supports the clear and spacious mind needed for spiritual awakening.
Simplicity as a Spiritual Practice -Swami Ramananda
Simplicity is closely related to Aparigraha, non-greed, one of the ethical principles given in the Yoga Sutras as the foundation of all Yoga practice. Non-greed is practiced first of all by refraining from the unnecessary accumulation of possessions, and by refusing to accept bribes or any gift that would oblige us to compromise our values.
