Tapas~
Now for those of you who were like "Right on, Pam is finally talking about something I'm interested in--- food! I love Tapas. In fact, just last night I went to this Tapas restaurant and....." Stop right there. That's not the kind of Tapas I'm talking about. Although, make no bones about it, I love Tapas. Add in a nice Sangria or beverage of choice and YUM. However, in Sanskrit, the ancient language of India, Tapas refers to self-discipline/ patience/the disciplined use of our energy; the opposite of what I usually demonstrate when 17 mini-plates of food and delicious beverages are placed in front of me. But this isn't about food, or is it? I can probably make it about food. When I get on a roll, I can connect anything. I am like one really, really, long run-on sentence. Ever noticed? Discipline-hmm. Where to start? Oh yes, today begins my second week of inquiry practice with regards to the Yamas/Niyamas; the restraints and observances of the Eightfold Path. If you remember, my first week I addressed Aparigraha or non-attachment. At the end of my last post, I considered Saucha or contentment as next in line. However, this past week having undertaken the other assignment of beginning a 15 day personal practice, I became very aware of discipline or the impact of lack thereof. So, Tapas it is. And here is how I shall start my friends. For the next seven days, I shall discipline myself to write daily about discipline (Tapas). Two significant challenges lie ahead; the discipline to actually get up and begin my practice at 7 a.m. and the patience to paint one room at a time.....I will keep you posted.
As I head off to to paint the foyer, I consider how I can naturally honor MLK in this post. I could not find specific quotes on self-discipline or patience, nor am I historically savvy enough to just pull an excerpt out of thin air. However, it seems to me that to be a catalyst in any movement and sustain that movement, requires both discipline and patience. To be the catalyst in the civil rights and non-violent movements had to require that and much, much more. When I think of what it takes to be disciplined about anything for a few days, or few weeks or few months, I am humbled by his actions, to say the least. So, I honor and thank you Martin Luther King, Jr, for making my world a better one and I dedicate my first day of Tapas, to you.
As I head off to to paint the foyer, I consider how I can naturally honor MLK in this post. I could not find specific quotes on self-discipline or patience, nor am I historically savvy enough to just pull an excerpt out of thin air. However, it seems to me that to be a catalyst in any movement and sustain that movement, requires both discipline and patience. To be the catalyst in the civil rights and non-violent movements had to require that and much, much more. When I think of what it takes to be disciplined about anything for a few days, or few weeks or few months, I am humbled by his actions, to say the least. So, I honor and thank you Martin Luther King, Jr, for making my world a better one and I dedicate my first day of Tapas, to you.
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