As I did my practice this morning, I was thinking about the activity of making offerings. It’s one of the activities of bhakti yoga, and interestingly enough, it’s one of the practices that helps us to cultivate resilience, which is clearly important for all of us in these times.
So, when I say, offerings, it might conjure up many different kinds of images. Offerings of service or support, offerings of material goods (Masks, perhaps?) – The first thing that comes into my mind when I think of offerings, is a candle. If we have a seated practice that includes an altar, we often have a candle front and center. We light the candle, and enjoy the glow.
Traditionally, we don’t light the candle for ourselves, at least not our ordinary selves. We light the candle as an offering to the gods, to the ancestors, perhaps to our higher self. We’re offering the light, and hopefully our love as well. We toss a piece of our love into the astral, purifying our heart with an act of unconditionality. The warmth softens the cold hardness we’ve accumulated over the course of the day, and as we love at the altar, it prepares us to be more able to love in the face of whatever madness the next day will bring. We’ve got a chance.
So you’re saying there’s a chance!
When we study ayurveda we’re taught about the cultivation of Prana, Tejas, and Ojas. Loosely translated in English, Life, Light, and Love. Our self care and meditative practices are hopefully designed to strengthen and balance these qualities. Simply meditating or journaling on each of these qualities can be rewarding and engrossing for a lifetime. We can juxtapoz them over other ideas, to see what insights emerge. In this case, we’re overlaying the idea of offering. The idea of ‘give it to get it’. The idea of ‘Be The Change’. Be the love you want.
So I offer to you, a simple practice. Like all good simple practices, it might bring up a little resistance, so notice that. But ultimately, it should cultivate a resilient feeling. Tweak it if you want, make it your own. Think about what would help you get resilient and go there.
Ayurvedic Meditations for life, light, and love
Seated, perhaps in front of a candle, an altar, breathing evenly with a nice spine.
Contemplate:
“I offer my life to the well being of myself, my family, my community, and all beings everywhere.”
Visualize:
Lifeforce that connects us all flowing in and out of us, becoming a channel for life and health of all beings.
Contemplate:
“I offer my light to the well being of myself, my family, my community, and all beings everywhere.”
Visualize:
Brilliant Light that shines from your heart and/or head. It illuminates everything in all direction without fading. Bringing light to any dark places.
Contemplate:
“I offer my love to the well being of myself, my family, my community, and all beings everywhere.”
Visualize:
A soft and compassionate energy, like a warm hug, embracing anyone and anything that arises in your mind. Any barriers to love dissolve.
To close the practice, feel those three energies mixing gently together in your low belly, bringing yourself back into a more ordinary state, bringing our energy and aura back in, closer to our physical bodies, and honoring practical boundaries that keep us safe.
So, give that a shot, and report back. Let me know how you like it. Le me know how youre cultivating resilience in your life these days.
