For me, the observance of saucha (शौच), purity, is a means of nourishing embodiment. The purity of my thoughts and actions is deeply rooted in the purity of my environment and my body. All the information needed for living is contained within my body. Perceptions are not the root of my knowing. In fact, time and time again, it has been the assertion of (mis)perceptions that has caused much suffering, including the handicap of constantly telling a story about something that no longer exists.
Sadhana is the practice of cleaning where we do not see clearly, and above all of being present. When I practice sadhana consistently, I begin to see with clarity where once I could not see at all, and I see that attachment causes unnecessary suffering. Where there is dirt or fogginess, in our mental state or our physical state, it should be accepted without resistance. Once we accept and acknowledge it, it becomes easier to move, and maybe this ease brings a lightness to our asana practice. With less pressure, there is more space for anything, including dirt, pain and stress. And I also acknowledge that without tension I would not be able to grow.
The intelligent body
So much of yoga is processed and generated by the body. This is not contrary to the definition of yoga as mastering the mind. Body and mind are often separated philosophically, but in reality they are one process at varying levels and speeds of matter. There are many experiences the mind cannot yet know but the body does. Most of us have had gut feelings, or known what we dreamt without any real way to communicate it to another person yet. It is by staying with this sense of the unknown that we can begin to communicate our experiences.
As a yogi and a human, I have always had a sense of the unknown, and it has propelled me on the path. Through asana, meditation and a disciplined sadhana, I have been able to articulate this unknown through symbols and expressions that are not dualistic in nature, but speak from the interconnection of all life.
Keep the outer world clear
Knowing how intelligent the body is, and how it interacts with the environment long before I am even aware of it, it is in my best interest to keep my external environment as clear as possible. There is no end to how we can apply this in tending to, and giving thanks to, nature for all we have been given. From here, all lessons of gratitude and happiness can begin to unfold.
We do not have to take a heavy philosophical approach to saucha, although it is a deep well with many gems. Some ideas that come to mind:
- Open the window and let fresh air in
- Dance in the breeze
- Smile for no reason
- Brush your hair with a wooden comb
- Eat mindfully
- Dance often
- Make the choice to be happy
It is not the stories we tell or the thoughts we have that keep us alive. We live by the heart, and the heart deserves to have the purity and peace from which it originates sustained from within.
