It's not always easy to let go and trust completely. We all like to feel as though we're in control of our lives to some degree. And unfortunately for our family or friends, it's not only ourselves that we try to dominate. We rationalize the "control freak" within by thinking that we're protecting someone from harm, when often it's our own interests and intentions that we're safeguarding. We fail to recognize the tremendous stress that this kind of responsibility brings to us physically, mentally and spiritually.
Generally speaking, very young children (out of need and inexperience) allow adults to train, guide and control them until they're ready for the responsibility of making their own decisions. The parents must then relinquish the reigns gradually as they gain confidence in the child's abilities to make wise and safe choices. However, occasionally the strong-willed child decides he's ready to make his own decisions before the responsible parent is ready to trust and relinquish control. Enter conflict and more stress. Only when mutual love and respect have been established between the domineering controller and the submissive can the two compromise and merge their goals by directing the reigns of power in the same direction.
Yogic philosophy explains life in an extended metaphor. We are all on a journey in a chariot (the outer shell or body) which the Lord God created. For Christians this is our Father, God, who created heaven and earth and everything in it. The charioteer is reason (our God-installed conscience and voice of intelligence) and the mind serves as the reigns to control the horses. The horses are driven by the senses that seek temporal pleasures, such as green pastures that represent the objects of desire. Out of control horses are like undisciplined horses that can lead to destruction of the chariot and charioteer. This same principle is true of anyone who is attempting to dominate his body, mind and spirit by utilizing the tools of yoga to connect, yoke, merge, unite or join with our heavenly Father. The first step is for the charioteer of reason to relinquish control of the reigns (the mind) to the Creator who knows us and our needs more intimately than we do ourselves. This complete surrender and submission requires trust in the power of a loving Creator to take charge of the reigns in order to control our desires. Here's how it works with a true Christian yoga practice.
Generally speaking, very young children (out of need and inexperience) allow adults to train, guide and control them until they're ready for the responsibility of making their own decisions. The parents must then relinquish the reigns gradually as they gain confidence in the child's abilities to make wise and safe choices. However, occasionally the strong-willed child decides he's ready to make his own decisions before the responsible parent is ready to trust and relinquish control. Enter conflict and more stress. Only when mutual love and respect have been established between the domineering controller and the submissive can the two compromise and merge their goals by directing the reigns of power in the same direction.
Yogic philosophy explains life in an extended metaphor. We are all on a journey in a chariot (the outer shell or body) which the Lord God created. For Christians this is our Father, God, who created heaven and earth and everything in it. The charioteer is reason (our God-installed conscience and voice of intelligence) and the mind serves as the reigns to control the horses. The horses are driven by the senses that seek temporal pleasures, such as green pastures that represent the objects of desire. Out of control horses are like undisciplined horses that can lead to destruction of the chariot and charioteer. This same principle is true of anyone who is attempting to dominate his body, mind and spirit by utilizing the tools of yoga to connect, yoke, merge, unite or join with our heavenly Father. The first step is for the charioteer of reason to relinquish control of the reigns (the mind) to the Creator who knows us and our needs more intimately than we do ourselves. This complete surrender and submission requires trust in the power of a loving Creator to take charge of the reigns in order to control our desires. Here's how it works with a true Christian yoga practice.
- Physically---Through the regular practice of our best version of yoga postures (asanas ) we demonstrate care and maintenance of the physical chariot (our body) that carries us (along with the Holy Spirit) on the journey of life. Through the obedient practice to keep The Ten Commandments---similar to the yamas and niyamas---we can learn to discipline, control, and finally surrender the outer part of ourselves to keep the body healthy and serviceable to God.
- Mentally---By utilizing our charioteer (reason) to still our mind (the reigns) in the present moment with the control of our breath (Pranayama) we discipline our horses (the senses) to seek union with God and His purposes for our life, rather than satisfying temporal desires or destructive pleasures. Our minds can experience a state of peace and bliss in His Holy presence.
- Spiritually---In the hierarchy of power and dominion, the senses (horses) are more powerful than the objects of desire (pastures such as drugs, alcohol, sex) and the mind (the reigns attached to the right bit) can be disciplined to be stronger than the horses. Our reason and God-installed intelligence is more influential than the reigns of our flawed human mind; but the most supreme power is found in our Living God, Creator of All. It is this power that we can trust to submit and surrender to---to yoke with the omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent God of the Universe. Yield your "control freak" and let it be free in center of God's unconditional love and care.
