We learn in yoga the importance of withdrawing from the senses, like the
turtle who goes into itself and withdraws from the world, we withdraw from
our attachment to our senses of gratification. This is the work of yoga. If
you have been practicing yoga for many years and have been focused on
your postures more than this basic concept then you are perhaps
practicing gymnastics instead.
Of all the sensory withdraws, the need to eliminate anger is the most
important. Anger is the most devastating blow to the energy structure. It
causes the practitioner to behave in ways he would never normal behave.
It is said that during anger, another soul leaps into our body and that we
shouldn’t even look into the eyes of an angry person.
I have a note reminding me each day the following: I will not let my ego
get me to argue and battle with my brothers and sisters today.
We will always have a reason to argue. That’s the trick about war: there
will always be all the right reasons to go to “war”. The question is will you
engage? Will you be like a fighting dog? Is being right more important to
you then peace? Will it make you feel good to have “HE WAS RIGHT,”
etched in your headstone? Today, think of your desire to argue, to
defend, to cause separation, to yell, to scream, to tell someone how right
you are and how wrong they are, think of these desires as real of a
sensory pleasure as a thousand orgasms would be! Draw away. Go into
your shell. There you will find peace.
