Why is it so hard to STOP?

(picture from Camella's Death and Dying Insight and conversational card deck) 


I could be wrong but I think in a lot of cases it is because we are functioning on the mechanism of our mind which does not know when to STOP, and then motivates our bodies into action.

Ardha or being in the Now,as we come to appreciate in yoga,is calling us to STOP and become aware and probably be-aware of the continual bickering within the mind. Vrittis or fluctuations of the mind as they are known, are thought to be in dire need of lots and lots of discipline.

Discipline can be hard when we have to comply to the rules and regulations of family, culture,society and possibly religion too, and so I completely understand when people tell me that they find it really hard to slow down and STOP doing and thinking.

Perhaps this is because when we do so,we become acutely aware of what thoughts are passing though our mind and the very small percentage of inspiring or inspirational thoughts that are a part of this endless flow of thoughts. We don't even know where they come from most of the time.

All of the negative emotions flowing through the mind can cause us to lose sight of our life purpose, cause us to lose confidence in the subtleties of our intuition, and cause us to fear the final part
of this earth life where we will have no other option other than to STOP and let the body dissolve.

That last part, you know the one that pertains to death, is the ultimate 'thing' we are avoiding overall according to the yogis. Abhinivesha Klesha or clinging to temporality is what we do very well. Totally ludicrous of course, especially when all we can really be sure of is change.

This continually fluxing movement in time and space, gives us some-'thing' to reflect upon as we live through the various experiences in our lives. Some harmonious and some, not quite so. For inner reflection we need to STOP. At least momentarily.

We can still the body,yet there is some movement in the mind that we can with practice analyse without judgement, to just see the overall quality of the thoughts. If they are negative or destructive, we can use the power of the very thing we are trying to control (the mind) to do a complete U-turn and think only of positive thoughts.  In order to do that, we need to transcend the average human mind and commune with our higher self or spirit or consciousness itself which then becomes the anointed one or CEO of the mind.

The discipline that is needed is called Tapas and it takes lots of it to step beyond the murmuring of the mind. Svadhyaya or Self-Study is the reflection part of the equation that helps to lead us into a rather extraordinary realm that is peaceful and bliss filled.

The idea is that if we sup upon this bliss sheath often enough, we will remember to bring it down into our physical bodies and live in joy and peace for the rest of this earth life. The way that we habituate ourselves to think positively in this life goes a long way literally in time and space, and will set the framework for subsequent reincarnations, whereby we will have other opportunities to know our mind and continue to improve it and our lives.

That's yoga and more specifically the dharma of  kriya yoga.

Camella has a series of Self-Study explorations in the tradition of Kriya Yoga tradition that can be found on her website; www.camellanair.com

*Death and Dying Insight and conversational cards and guide book (to live life fully)
* Kriya Vinyasa flow - a unique hatha series to soften karma
* Prenatal Kriya Yoga - Mystical insights into pregnancy and beyond.
* Aqua Kriya Yoga - Making Aqua Yoga Accessible and improving pranic model for all