From the category archives:

simple living

Observing Aparigraha

February 18, 2007

Before the new week starts and we all head back to work or school, take a moment to ponder these words on non-coveting by B.K.S. Iyengar in Light on Yoga:

The yogi feels that the collection or hoarding of things implies a lack of faith in God and in himself to provide for the future….By the observance of aparigraha, the yogi makes his life as simple as possible and trains his mind not to feel the loss or the lack of anything. Then everything he really needs will come to him by itself at the proper time.

Read “Gotta Have It?” by Sally Kempton at Yoga Journal for additional perspective on aparigraha.

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Take Action to Simplify Your Life

February 13, 2007

Simplify, simplify… Most everything is a distraction.

This simple quote by Thoreau embodies much of what we want in life–simplicity. Most of us know that many of the “necessities” of life, while far from being extravagances, are in reality unnecessary distractions that pull us away from the simple kind of living that is conducive to a “quiet mind.” Interestingly enough, the word “simplify” actually is an action word, indicating that in order to have have fewer distractions we have to recognize those unnecessary distractions in our lives and actually do something about them if we want to eliminate them. So, do something to simplify your life today. At the same time, be mindful when confronted by those distractions you can’t do anything about. Take action, and your life will be simpler!

[Photo originally uploaded on Flickr by dwrawlinson]

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Practice Voluntary Simplicity

February 9, 2007

[Photo originally uploaded on Flickr by minkminkmink] “Voluntary simplicity means going fewer places in one day rather than more, seeing less so I can see more, doing less so I can do more, acquiring less so I can have more.”
– Jon Kabat-Zinn in Wherever You Go There You Are

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10 Tips for Mindful Living

February 8, 2007

It’s not always easy to practice mindful awareness when the day starts to get hectic. A pleasant hour on the yoga mat early in the morning can quickly become a long lost memory once we put the keys in the ignition and hit the gas pedal. It seems like the busier the day gets, the more quickly our intention to be mindful is replaced with reaction, and pretty soon our emotions seem like they are being driven by each passing event. When that happens we might start to wonder whether our meditation and yoga practices are actually doing us any good. Perhaps it’s time to climb out of the river of life for a moment, to clear our minds, and recognize that mindfulness practice extends beyond the crossed-legged position to every moment of our lives. As a helpful reminder, here is a list of 10 tips for practicing mindfulness during the mundane activities of life.