“Every breath we take is a miracle, yet so many of us never stop to recognize all the miracles around us every moment of every day. Our minds are forward-looking, constantly thinking about trying to control something in our future that does not yet exist. We often forget that no one gets out of this life alive, but we also forget to live in the present moments of our lives.

The Buddha wisely said, ‘The trouble is, you think you have time.’ This profound truth resonates deeply. We often live as though we have an endless supply of tomorrows, pushing off our dreams and aspirations for a later day. But then reality hits, and our time runs out. We are left with regrets for all the dreams we had that we never accomplished, because we thought we still had time. One day never came.

Imagine life as a sand mandala, a beautiful and intricate design created from countless grains of sand. Each grain represents a moment in our lives. When we are too focused on the future, we miss the opportunity to place each grain with care and intention. The mandala remains incomplete, and we never get to appreciate its full beauty. Yoga helps us slow down and look closer at the little beautiful things in our lives, those grains of sand that one day we will finally realize are not so little. It teaches us to be present, to appreciate the intricate design of our existence, and to recognize that every grain, every moment, is precious.

In our practice today, let’s focus on each breath, each movement, and each sensation. Let’s create our mandala with intention and mindfulness, appreciating the beauty of each moment as it comes. Remember, the present is all we truly have. Let’s not take it for granted.

From “One Soul” Let Go of Something (Danna Faulds)

Let go of something, somewhere. Use yoga to become aware, to touch what lies beneath the surface of the skin. Is there tension longing for release; a knot of fear so deep and familiar that you believe it’s part of who you are?

Ease into dark corners, locked rooms, and unexplored hallways. Gain entry not by force or will but only by softness. Enter on the wings of breath, and turn the key of self-acceptance to let go of something, somewhere.

The Haste – A young but earnest Zen student approached his teacher, and asked the Zen Master, “If I work very hard and diligent how long will it take for me to find Zen?”

The Master thought about this, then replied, “Ten years.”

The student then said, “But what if I work very, very hard and really apply myself to learn fast, how long then?”

The Master replied, “Well, twenty years.”

“But, if I really, really work at it. How long then ?” asked the student.

“Thirty years,” replied the Master.

“But, I do not understand,” said the disappointed student. “At each time that I say I will work harder, you say it will take me longer. Why do you say that ?”

The Master replied,” When you have one eye on the goal, you only have one eye on the path.”

“Be the silent watcher of your thoughts and behavior. You are beneath the thinker. You are the stillness beneath the mental noise. You are the love and joy beneath the pain.” – Eckhart Tolle

“Yoga gives us a safe place to reflect and contemplate on our true nature. Yoga helps us get good again at just being ourselves.” – David Scott

“Happiness is your nature. It is not wrong to desire it. What is wrong is seeking it outside when it is inside.” – Ramana Maharshi

“Every step taken in mindfulness brings us one step closer to healing ourselves and the planet.” – Nhat Hanh

“The most important part that happens during a yoga class, is not what happens outside the body, but what happens inside the body.” David Scott

“Retire to the center of your being, which is calmness.” – Paramahansa Yogananda

“It is the possibility of a dream coming true that makes life interesting.” – Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

Do the best you can with what you know. Then when you know better, do better.” – Maya Angelou

“Don’t be afraid to give up the good in your life and reach for great.” – David Scott

“Our true nature is like a precious jewel: although it may be temporarily buried in mud, it remains completely brilliant and unaffected. We simply have to uncover it.” – Pema Chödrön

“Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one is watching.”

“Breath, the universe is taking care of everything else.”

“Remember the entrance to the sanctuary is inside you.” – Rumi

Be someone you would enjoy being around.

Lie is a balance of holding and letting go.

“I am at that awkward age, between birth and death.”

“Look past your thoughts, so you may drink the pure nectar of This Moment.” – Rumi

“Awareness is like the sun. When it shines on things, they are transformed.” – Nhat Hanh

“Sunshine is a great disinfectant. Shine that light of awareness into the darkest parts of our soul.” – David Scott

Self-Observation Without Judgment (Danna Faulds)

Release the harsh and pointed inner voice. it’s just a throwback to the past, and holds no truth about this moment. Let go of self-judgment, the old, learned ways of beating yourself up for each imagined inadequacy. Allow the dialogue within the mind to grow friendlier, and quiet. Shift out of inner criticism and life suddenly looks very different. I can say this only because I make the choice a hundred times a day to release the voice that refuses to acknowledge the real me. What’s needed here isn’t more prodding toward perfection, but intimacy – seeing clearly, and embracing what I see. Love, not judgment, sows the seeds of tranquility and change.

Who You Are (Danna Faulds)

Who you are is so much more than what you do. The essence, shining through the heart, soul, and center, the bare and bold truth of you does not lie in your to-do list. You are not just at the surface of your skin, not just the impulse to arrange the muscles of your face into a smile or a frown, not just boundless energy, or bone wearying fatigue. Delve deeper. You are divinity; the vast and open sky of spirit. It’s the light of God, the ember at your core, the passion and the presence, the timeless, deathless essence of you that reaches out and touches me. Who you are transcends fear and turns suffering into liberation. Who you are is love.

“May the sun bring you new energy by day, may the moon softly restore you by night, may the rain wash away your worries, may the breeze blow new strength into your being, may you walk gently through the world and know it’s beauty all the days of your life.” – Apache Blessing

As humans, we do not see the world as it actually is, but through the lens of our perspective, shaped by our experiences. This concept, often simplified as “What you see is what you get,” carries profound implications. Through mindfulness, we gain self-awareness and recognize the illusions embedded in our consciousness. We must unlearn these deeply ingrained beliefs and understand that “What we project, we perceive to be our reality.”

Our perceptions are influenced by our experiences and ego, coloring our view of the world. Changing our perspective can transform our reality and ultimately ourselves. As Leonardo da Vinci noted, our knowledge originates from our perceptions, and our first impressions are often biased. We must explore problems from fresh angles to achieve clarity.

Rumi’s wisdom reminds us that our loves and fears shape our reality. Love empowers, fear constricts, and our projections manifest our existence. By cultivating awareness, peeling away layers of dogma, and embracing new perspectives, we find liberation and the awakening of our true selves.