I have been thinking quite a bit lately about judgmental attitudes. There is a cultural imperative in America to pass judgement on others and out do them with the latest stuff. We are very external object oriented which, because of the impermanent nature of the material, creates suffering.
These attitudes are also a reflection of the internal judgments we pass on ourself. Without those internal thought mechanisms there would be no external representation of them. How often do you find yourself feeling a reaction in response to a habitual behavior of yours? How about a physical feature? We are only partly in control of our physicality. We have to accept the inevitable when it comes to the material. It is, by its' nature, deteriorating every day. That can be a daunting thought if you let it consume you. Or you can accept the way things are and live your life better because of it.
Yoga gives us the space between our habits and our reactions to become aware of those that cause us suffering. It also gives us the tools to change that behavior if it is needed.
Additionally, what happens in our minds happens to our bodies. The strong opinions we hold end up as expressed tension in the bodies when we encounter situations that contradict our views. As you practice asana
|