WISDOM WITHIN - March 2018 - Kansas City

Get Ease with Spring Cleaning

By Suzette Scholtes

 

The first rule of yoga is to create order. One of the philosophies on top of priority for yoga is purity and cleanliness called Saucha.  My sister always remarks how clean my house looks.

 

What to do? I organize products (organic or otherwise) in categories in each bathroom so I may grab and reach easily to get the job done. Same for the kitchen.

We know of Dr. Moto’s groundbreaking work of filming water molecules. We see the images created with thoughts of love and gratitude. The energy of love looks like a crystal snowflake. Conversely, the water molecules of hate look sick and dark.

           

It is said we have over 60,000 thoughts per day! Yoga gives us the tools to develop stronger awareness―to stay awake to the nature of our thoughts and feelings and choices.  As we heal consciousness of victim, blame, suffering, and unhappiness, transcendence takes place. We become lighter, happy, and fulfilled. This is the heart of yoga saucha.

           

“Why would Pantanjali, the father and great sage of yoga, give such importance to Saucha (Yoga of Purity & Cleanliness) he places it as the very first philosophy?” writes master yogi Aadil Palkhivala. “The reason is energy.”

           

Aadil says when the body is dirty, it holds past energy (vibration or resonance). When clothes are dirty, same thing.  I’m sure you’ve discovered, he notes, that when you just cleaned up your whole house, it feels lighter and brighter.

           

Judith Hansen Lasater, another master yogi famous for her restorative yoga training, says when she first studied saucha, it felt to her like a set of moral rules.

“No one told me that the intent in my heart mattered when I attempted to practice saucha,” she said. “I have since learned common-sense insight to saucha. If anyone embraces impurity in thought, word, or deed, he/she may eventually suffer.”

           

Judith shares that with time saucha took on another dimension for her. “Rather than seeing it as a measure of my actions, I see this now as a reminder to constantly examine my intention behind my actions. When I focus on acting from compassion, there is a space for saucha to arise from my heart.”

           

Aadil, Judith, and others teach us all we have the power of choice. Then they give us the tools from the ancient yogis to use now in modern times. Whether or not we choose to eat organic, to clean up our cars and homes, it all boils down to the intent of choice. It’s time to Spring Clean!  Are you willing? My sleeves are rolled up and ready for scrubbing, washing, and purging.  How good work makes our lives clean!

           

What the master yogis suggest:

1. Eat fresh, organic foods (avoid processed food)

2. Bathe or shower daily and two times a day if around crowds

3. Drink plenty of water and herbal teas

4. Keep teeth, gums, nails and hair impeccably clean

5. Be in fresh air away from noise every day

6. Wash your hands in warm water many times throughout the day.

7. Keep your bathroom (s) impeccably clean.

8. Same for the kitchen where food is prepared

9. Clean out and sort foods in your refrigerator once/week

10. Keep garden areas and lawns beautiful and free of weeds

11. Keeping your house clean includes the garage and basement.

12. Keep your car showcase clean (it will slow modality of progress if cluttered or dirty.)

13. Breathe deep, meditate, exercise, do yoga on a regular basis.

 

Then make it fun. Maybe engage a helper. Play some fun, upbeat music. Our chores will give us more ease with the right attitude and feeling good about your bright, clean place.