Chitta vritti nirodha

Today I had the pleasure to walk in one of my favorite places--Ramapo Reservation.  I was lucky enough to be up early, so the woods were quite, the air was cool and the lake was still. The bottom lake was so still that the reflection mirrored the tree banks and sky. It was so peaceful to gaze upon.  

---

"Yoga's Chitta Vritti Nirodha is Patanjali's definition of yoga . It means that yoga is the removing of the fluctuations of the mind. Yoga is the stilling of the mind until it rests in a state of total and utter tranquility, so that one experiences life as it is: as Reality."  

The stillness of the lake reminded me of a yogic analogy--the analogy that our mind is the lake, our thoughts are the wind, and our true self is the bottom of the lake.  When thoughts are still, when there is no wind, the lake is clear & still.  When the lake is still, when the mind is still, we can see the the bottom, our true self.  The goal of yoga is to keep the thoughts as quiet as possible because when your thoughts are quiet you can reflect upon your true self.  To connect to your truest self allows one to gain peace.

---

  My fellow yogi's have been talking about gratitude and this nature reserve is something to be grateful for.  It is such a beautiful place to escape to, and it is so wonderful because it gives people access to nature who may not have access to it every day.  I was spoiled to have these hiking trails only 10 minutes away from my childhood home.  As I walked today, I held onto my smokey quartz and tried to be present and grateful as I observed the water, the trees and the sky.

I had the pleasure to clean my quartz with the water of the mountains I call my home.  As I dipped my quartz into the water that rain from the upper lake I felt a weight lift off, and I felt energized.  All my worries and struggles were washing away and I part of my love from the reservation flowed into the water.  This process was my stillness.  This process was my intention.  My mind slowed down, and I found some inner peace today walking among my trees.

---