Reading from Class: “I got the Power!” by Goethe

This is another favourite of mine to share that elicits a lot of response from students.  Thanks to Willa for the reminder.

“I have come to the frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element. It is my personal approach that creates the climate. It is my daily mood that makes the weather. I possess tremendous power to make life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration, I can humiliate or humour, hurt or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis is escalated or de-escalated, and a person is humanized or de-humanized. If we treat people as they are, we make them worse. If we treat people as they ought to be, we help them become what they are capable of becoming.”  —  attributed to both Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe and Haim G. Ginott

This was challenging to read as I started each class (…and not just because I have trouble pronouncing “Goethe”).  I was reminded again and again as I read it of the power and opportunity of this special role as teacher.  My skills and ability t o take right action and do right by these people is magnified.  Reaffirming my intention was key to do the best to serve their highest and my highest.

There is so much to this and hopefully I’ll write more on it soon.  However, this past week one point I have spoken to in class is how we treat ourselves in thoughts and action.   Often it is far from flattering and more in the “as I am”  category, or even a  “worse than I am.”

Are you treating yourself as you ought to be?

 

Reading from Class end of May 2013: Pema Chödron on being fully present

This is a real favorite of mine, that I love sharing:

“It takes bravery to train in unconditional friendliness, it takes bravery to train in “suffering with,” it takes bravery to stay with pain when it arises, and not run or erect barriers… As we become intimate with these tendencies, they gradually become more transparent and we see that there’s actually space, there is unlimited, accommodating space. This does not mean that then you live in lasting happiness and comfort. That spaciousness includes pain.  We may still feel confused and sad.  Pleasant happens. Unpleasant happens. Neutral happens. What we gradually learn is not to move away from being fully present.”  – Pema Chödron from Practicing Peace in Times of War

Reading from Class weeks of 5/6 and 5/13 (Happy Mother’s Day!): Vyasa on Faith in Practice

I was inspired by these words on faith in practice also taken from the Letter “Faith and the Power of Practice” from Patricia Walden and her team — also found the nod to Mother’s timely.  Here they reference Vyasa’s commentary on Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra:

“Faith sustains the yogi like a benevolent mother. At its simplest and most essential, faith is a willingness to continue to move forward. It is the courage to step forth into the unknown, and to meet whatever the next moment brings with open eyes and a receptive heart.”

Reading from Class week of 4/29/2013: Philippe Vernier

I read this quote in a letter titled “Faith and the Power of Practice” from Patricia Walden and her team.   This was a great piece written on the power of maintaining faith and practice through the recent Marathon tragedy and trauma in Boston.

“Do not wait for strength before setting out, for immobility will weaken you further. Do not wait to see clearly before starting; one has to walk toward the light. When you take the first step and accomplish that tiny little act, the necessity of which may be apparent only to you, you will be astonished to feel that the effort, rather than exhausting your strength, has doubled it—and that you already see more clearly what you have to do next.” – Philippe Vernier

These words are truly inspiring and remind me of the following quote I have shared in the past:

“Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.”— Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Reading From Class Week of 4/22: Earth Day Inspiration

“Earth teach me to forget myself as melted snow forgets its life.

Earth teach me resignation as the leaves which die in the fall.

Earth teach me courage as the tree which stands all alone.

Earth teach me regeneration as the seed which rises in the spring.”

– William Alexander

Reading from Class week of 4/16/2013: Yoga and Life = An Obstacle Race

From Georg Feuerstein’s Yoga Gems:

 “Remember, Yoga practice is like an obstacle race: many obstructions are purposely put on the way for us to pass through. They are there to make us understand and express our own capacities. We all have that strength, but we don’t seem to know it. We seem to need to be challenged and tested in order to understand our own capacities…” – Swami Satchidananda

You are stronger than you think you are.

Playlist: Transitioning to Spring – April (4/8-4/22)

April 2013 Playlist - 4-8-to 4-22 - transitioning to spring

Includes continued inspiration from the transition to spring, Sigur Ros live experience, as well as catching Patrick Watson live @ the new Sinclair in Harvard Square on 3/28.

Also includes some of my most recent favorites:
Jim James — A New Life
Sleeping At Last — January White
Olafur Arnalds — Old Skin
Y La Bamba