Monday, November 22, 2010

"Our Very Conspicuous Consumption"

It's not natural to see animals walking around in the wild lugging suitcases full of stuff, except maybe in cartoons! The very good reason is that their wise Creator has provided for their every need as it occurs. True, we humans don't have coats that grow thicker as winter approaches and then shed in spring, but we do have the hunting and fishing skills that fill empty stomachs.  And how many coats, shoes or boots, rooms, homes, etc. do we really need?    
Where do we humans learn our very conspicuous consumption?  Is it in our DNA or does capitalistic advertising fuel our "fallen" nature?  Some women fall prey to the fashion industry's whims, while certain men can't resist the latest technological advances that will improve their game or increase their viewing pleasure.  Children learn "the wants" very early, but just how many dolls or games can they hold and play with at one time?  What happens to those books they've read a hundred times and have outgrown?  Recycling certainly helps, yet it's only part of the solution to our apparent greed.  Do we try to buy contentment and love with things? 
I do admit that it's difficult to reign in the desire to surround ourselves with all those conveniences that we realize we can't carry with us to our final destination. Ideas like minimalism and down-sizing are not new.  Remember the acronym "KISS" that represents the concept "Keep It Simple, Stupid!"  Yet we all fall prey to our desires to possess more.  Is the animal kingdom smarter than we humans because they are less needy?  Or do they intuitively have more faith in their God-given abilities to provide for their needs one day at a time?  
Patanjali's Yoga Sutra teaches ethical disciplines called yamas that are rules of morality for society and the individual. These codes must be practiced regularly in order to avoid the violence, untruth, covetousness, stealing, and chaos that we're already witnessing in many unfortunate spots of the world!  According to Patanjali the roots of these evils are human emotions such as greed, desire and attachment, which seem to imply a lack of faith in God and in our God-given abilities to provide for our present needs.  This week while practicing the "Fish Pose variation" (Matsyasana II) with outstretched arms and legs, remind yourself of the principle of non-hoarding or collecting called aparigraha.  Practice being thankful and content for what you have been given.  Put your happiness in no-thing!
  • Physically---Prepare your physical body for this week's more challenging variation of "Fish Pose" (Matsyasana) by reading and practicing the easier version described in last week's blog.  You'll know that you're ready for this week's variation when your abdominals and back muscles are long enough and strong enough to lift and extend the spine in a deep upward arch without collapsing or without using props.  After a long and deep ujjayi breath (three-dimensional) inward, lift the pelvic floor and abdominal muscles (the mula bandha and the uddiyana bandha) described in the May 11, 2010 blog) while extending the spine to round upward like the belly of a fish.  During the slow and thorough exhalation raise both arms and legs straight up to a 45-degree angle, and parallel to each other. During each inhalation stretch and extend through active arms and legs, fingers and toes spread wide.  After 8-10 full and victorious breaths in "Fish Pose variation" exhale to release back onto both elbows and lower the legs back to the floor with the toes facing away from center.  Inhale while grounding down into the elbows and backs of the legs to lift the head; then exhale the back and head onto the floor to rest in "Corpse Pose" for a minimum of five minutes.
  • Mentally---As you breathe in each full breath of life, mentally repeat the mantra, "Thank you, Father" (for the gift of each breath), and open the palms of your hands to face upward in order to receive the energy (prana) in your gift of life.  Remain focused on an attitude of thanksgiving as you breathe each smooth breath deeply into all four corners of your lungs.  ("Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."  Ephesians 5:20, KJV)
  • Spiritually---As you hold your arms out with gratitude to receive your Creator's many blessings in the present moment, focus on what you've already been given, and trust Him to meet each present need.  Maybe you'll be led to give many things away.  Join me in practicing generosity and non-collecting (aparigraha) during the holidays!    Namaste,   plf
 Both apostles Matthew and Luke recorded Jesus' "Sermon on the Mount" during which He advised the crowd not to "lay up ...treasures on earth."   
"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal.  But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal; For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."    (Matthew 6: 19-21, KJV)