| Have you ever been overwhelmed by the | | | | mind and the body. You can begin in a variety of |
| decisions you have to make in life? Or have you | | | | ways: do some stretches to open the body up; |
| ever faced a transition and are not sure which | | | | take some long deep breaths to begin to move |
| direction to take? The art of contemplation, used | | | | the vital energy and awaken the brain. Be sure to |
| over time, will help you see more clearly which | | | | create a quiet, serene, clean space to engage in |
| channels and choices are best for you. | | | | this process. |
| Contemplation is one of the contemplative | | | | 2) Ascertain your question or issue. Write down |
| practices that can quiet the mind cultivating a | | | | some aspects of the issue you are concerned |
| deeper capacity for concentration and personal | | | | about. After some time, try to formulate your |
| insight. Meditation, yoga, tai chi, mindful walking, | | | | concerns into a question or short phrase. |
| time in nature, contemplative prayer, sitting in | | | | 3) Write. Take about 5 to 7 minutes and simply |
| silence, and artistic pursuits are some examples of | | | | free write about your question or issue. Do not |
| contemplative practices. | | | | worry about grammar or punctuation or even |
| One outcome of contemplation is to bring | | | | what you are writing about. Just allow the words |
| different aspects of one's self into focus, helping | | | | to fall onto the page. Although you may gain |
| to develop personal clarity and insight, and reduce | | | | valuable insights right here, this step in the |
| stress. In four simple steps, here is practical | | | | exercise mostly allows your brain to dump out |
| application that you can try. If used regularly over | | | | any clutter surrounding this issue onto your paper. |
| time, you will develop a greater relationship with | | | | 4) Silence. In 3 to 5 minutes, simply sit in silence, |
| your own inner answers to life's questions, both | | | | while holding your question or issue in your |
| big and small. | | | | consciousness. At the end of the time, write |
| The method I am sharing with you is called | | | | down any words, phrases or images that came |
| P.A.W.S., which you can remember as a way to | | | | to mind. In your journal, write down what you |
| take a "pause" in your life and develop internal | | | | learned about your original question or issue. You |
| awareness. This method is based on a more | | | | can repeat the process again using your new |
| specific contemplation practice designed for yoga | | | | insight as the question, and go deeper, if you |
| students in the Siddha Yoga tradition from the | | | | would like. |
| Power of Contemplation home study course. I | | | | Don't be concerned if 'answer' did not come to |
| have modified it for a general student population. | | | | you right away. The goal is not necessarily to gain |
| You will need a journal or some paper and a pencil | | | | answers to questions, but rather to develop |
| or pen. | | | | self-awareness and allow insight to emerge and |
| 1) Prepare. In this step, the goal is to prepare the | | | | lead to a clearer perception. |