June 19, 2022
SVADHYAYA ~ Self-Study ~
The Niyamas Series: 4 of 5
The WISDOM podcast Season 3 Episode 55
~ The world gives you what you see. ~
💜
In this week’s episode we dive into the discipline of self-study and why this is necessary for self-fulfillment, epic growth, and personal freedom.
Here I share the steps for self-study and the ways in which we can experience our perceptions to invite us deeper into ourselves with love and grace and appreciation and for learning how capable we are.
The Sanskrit word for this is svadhyaya. Sanskrit is the world’s oldest language and it is the ancient and the classic language of India.
'Self-study' or Svadhyaya refers to knowing our true identity as divine consciousness. Think of it like this: This means that you already are ‘good enough’ capable, and perfect as you are.
Svadhyaya is the fourth of 5 Niyamas or observances that originate in the ancient text of the Yoga Sutras of Pantanjali.
The Yoga Sutras or ‘threads’ (as this word translates from Sanskrit) are a collection of 196 short verses that serve as a guide to attain wisdom and self-realization on how to live in order to advance along a spiritual path towards enlightenment.
Beyond the postures of yoga, the scripture of the yoga sutras provides the disciplines and observances that guide you in a practical and sacred methodology – to bring greater understanding to your life experiences and the guidance for taking ownership of your life, directing it towards the fulfillment that you seek.
In this episode I cite and also quote directly from Deborah Adele’s book: . From my research and study of the Yamas and the Niyamas, I’ve found Deborah’s book to be thoroughly enjoyable to read and I love how she has woven personal stories and other wisdom teachings throughout. I will leave a link here for how you can get a copy.
The yogis teach that we, as human beings, are at our core ~ divine consciousness.
Around this pure consciousness we have been impacted by our varied experiences, our conditioning, and our belief systems. This changes the way in which we see and identify ourselves, what we believe to be true, our preferences and dislikes, and our fears ~ and imagination.
If you think about the various layers that we hold ~ each informed by country, culture, gender, family history, the groups we belong to, and our personal experiences, it becomes difficult to remember who we truly are.
Who you are is the god consciousness. You don’t need to pray to a god outside of you. You simply need to be your god consciousness far more of the time ~ to live this ~ and to realize how incredible you are as your goodness.
The yogis tell us that we suffer because we forget who we are. We forget that we are really the divine.
Svadhyaya or self-study is about knowing our true identity and understanding the experiences that have shaped us. We find clues to this by watching our projections, tracing our reactions back to a belief we hold, and by courageously looking at life as it is.
This process of knowing ourselves creates a path to freedom. The ability to shift the way in which we identify ourselves from our ego to being a witness, and finally to our true identity as the divine itself is what svadhyaya – calls the joy of self-study.
I close out the episode with the practical ways to embrace the teaching of Svadhyaya. Please join me!
Please consider a practice of self-study. Leave a note for me here! Share with me what you are learning in your devotion inward.
Sending you great 💜 love...
Sharing the wisdom and beauty of divine love with you...
Namaste!
If you have a question or if you would like my guidance or help, connect with me here: dorothy@dorothyratusny.com
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More WISDOM and resources on the Niyamas:
* The Yamas and Niyamas. Exploring Yoga’s Ethical Practice [Book by Deborah Adele]
* SAUCHA ~ Purification [Podcast S3E49] * The Niyamas Series: 1/5
* SANTOSHA - Contentment [Podcast S3 E51] * The Niyamas Series: 2/5
* TAPAS - Self-Discipline [Podcast S3 E53] * The Niyamas Series: 3/5
The Yamas Series
* APARIGRAHA ~ Non-Attachment [Podcast S3 E47] * The Yamas Series: 5/5
* BRAHMACHARYA ~ Non-Excess [Podcast S3 E45] * The Yamas Series: 4/5
* ASTEYA ~ Non-Stealing [Podcast S3 E43] * The Yamas Series: 3/5
* SATYA ~ Truthfulness [Podcast S3 E41] * The Yamas Series: 2/5
* AHIMSA ~ Nonviolence [Podcast S3 E39] * The Yamas Series: 1/5
* How Do I Become Whole? [Podcast Episode S2 E56]
* Forgiveness IS F R E E D O M [Podcast Episode S3 E35]
* Self-Love is 'Being Love' [Podcast Episode S3 E29]
* Live Your Greatness [Podcast Episode Season 1 Episode 1]
* The Ultimate Self-Love WISDOM toolkit
* Self-Love: A Meditation to Heal Your Life [The Wisdom Archives]
* Work with Me [Life Coaching & Therapy]
A generous 'thank you' to Audio Engineer, P. Kirpikau radioplato
Podcast Theme Music: 'Aura' from the Album, Illuvia by Eternell www.eternell.net/album/illuvia
