Full Moon Reflection

A typical reaction when promoting the practice of contentment sounds something like this:

‘So you want me to roll over when things don’t go my way? Or when someone wrongs me, you’re asking me to be a passive apathetic pushover or not care?’

Not at all.

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Being content with what is, is a prescription for the mind.

As a yoga practice, it is a matter of redirecting an agitated mind toward an attitude of acceptance. This strategy serves to slow the fluctuations of thought that accompany the reactive mind.

But why do that?

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In yogic thought, the mind is parceled out into two main categories.

The aspect of the mind that gets agitated, opinionated, judgy, and restless is what the tradition calls the lower mind.

The discerning mind - what the tradition calls the higher mind - is objective and does not busy itself with commentary on right, wrong, good, bad, like, or dislike.

The higher mind merely wraps its intelligence around an object and perceives it for what it is. The lower mind is what skews the perception of that object.

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Contentment as a form of yoga serves to quiet and focus the lower mind. Like the surface of a lake going from choppy to smooth, the mind becomes reflective.

A calm lower mind increases access to the illuminative quality of the higher mind.

This strengthens our ability to see.

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Contentment isn’t about becoming a pollyanna pushover of a human being; it’s about clear perception.

And clear seeing leads to better decision-making.

So, in the end, becoming skilled in the art of contentment is to become skilled in the art of thoughtful, responsible, accountable action.

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On this first full moon of 2023, consider applying an attitude of contentment in the throws of your everyday life.

But when you do that, remember its aim is to calm the lower mind and create space for clearer perception, objective awareness, and discernment.

Let me know how it goes.

With love,
Kevin