Back to Yoga - Week 4 - Brahmacharya - Non-Excess

 

Back to Yoga - Week 4 - Brahmacharya - Non-Excess

 

 

Sutra II.38 of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali is brahmacaryapratisthayam viryalabhah .

B.K.S. Iyengar translates this sutra in his book, Light on the Yoga Sutra's of Patanjali as - When the sadhaka is firmly established in continence, knowledge, vigour, valour and energy flow to him. 

 

Often written as control of sexual desires, B.K.S. Iyengar writes that "Continence or control in no way belies or contradicts the enjoyment or pleasure.  It is when sensory pleasure is the sole motivating factor that brahmacarya is infringed.

 

Deborah Adele writes in her book, "The Yama and Niyamas; Exploroing Yoga's Ethical Practice", that Brahmacharya can have much greater implications then just celibacy or abstinence. She writes it is dealing with passion of our sexuality, as well as our other desires, in a manner that is sacred and life-giving, rather than excessive. She recounts a story of meeting an Indian gentleman who even though wealthy and successful chose to remain in the house his father build and required him to bow his head when he entered the home.  He said this simple action of bowing as he entered, reminded him of the sacredness of all things. 

I think this sums up greatly brahmacharya and Deborah writes, "Brahmacharya reminds us to enter each day and each action with a sense of holiness rather than indulgence."

 

In this day of excess of everything from food to work to material possessions, Deborah encourages us to tame our overindulgences.  Much of this has to do with the mind, habits and attachments to emotions we have felt either as good or a way to subdue emotions we wish to avoid. 

 

"Non-excess is not about non- enjoyment. It actually is about enjoyment and pleasure in its fullest experience."

 

"We have to be able to discern between what the body needs in the moment and the story our mind is telling us."

 

Take time this week that allow you to live in non-excess, to know what is enough and stop there.  Practice pleasure without excess.  Reflect and journal on this too.

 

With peace and gratitude,

Pam