anuśāsana, Discipline

I have always liked singing, so I really got into Sanskrit chanting when I came across that practice. When I was going through a particularly difficult period almost two decades ago, I decided to recite a chant that is about 182 verses long every day. This chant became a great support for me in so many ways during that time. I did that for over one and a half years. Having realized the  value of this practice, I have continued chanting to this day.

That practice helped me to understand discipline in a different way. Discipline is a word that has many negative connotations. For instance, it feels like something that somebody imposes on us, something that we do against our will, and something we try to avoid if we can. 

Discipline, as anuśāsana, offers us a different perspective: the capacity to voluntarily place ourselves under a meaningful teaching and follow it consistently. It is something we recognize as worthy of following. Even though there will be times when it is difficult to do it, we still do, because we know it supports us and it is beneficial. We learn to enjoy the challenge it presents to us. We continue to practice because the teaching is worthy of our commitment, and we do it regardless of how we happen to feel about it on any particular day.  

There is the teaching and guidance, the willingness to practice it, and our adherence to it.

We will be practicing this understanding of discipline in our yoga practice this week. 

Breathe easy,

Blessings,

Jorge Nihāl