Reading from class: Emerson on Practice and Non-attachment

“Don’t waste life in doubts and fears; spend yourself on the work before you, well assured that the right performance of this hour’s duties will be the best preparation for the hours and ages that will follow it.”– Ralph Waldo Emerson

This reminds me of this quote :

“My life has been full of terrible misfortunes most of which never happened.” – Michel de Montaigne

I love this reminder to stay present, concentrate on the work at hand, make right effort, without attachment to the results.    It takes discipline to make this a regular practice, especially when overwhelmed with worry, doubt fears.  The more and more I practice, and connect to this space of focused attention, more present and at peace I can be with my reality/life.   

This reminds me of this Yoga Journal article by Judith Hanson Lasaer on practice (abhyasa) and non-attachment (vairagyabhyam).

Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra 1.12:

“abhyasa vairagyabhyam tannirodhah”

“The mind can reach the state of Yoga through practice and detachment.”  Translated by T.K.V. Desikachar, from The Heart of Yoga

 

 

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