We are now in the middle of our segment on “tapas”. Tapas is one of the 5 Niyamas or internal duties of a yoga student. “Tap” is the Sanskrit root for fire. “Tapas” can be understood as burning desire.
As we discussed yesterday, just as with cooking - if the flame is too high, the food gets burned; if the flame is too low, the food doesn’t cook.
Switching metaphors now, to seeds. You can imagine that certain parts of your spiritual development are like seeds. We nurture the soil, till the fields and plant the seeds of our spiritual development. But, some seeds - need fire to crack open. Some seeds, need soft and tender soil with gentle, warm sun. Some fruits ripen to full sweetness only after a drought.
It is up to you, to explore and see which areas of your spiritual development could use more tapas or fire, discipline; and which areas could use more softness. What may look like discipline to another, may be easy and enjoyable for you. What may seem easy or enjoyable to you, may look challenging to another. There may be layers, such as where your default may to be to push and challenge - so ease, will be your challenge. Or where your default is to stay in the comfort zone - so getting into your edge is the challenge. It is your garden to grow.
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