The Yoga of Daily Activity

Be mindful of every moment,
until chopping wood
and carrying water
each becomes a virtue
of the mind full of Now.

Yogic practice refers to physical, spiritual and mental practices design to discipline the mind through dance, exercise or song.

Thus mindfulness as yogic practice is when the mind remains in the present to savor the experience of living mindfully.

By turning daily activity into yogic practice, the devotee uses skillful means to transform them into virtuous actions.

Examples of daily activity consist of eating, cooking and playing. In all these daily activities, the mind is focused on virtuous actions.

Thus, eating as yogic practice becomes the virtuous actions of sustenance; cooking as yogic practice becomes the virtuous actions of meal preparation; and playing as yogic practice becomes the virtuous actions of playfulness.

By focusing on virtuous actions, each of these daily activities applies discipline to the mind of the practitioner through mindful experience in the present.

Therefore mental discipline contributes to the virtues of mindfulness.

In my daily life, I enjoy putting away containers, cutlery, dishes and glasses. Within ten minutes, the containers, dishes and glasses have been placed in the cupboards, and the cutlery into its drawer.

While performing this daily activity, my mind is focused on identifying each item, and placing them in their respective destination, be it cupboard or drawer.

Throughout each action performed to putting away containers, cutlery, dishes and glasses, my mind remains in the present moment.

After everything is put away, I finish by closing the drawer and the cupboards.

For a brief moment, I feel satisfied after completing my daily chore.

Why?

By being mindful of the present moment, daily activity becomes transformed into virtuous actions.

In memory of Premavatar Paramhansa Yogananda 1893-1952

For many days, I sat to contemplate
and reflect on what the yogi had written,
only to fall into a deep, sleepless meditation.

Moved to record my humble thoughts,
suitably inspired by spiritual love,
it was as though the Great Goddess said to me,
"With Joy go forth and be led in Peace
to the Paradise of Now.
Forget the Past, which cannot be undone.
Dwell not on Tomorrow,
but be content with Today's blessings."

To which a sweet angel of love added,
his cherubic smile reflecting loving-kindness:
"For thine is His Kingdom,
thy heart reflecting His Will,
until thou doth rest in eternal Slumber.
For thus Death doth claim thee --
His Voice brings thee Home,
Forever at one with God."

Yet, at the close of my meditation,
I heard these two voices as one,
and recorded them ad verbatim.

With Joy go forth and be led in Peace
to the Paradise of Now.
Forget the Past, which cannot be undone.
Dwell not on Tomorrow,
but be content with Today's blessings.

For thine is His Kingdom,
thy heart reflecting His Will,
until thou doth rest in eternal Slumber.
For thus Death doth claim thee --
His Voice brings thee Home,
Forever at one with God.