Bhakti Challenge: Day 14

This Bhakti Challenge is almost over; however, I encourage you to find 15 minutes a day to stay touch with the Love inside for yourself, for your loved ones and for all beings.  “Internal lives are like ashes of fire-- without wind the ashes will die”  Zen saying. The wind is your personal practice and it is the mindful breath directed to the heart that keeps the flame alive.  There are 3 simple steps to remember~ Practice, Penetrate, Express... repeat! 

1. Bhakti Yoga Practice 15 minutes a day
2. Penetrate the eternal Heart and the Love within
3. Express this Love in daily life

Let's come back to the question and our song about looking for Love.  I relate this great search to a story of the Buddha. “As he took his final breaths of air moments before his death, an old sage asked his students, "Where is the Buddha?" Seconds later he was dead.”  Adyashanti says this question is Buddha’s final and most direct teaching. For this Challenge we could also translate this to Where is the Love? The Buddha is a representation of our true Self and our true Self is in a constant state of Ananda or bliss, joy and Love.

Now that you have done some or all of the Bhakti practices in the Challenge you will be able to use your own personal experience to answer the question~ Where is the Love?  Where did you find it?  Day 14 is all about remembering.

It is essential to take time in your practice to reflect and journal about your experiences because it is a thread that will connect and inspire you back to your practice. You may read your journal and say “Ah-ha I remember!  And, remembering is the first step back home to your heart.  As John Friend, Anusara Yoga founded says “ We practice to remember”. In my own experience having a daily practice is the most challenging and rewarding things I have ever done.  

Bhakti Challenge: Day 14 

1. Do a simple Yoga practice of meditative movement to release tension and to connected to body, mind and breath.
2. Sit tall and claim your seat.  Sit on a firm cushion or chair to ensure there is no strain in your low back or hips. Move your shoulders and ears back so they rest square over your hips. Now feel your breath flowing easily and gracefully in and out without effort. Allow the breath to deliver you to your heart again and again.  After a few minutes begin to reflect on the practices and experiences that helped to reveal your Heart.  Revisit the sensations and feelings that came with this revelation-- maybe it was a feeling of warmth, flow, melting, opening, expansion, relaxing and joy.  Stay here and bask in the glow of remembering.  The pathway to your heart is always there, any time and any place.  Trust in this pathway you have forged to your Heart.

See you tomorrow.

In Love, Sienna