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Living With Acceptance. Living With Resistance.

by Diana Meltsner

 

“The greatest difficulty is the mental resistance to things that arise, and the underlying assumption that they should not.”

– Eckhart Tolle

 

Acceptance is a doorway to freedom. Often I get caught up in the spin of assumptions that this should not be happening. 

This resistance, this inner scream “NO!!!” has an undeniable gravity to it… if it is happening right now or even if it has already happened. The mental draw to unresolved events is enormous. As long as the assumption that things should be turning out differently is in the mind, the resistance to what is will remain. 

Memories of events like this will recur and shape our destiny unless we find acceptance. 

 I often find myself dwelling on the past in hope of learning to avoid similar situations, in hope of sparing myself of pain. By recollecting things I wish turned out differently, I find myself trapped in the cycle of reliving that pain over and over again. 

Dwelling on aversion, resistance and non-acceptance always results in pain.

 I am not suggesting to idly submit to anything that is happening to us, nor to “go with the flow” of being in a bad or even abusive situation. What I am suggesting is being honest and aware, no matter what, to find the courage to look. 

It takes awareness and admitting the truth to finally step away from that gravitational pull of resistance and from dwelling on “this should not be happening”. Even just accepting that the resistance is there can help. Only by seeing clearly, we can make decisions and respond from a place of choice. Seeing and accepting the truth is the first step to letting go, forgiving, and results in ability to live in the present moment fully and gracefully. Self-acceptance and self-forgiveness have a huge part in this.

 

Truth…

No flinching

No pretending

No glorifying

No denying

No covering up

Truth…

Om Tat Sat

 

The practice of Satya, truthfulness is described in Yoga Sutras of Patanjali Book 2, sutra 36. Swami Satchidananda speaks of great courage that comes from practicing truthfulness. Looking at life with acceptance can bring freedom. 

 

Living with acceptance or living with resistance is our choice.

 

“Therein is nothing to remove

And thereto not the slightest thing to add.

The perfect truth viewed perfectly

And perfectly beheld is liberation.”

~Maitreya

 

This post was originally published on Diana’s blog on her website.

2021-01-10T14:00:40-08:00January 9th, 2021|Tags: |

Inside Patanjali’s Words: Discover the Hidden Heart of Yoga – Part 2 of 2

A two part series:

Part I: Saturday March 20, 2021 ⋅ 10:00am – 12:00pm PT  |  $25

Part II: Sunday March 21, 2021 ⋅ 10:00am – 12:00pm PT |  $25  – Use promo code: Patanjali to get 20% off of Part 2

Enroll – Part I

Enroll – Part II

Please register in advance, a Zoom link and passcode will be provided via confirmation email.

Join renowned Meditation and Raja Yoga Teacher Reverend Jaganath for a 2 part series. You are welcome to sign up just for one or both of the workshops this weekend.
The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali are a holistic, multi-faceted approach to spirituality. Every aspect of who we are as human beings is embraced and included in a symphony of principles and practices. The goal? A life of peace, happiness, meaning, and practical wisdom.
These vital teachings are presented using sutras – phrases – that can be obscure. But we can illuminate the darkest corners of this classic text by taking a closer look at Patanjali’s words.
Words are matchmakers. They introduce us to most knowledge, but they have limitations. The challenge is to find language that keeps the spirit of the teaching but clearly conveys that spirit to today’s yoga students and practitioners.
Expect to be surprised and informed.

Reverend Jaganath has been teaching all facets of Yoga theory and practice at universities, prisons, Yoga centers, and interfaith programs since 1974. He established the Integral Yoga and Yoga Life Ministries, and co-developed the highly regarded Integral Yoga Meditation and Raja Yoga Teacher Training Certification programs.

He is the founder and spiritual head of the Yoga Life Society and has authored the highly regarded books; Awaken: Inside Yoga Meditation and Inside the Yoga Sutras: A Comprehensive Sourcebook for the Study and Practice of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras which are used in teacher training programs worldwide

His latest book Inside Patanjali’s Words: Explore the Heart of Yoga is a deep dive into the practical wisdom and personality of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, Yoga’s great sourcebook on spiritual awakening. Fifteen years in the making, Inside Patanjali’s Words,the follow-up to his best-selling book, Inside the Yoga Sutras, features a fresh new translation and commentary and a word-for-word sutra dictionary. It is available online at new.iydistribution.com

2021-01-05T20:24:14-08:00December 23rd, 2020|Tags: , , |

Inside Patanjali’s Words: Discover the Hidden Heart of Yoga – Part 1 of 2

A two part series:

Part 1: Saturday March 20, 2021 ⋅ 10:00am – 12:00pm PT  |  $25

Part 2: Sunday March 21, 2021 ⋅ 10:00am – 12:00pm PT |  $25 – Use promo code “Patanjali” to receive 20% off of Part 2

Enroll – Part I

Enroll – Part II

Please register in advance, a Zoom link and passcode will be provided via confirmation email.

Join renowned Meditation and Raja Yoga Teacher Reverend Jaganath for a 2 part series. You are welcome to sign up just for one or both of the workshops this weekend.

The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali are a holistic, multi-faceted approach to spirituality. Every aspect of who we are as human beings is embraced and included in a symphony of principles and practices. The goal? A life of peace, happiness, meaning, and practical wisdom.

These vital teachings are presented using sutras – phrases – that can be obscure. But we can illuminate the darkest corners of this classic text by taking a closer look at Patanjali’s words.

Words are matchmakers. They introduce us to most knowledge, but they have limitations. The challenge is to find language that keeps the spirit of the teaching but clearly conveys that spirit to today’s yoga students and practitioners.

Expect to be surprised and informed.

Reverend Jaganath has been teaching all facets of Yoga theory and practice at universities, prisons, Yoga centers, and interfaith programs since 1974. He established the Integral Yoga and Yoga Life Ministries, and co-developed the highly regarded Integral Yoga Meditation and Raja Yoga Teacher Training Certification programs.

He is the founder and spiritual head of the Yoga Life Society www.yogalifecenter.org and has authored the highly regarded books; Awaken: Inside Yoga Meditation and Inside the Yoga Sutras: A Comprehensive Sourcebook for the Study and Practice of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras which are used in teacher training programs worldwide

His latest book Inside Patanjali’s Words: Explore the Heart of Yoga is a deep dive into the practical wisdom and personality of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, Yoga’s great sourcebook on spiritual awakening. Fifteen years in the making, Inside Patanjali’s Words,the follow-up to his best-selling book, Inside the Yoga Sutras, features a fresh new translation and commentary and a word-for-word sutra dictionary. It is available online at new.iydistribution.com.

2021-03-19T08:42:21-07:00December 23rd, 2020|Tags: , , |

The Roots of Suffering and the Way to Freedom: A Four Week In-depth Study

Enroll

$15 individual session or
$45 for all four (save $15) | Please register in advance, a Zoom link and passcode will be provided via confirmation email.

On 4 consecutive Tuesdays ⋅  5:30-6:30

Part 1: January 12
Part 2: January 19
Part 3: January 26
Part 4: February 2

 

The root causes of our suffering are usually hidden from view in the subconscious ways we understand ourselves and relate to the world. But suffering can compel us to seek a deeper understanding of life and our true nature.
Learn to transform trying times into stepping-stones to profound experiences of connection, contentment, and spiritual freedom. Deepen and refine your understanding of suffering and how it can enhance your spiritual maturity. This course is devoted to self-transformation through introspection, meditation, and the study of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, both the commentary of Sri Swami Satchidananda, and of Rev Jaganath Carrera.

Swami Ramananda is the Executive Director of the Integral Yoga Institute in San Francisco and a greatly respected senior teacher in the Integral Yoga tradition, who has been practicing Yoga for over 45 years. Ramananda offers practical methods of integrating the timeless teachings and practices of Yoga into daily life, and transforming the painful aspects of human experience into steps toward realizing one’s full potential. He leads beginner, intermediate and advanced level Yoga teacher training programs in San Francisco, and offers a variety of programs in many locations in the U.S., Europe and South America. Ramananda co-developed the Stress Management Teacher Training program with Swami Vidyananda, has trained many teachers to bring Yoga into corporate, hospital and medical settings, and has taught mind/body wellness programs in many locations. He is a certified Yoga therapist and founding board member of the Yoga Alliance, a national registry that supports and promotes yoga teachers as professionals. He is a co-founder of The Spiritual Action Initiative (SAI) which brings together individuals committed to working for social justice for all beings and for the care and healing of our natural world. His warmth, wisdom and sense of humor have endeared him to many.

2021-01-13T14:06:08-08:00November 6th, 2020|Tags: , , |
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