Day 7 : Manana – The Week in Review

1:23 PM

Well, is it working? I figure I should check-in on the wisdom gained this week and see if it’s sticking. Manana is the “chewing” of the knowledge in the mind - going back again & again to the knowledge. Let’s chew!

Wisdom, Where for Art Thou?

Day 1: Being with What Is: I give myself an A+ (I love A+’s!) for keeping cool when the mind has said, “Oh no! This is a problem.” Even this very moment Chetana is contemplating napping (I hear chattering) rather than napping and I’m calm, cool, collected. What will be, will be. And we’ll move on.

Day 2: Annoyed with Annoyed: Oh, I’ll give myself another A+. (I’m so sweet.) Yes, I am aware of having observed the sensations of rising-up “annoyed” in my body and not getting hooked into being annoyed. I am the witness. Koo Koo Kachoo.

Day 3:Unplugging to Plug in: Oh, is there something bigger than an A+? Give it to me! I’ve been really good about stop, drop & roll into meditation to get centered when I’ve got the fever to Go! Go! Go! and am being just a jumpin’ jack of getting nowhere.

Day 4: Speak Slowly & Listen: Another A+ moment. (Is the grader biased? Perhaps a wee bit.) But, I did! I have slowed way down and stopped myself many times from thinking “Oh, I know what I’ll say next. Me next! Me next!” and instead dropped the thoughts to listen. Pause. Respond. It’s Revolutionary!

Day 5: Feelin’ Hip!: Hmmm, I’ll give myself an B for this one. Not for what you may think. I noticed in re-spotlighting that moment that I was a bit more rajastic / antsy and not so saatvic/centered. I do get credit, though, for checking the Prana chart again & again. This is a great example of Manana - Chewing the Knowledge has pushed me to go deeper into understanding. Does that make my B a B+? Oh, sure.

Day 6: Icky in the Belly = Icky in the Mind: Oh, indeed I get an A here – although, not an A+. I have been cooking fresh, healthy, veggies. However, I know my potential is greater than what I’ve been doing. Good show. More to go!

And that is the week in review. 

Day 4: Speak slowly. Listen.

Day 4:

Spotlight: 9:05 AM

Our wonderful babysitter arrives and I’m rattling off words and facts…without listening. Neither to what I’m saying nor to what she is saying – even in response to questions I’m asking. This is nothing new with me. But today as I’m driving off to yoga class, I’m wondering what it’s all about.

Wisdom Uncovered:

Well, it’s that rushing thing. And rushing through a conversation just leaves me feeling more rushed and frantic. I’ve noticed the person I’m talking to also starts talking fast and, like me, not finishing their sentences. We end up not talking to each other, but talking at each other. End Game: Exhaustion.     New Game: S l o w   d o w n…s l o w…listen…listen… Aha! When I'm formulating my next comment and waiting to throw in my "listen to what I have to say!" then it will inevitably be a volley of words and not a response as I've not even heard what was said. Ahoy! And, silence is golden. My dear Guruji says the purpose of words is to lead to silence…silence the thoughts in the mind. Bingo! Jai Gurudev!