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Imperfection

Wednesday, April 21, 2021, 

Yoga could be practiced and studied for a lifetime, and one would only begin to scratch the surface; a practice is continually expanding, continually evolving the practitioner, and continually refining.  Personally, a practice of 10+ years has yielded imperfect physical poses (Asanas), imperfect breathing techniques (Pranayama), and inconsistent meditation abilities from a disobedient mind that will wander off as soon as I sit it down.  

You make peace with your imperfections, however and, through your practice, you begin to extinguish the frustrations that come from noticing your own imperfection.  No, I do not give up saying, "I'll never be able to do XYZ, so why even bother *opens Dorito bag*".  I do, however, have a more humble nature from the acceptance of imperfection.  This acceptance helps you understand at least a sliver more of truth; continue to practice and, sliver-by-sliver, one begins to accept, and understand more truth.  Stay in this mindset for long enough, and you'll begin to feel disdain for anything that is not truthful, and honest.  The "instrument" that you learn to "play" through a practice is your being (body/mind/spirit), but you will never perfect it.  Through your practice, one is attempting to emulate and mirror the perfection of God, and one will never achieve that perfection while on Earth.  Never.  One is encased in an imperfect, evolved-ape meat-suit while on Earth, and this evolved-ape will always be imperfect.  Continue to play the instrument, however, as one benefits from getting as close as you possibly can to perfection. 

Time to begin...

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