Yamas & Niyamas

Apr 15, 20217 min read

On Not Eating Animals

"But it's not enough only to know what's right and wrong; action is the other, and more important half of moral understanding." ...

kjwright

Mar 15, 20215 min read

On Being Firmly in my Forties

It was surreal to reckon with how irreverently I treated myself in my younger years, with absolutely no concept of or regard for future me.

When Does Sustaining A Life Become Harmful? (Ahimsa)

kjwright

Mar 8, 20214 min read

When Does Sustaining A Life Become Harmful? (Ahimsa)

Ahimsa does't offer a scale on which to weigh the value of a life--a gnat is as precious as a 5-year old child.

Confronting My Contributions to Others' Suffering: Ahimsa (Non-harming) Round 2

kjwright

Feb 15, 20216 min read

Confronting My Contributions to Others' Suffering: Ahimsa (Non-harming) Round 2

The toughest aspect of Ahimsa to confront is Flexible Morality: how we manipulate our values to serve us in the moment.

Here We Go Again: Round TWO of Yamas & Niyamas Study

kjwright

Jan 25, 20212 min read

Here We Go Again: Round TWO of Yamas & Niyamas Study

"May your choices reflect your hope, not your fears"--Nelson Mandela

No one is keeping me small but me: on my first year of living by the Yamas and Niyamas

kjwright

Aug 4, 20202 min read

No one is keeping me small but me: on my first year of living by the Yamas and Niyamas

Only I can keep myself down; I can't blame other people.

kjwright

Jul 25, 20207 min read

Oh hey there, God...It's been a while.

In a totally unexpected twist, it turns out I can create my own god, in much the same way I was always taught that god created me.

kjwright

Jul 24, 202010 min read

Dancing With God: Ishvara Pranidhana

In order for me to embody this Niyama, I have to genuinely accept that presupposition: I have to believe in god.

kjwright

Jul 8, 20205 min read

Women, We Are Worthy.

Times are tough for everyone right now, and many of us need work. But that's no excuse for companies to lowball employees.

Is Living by the Yamas & Niyamas Keeping Me Small?

kjwright

May 19, 20203 min read

Is Living by the Yamas & Niyamas Keeping Me Small?

Although the basic values of the Yamas and Niyamas at their core could be considered universal, their application, both individually and as

kjwright

May 4, 20206 min read

Little boxes, little boxes...

Still in quarantine. It's been 6 or 7 weeks. I never really started counting because I didn't think it could possibly extend this long....

kjwright

Apr 24, 20205 min read

Who's to blame? Svadyaya: Self-study

The last two Niyamas get more esoteric and spiritual, especially compared to the tangibility of Tapas. Svadyaya--self-study--is not about...

kjwright

Mar 31, 20206 min read

Fearless in the Fire:Tapas

Finally, Tapas month is here! I have been looking forward to Tapas since I began this project. It's always been my favorite yama/niyama,...

Eckhart Tolle Saves The Day (and my month of Santosha)

kjwright

Mar 6, 20205 min read

Eckhart Tolle Saves The Day (and my month of Santosha)

As I alluded to in the last post, I started on a mental and emotional spiral near the middle of my month dedicated to Santosha. All this...

"Thank You"--The Path to Santosha? (Contentment)

kjwright

Feb 24, 20204 min read

"Thank You"--The Path to Santosha? (Contentment)

My month-long assignment is to ponder the words of Swami Rama and try to "fall in love with my life as it is." I hate that it's so hard...

"Fffffuck"--My 2.5 year old (Saucha/Purity)

kjwright

Jan 31, 20206 min read

"Fffffuck"--My 2.5 year old (Saucha/Purity)

This concept, Saucha (purity), is the one that brought my whole project to a screeching halt six months ago, especially the last task for...

kjwright

Sep 6, 20193 min read

Hitting Pause

I am officially overwhelmed with how behind I am on this project and blog. So rather than rush to catch up and rush through what's left,...

If you "Wanna fly, you got to give up the shit that weighs you down"--Toni Morrison

kjwright

Jul 21, 20195 min read

If you "Wanna fly, you got to give up the shit that weighs you down"--Toni Morrison

The last of the Yamas, Aparigraha, invites me not to grasp for or try to hold on to anything. Basically this precept covers everything...

Is Enough Ever Really Enough? Brahmacharya: Take 2

kjwright

Jun 30, 20197 min read

Is Enough Ever Really Enough? Brahmacharya: Take 2

I didn't think I'd have so much trouble living by this rule! It's not entirely the nature of the guideline that has given me trouble, I...

I Failed to Live in Non-Excess, So I'm Starting Over

kjwright

May 30, 20191 min read

I Failed to Live in Non-Excess, So I'm Starting Over

As I sit down to try to catch up on writing about 3 weeks' worth of challenges that I could barely remember--much less...