Are you Prioritizing your Pee?

Nidra or deep dreamless sleep is considered a Vrtti or movement in the citta (heart/mind field). My mind struggles to wrap itself around the how and why of this because if yoga is the regulation or ceasing of these Vrtti’s, then how is the absence of thoughts and dreams something to regulate? So without diving too deep into what I feel is out of reach, for me anyway, I am choosing to reel in this contemplation to suit what will be useful for most of us that are not levitating, fueling ourselves with the rays of the sun, and living in solitude in the Himalayas. 

Let us simply consider the importance of the quality of our rest and how we can improve upon it, so as to build the foundation of our days, and ultimately, our lives from a place of tranquility and surrender. Imperative to the fortitude of our foundation is an optimal attitude of curiosity, open-mindedness, and all-round kindness for self, for other beings, and for our planet. 

We are already aware, or at least somewhat, of the incessant programming we are subject to, just by simply driving in our cars. We are slapped in the face with billboards, bumper stickers, and ads, all telling us what food to eat, what latest surgical procedure will fix us, and what lawyer to call when that procedure goes awry. So very much is thrown at us every single day, coming from every single direction, and if it isn’t someone trying to buy me, or sell me, or hustle me, then there is no shortage of complaints being spewed out by society to get lost within and buried underneath. By the end of the day, most of us are winded and wounded, overwhelmed by superficiality and underwhelmed by virtuous intent for our genuine well being. 

This awareness requires an expansive perspective, armed with feathers that refuse to be ruffled, all of which can only be obtained by prioritizing rest. While sleep is certainly of significance, perhaps it could be considered secondary to the choices we make during our waking state that will either help or hinder our actual snooze time. What if five minutes of sitting in silence and stillness was as important as checking our social media? So instead of using our lunch breaks to fill ourselves with more programs that we will just have to de-program ourselves from, we empty ourselves of the days’ inevitable nonsensical noise. Instead of watching the news and violence on the boob tube, we choose to sit and watch our own thoughts and observe their effect on our state of inner peace. 

Patience, perspective, and possibility are all born from the love affair you have with rest. Two minutes of breathing, listening to the birds, and looking up at the sky, can be like ten cups of coffee sans the jitters and stained teeth. Five minutes of journaling, yoga-ing, or nestling your bare feet into our Earth mamma can be like the ultimate exhale after metaphorically holding your breath for a day or a week or a month that might feel like an eternity. 

So, let us guide the rhythm of rest to align with the beat of our own hearts. For to march in sync with our innate purity, will no doubt, provide us with the most divine, life-giving energy, decked out with passion, entangled in purpose, and sprinkled with play. Now that is how we live our days, all tangled up in the P’s: patience, perspective, passion, possibility, purpose, purity, play, and obviously peace, peace, and more peace.

Muchas Gracias fellow human. I will never tire of thanking you for your time, consideration, and engagement. This wraps up our study on the Vrtti’s. May we continue to clear and cleanse our mind/heart space so as to experience all of the peace and joy and love that is available to us right here and now.

Namste,

Andrea Dawn