How awareness reveals itself, framed in the
words of the eight-limbed path of yoga,
or
A New Hampshire yogini goes out to shovel
In the interest of demystifying this strange idea called awakening, here’s a little 20-minute meditation that snuck up on me this afternoon. Heading out to shovel, I start with regular me-ness and my intention to clear this morning’s friendly 2-inch snow from the driveway.
1st limb, Yama, moral action, in the form of non-harming:
My husband will appreciate my taking care of the driveway today, since the snow blower is on the fritz.
The plumber is coming and I’m concerned about his possibly slipping on the steps.
These thoughts don’t constitute a raging debate or pep talk to help me get out there, just some thoughts that arise as I go about suiting up. I grab the shovel from the porch, head down the steps and start in.
2nd limb, Niyama, self-discipline, in the form of self-study:
Awareness sends an invitation about half-way down the first of our two driveways, and I notice and suddenly see the experience more directly and clearly: see the complex, physical process itself, and see also the subtle complaint of myself regarding wearing too light a coat, getting stiff a little early in the shoveling session, not loving my dental bite splint and how it feels as I grit my teeth with each throw. I notice the body feels awkward, braced and is throwing too much power around for the job.
3rd limb, Asana, awareness fills the body:
I straighten, pull in my lower belly and feel some back relief. The body starts again, slower, and softens and relaxes into the necessary movement.
4th limb, Pranayama, awareness inhabits the breath:
Awareness then illuminates the breath, sees it settle and coordinate with the body’s motion.
5th limb, Pratyahara, awareness directs the attention to itself:
Awareness now tunes into this experience, fully, finely.
6th limb, Dharana, awareness settles on itself:
The hand and arm and shovel are seen moving in and out of visual range, moving the snow like a machine. The driveway reveals itself one swath at a time. The heat of the working body and the cold of the air around it are felt. Sounds of distant traffic and nearby shovel/driveway friction are heard.
7th limb, Dhyana, awareness locks on itself:
movement, breathing, sensing continue; awareness flits, jiggles, then coalesces into…
8th limb, Samadhi: (no thoughts around, and now no words hit the target, here are some that only approximate, coming after the fact as I sit here writing) Moving body, moving snow, moving air, breathing, white then black surface, so much dance and whirl available, being seen from some perfectly still mystery at the center of it…
…and I come to the end of the last driveway. Heading inside to try and capture in words what can never be captured, pinned down or any otherwise acquired or retained.
Fellow seeker, you have these experiences, too. Keep a gentle eye out for them, but now don’t you go demanding. Grace is a shy bearer of such gifts and doesn’t take kindly to willful demands.
or
A New Hampshire yogini goes out to shovel
In the interest of demystifying this strange idea called awakening, here’s a little 20-minute meditation that snuck up on me this afternoon. Heading out to shovel, I start with regular me-ness and my intention to clear this morning’s friendly 2-inch snow from the driveway.
1st limb, Yama, moral action, in the form of non-harming:
My husband will appreciate my taking care of the driveway today, since the snow blower is on the fritz.
The plumber is coming and I’m concerned about his possibly slipping on the steps.
These thoughts don’t constitute a raging debate or pep talk to help me get out there, just some thoughts that arise as I go about suiting up. I grab the shovel from the porch, head down the steps and start in.
2nd limb, Niyama, self-discipline, in the form of self-study:
Awareness sends an invitation about half-way down the first of our two driveways, and I notice and suddenly see the experience more directly and clearly: see the complex, physical process itself, and see also the subtle complaint of myself regarding wearing too light a coat, getting stiff a little early in the shoveling session, not loving my dental bite splint and how it feels as I grit my teeth with each throw. I notice the body feels awkward, braced and is throwing too much power around for the job.
3rd limb, Asana, awareness fills the body:
I straighten, pull in my lower belly and feel some back relief. The body starts again, slower, and softens and relaxes into the necessary movement.
4th limb, Pranayama, awareness inhabits the breath:
Awareness then illuminates the breath, sees it settle and coordinate with the body’s motion.
5th limb, Pratyahara, awareness directs the attention to itself:
Awareness now tunes into this experience, fully, finely.
6th limb, Dharana, awareness settles on itself:
The hand and arm and shovel are seen moving in and out of visual range, moving the snow like a machine. The driveway reveals itself one swath at a time. The heat of the working body and the cold of the air around it are felt. Sounds of distant traffic and nearby shovel/driveway friction are heard.
7th limb, Dhyana, awareness locks on itself:
movement, breathing, sensing continue; awareness flits, jiggles, then coalesces into…
8th limb, Samadhi: (no thoughts around, and now no words hit the target, here are some that only approximate, coming after the fact as I sit here writing) Moving body, moving snow, moving air, breathing, white then black surface, so much dance and whirl available, being seen from some perfectly still mystery at the center of it…
…and I come to the end of the last driveway. Heading inside to try and capture in words what can never be captured, pinned down or any otherwise acquired or retained.
Fellow seeker, you have these experiences, too. Keep a gentle eye out for them, but now don’t you go demanding. Grace is a shy bearer of such gifts and doesn’t take kindly to willful demands.
