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24/01/12

"Right Action" as a matter of course

As many of my readers know, I am a bit of a yoga bunny. Having recently read the book How Yoga Works, by Michael Roach and Christie McNally, I am very interested in the concept of how one good (or bad) deed can embed itself in us, and lead us on a path of being more authentic and content, or less, depending on the type of "seed" that we plant in our minds as a result of our action. Seeds can be either good or bad, and grow according to the actions that we take. My philosophy is to always (try to) live my life according to a good motivation, or "right action". Right action is hard work - especially if we decide to apply the goal in every moment. But if we take up right action as a matter of course, we encourage perseverance of mind and create a series of interconnected right actions that will lead to a much happier life. Right action will lead to the best outcome for ourselves, and for others. If we act in a kind manner, and live our passion sweetly, rather than avoiding the hard stuff, we will achieve much more than if we envy others and long for what we don't have. That will lead us nowhere. Today I randomly opened my book Meditations from the Mat (by Rolf Gates and Katrina Kenison), to Day 29. It talks about right action, and says that each right action infuses us with the energy and ability to take the next right action. This fits perfectly with my claim from Monday's blog, that had I been mindful in the first instance, when I was trying to deal with the dog's business, I would have had a more mindful approach to the rest of the walk. The quote from the book from Day 29 is one I like very much. Those forms of concentration which result in extraordinary perceptions encourage perseverance of mind. Yoga Sutras.
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