Finding my footing

Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras is an ancient yogic text describing a system of psychology using yoga theory and practice.

21st March, 2010

Concentration. Puja is also about concentration, dharana.

A state of sense withdrawal, pratyahara, spontaneously occurs as I squat by the tree, in the dark or dim light, making the preparations, pouring the water, pouring the oil, arranging the wick, lighting the deepak and then the incense, chanting the Vedic Shanti Mantras, offering my wish for all the trees of all the world.

Walking to and from the tree is part of this – finding my footing on the stepping-stones and in the garden, feeling the textures and pressures and moistures and temperatures on the soles of my feet, holding a low bough for support. For the time of the puja and for the moment surrounding it, there is pratyahara and dharana.