What do you Pray for?

In all of the prayers that are chanted in yoga there is always a recognition of the Divine first. A recognition of what is considered highest. The asking part comes after. This is a very good thing to remember specially when praying for abundance because without that first recognition things don't end up well.

The Rudram is an ancient Vedic chant which is always followed by a series of verses in which the person chanting asks for many boons to the Divine in this case Lord Rudra. The very first thing that is asked is ... food and the capability to give food that is pure, a healthy appetite, and the capability for good digestion. The asking of riches comes later but it does not ask for al the riches possible. It instead asks for riches that are derived from the person's success, learning, and character. Many other things are asked but these two stand out for me.

This month I am focusing on abundance and reading this prayer again really clarifies what my priorities should be when asking for abundance through prayer. When it comes to the our yoga practice it would be good to keep in mind, to pray, or ask: to continually learn more about yoga, that this learning improve our character, that this in turn brings us success in our practice and all our endeavor, that this practice nourish and energize our body, and that we exercise discernment when we chose the food we eat. (There goes a lot of my desserts but hey it is for a greater good)

See you in class soon.

Blessings,

Jorge Nihal