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04/01/2002 Archived Entry: "Sadhana 2/20/02"

I have been thinking for quite some time, and receiving input from a number of people that I should be writing, that I should write a book or a series of articles. Certainly I have much to say, about the state of the world, about my fellow creatures, and about myself.

Thinking, wishing and wanting doesn’t always equal doing. A long time has passed since I decided that I should be writing on a regular basis, but nothing has been happening. I thought I would write at night, but I am a slug at night these days. If I am teaching at night, I am fully present, otherwise, generally, I am not. So, a new plan has emerged. The first half-hour of my morning after sadhana and breakfast shall be dedicated to writing, and writing that is unrelated to any brochures, flyers or programs that I am currently working on.

Sadhana. I begin each day with morning sadhana. "Sadhana" means a regular spiritual practice. In my practice, Kundalini Yoga as taught by Yogi Bhajan, morning sadhana is a cornerstone of the practice. Since most of our (those who practice Kundalini Yoga as taught by Yogi Bhajan) daily practice (sadhana) is done in the morning, we have come to use the term "sadhana" to mean morning practice. I cannot imagine starting the day without morning sadhana. It has been many many years since I have missed a morning sadhana. Not to say, that I have always done the whole thing every morning. But to go out into the world, without first centering oneself, is beyond me. How shall effectively express what I mean? To say that I would feel naked, does not quite do it. More, perhaps, like vulnerable, unprotected, unbalanced.

I have been teaching yoga for many years now. When I speak to students about morning sadhana, I talk about how I perceive most people going through their day. First thing is you wake up a little late, or with just barely enough time to get out the door. From the moment you wake up you are rushing. You eat a hasty, and in most cases, an unhealthy breakfast. You dress quickly and rush out the door. You are unbalanced and behind from the moment you get out of bed, and you go through the day without ever catching up. This brings a level of anxiety into life, which is almost completely gratuitous. Since you leave for work with just barely enough time to get there, and if you are like most people, you are driving, then morning traffic becomes an excellent place to add to the day’s tension.

It is exhausting just to think about. As Yogi Bhajan says, "rise in the early hour, take a cold cold shower, and life will not be sour." In our practice, it is recommended that one begin the day with a cold shower. In short, it has to do with strengthening the nervous system, improving one’s circulation, and of course being awake and ready to go at the end of it. If you then wake up just early enough to take your shower and allow as little as, say, eleven minutes for a morning meditation or short yoga routine, life will be quite different. Very much improved.