Clarity

Photos by Brynna Bryant.

There is a back door to the mind, and that is through the breath. The mind and the breath are like two fish in a school; when one moves, the other moves.

If our mind is agitated, our breath is short and choppy. If the breath is short and choppy, the mind becomes agitated. However, if we slow the breath down and breathe more deeply, the mind also slows down.

 

The sky is always with us. Clouds may block our view, but we know with certainty that, behind the clouds, the deep blue sky is there. The sky is a metaphor for our true nature. 

We rarely see who or what we are because many thoughts and distractions prevent us from seeing clearly what is really there. The vision of our true nature is possible only when the clouds of thoughts have drifted away; stillness of the mind is required for this clarity. Stillness cannot be forced; stillness here must arise spontaneously of its own accord.

We can, however, create the conditions for this arising.

Note: this post is excerpted from The Complete Guide to Yin Yoga, by Bernie Clark.