Saucha
Allow yourself to shine!
Saucha is the first of the five niyamas in the eight limbs of yoga. The niyamas are the observances, the necessary actions, needed to succeed in attaining the peace that accompanies the state of Yoga. Saucha is translated as purity, cleanliness, or clarity and encompasses every aspect of our life including our environments, body, and mind.
The purpose of saucha is to allow the immaculate beauty within each of us to bubble to the surface so we can see it, feel it, and then act from a place of beauty and clarity. I like to think of it as washing a window. A beautiful view out the window is breath taking, but through grime and dirt it isn’t as awe inspiring as its true nature. When gazing out a crystal clear window, it is as if we were actually outside. When we choose to move towards cleanliness, we move towards inspiring ourselves to be our best selves and we can see our true essence. When we see ourselves full of love, compassion, and peace, we begin to act that way. Being aware of our beauty helps us make choices that enhance our gifts and we find ourselves naturally more content and peaceful.
I have purposefully chosen to use the definition of saucha as cleanliness and not purity. If we get attached to saucha as purity, we can easily get attached to the dirt and not the vista. Focusing on purity puts our attention on the outcome and not the intention. Attachment always eventually leads to suffering.
When we begin to clean a dirty window, we get up close to it and the first few wipes seem so effective. When the most obvious blemishes are removed then we start to notice every little speck that persists. Some specks take a little extra attention to remove and some specks take additional tools such as a razor to scrape the suckers off. Once we see these little specks we tend to zoom in closer and closer. If we get really intense on perfection, we may even notice a few chips that we can’t wash away and become focused on the blemishes and not the amazing vista.
It is important to remember our intention with saucha. Moving towards cleanliness and not being attached to it staying that way. Everything continuously acquires dirt. Dust from the air immediately starts to settle and distort the view or dull the surface. Our bodies are constantly producing toxins as waste products from the biological need to live and metabolize. Thoughts, memories, and the constant stimulus from our senses continually clutter the mind. Cleaning is part of the practice of yoga.
Saucha and its application:
Now if the cleaning will never be done, why bother? When we keep a baseline of cleanliness it is easier for us to do any cleaning at all. The task becomes less daunting. Wiping surfaces takes less energy and time than scrubbing surfaces. When we keep things relatively clean, we start from an easier place each time we begin. By keeping our environment, body, and mind cleanish, we also allow for some possibility of deep cleaning, a necessity every now and again. By keeping ourselves and surroundings clean, we start to develop a new normal.
Since the new moon when I chose the focus for the month, I have taken on several different saucha practices to keep my environment, body, and mind clear. So far I’ve been successful although, in all honesty, some days I’m not sure I will make it. I’ve noticed a few specks of agitation. It is not a perfect process, but I’m trusting the process and I’m focused on the clearing of what I can.
A simple exercise is to commit to saucha practices for a specific time period. This may be 3 days, a week, a month, 40 days, 90 days, or just one day depending on your starting point. This may be choosing to focus on environment, body, or mind, or any combination of the three. Whatever you choose to do, make it small and accomplishable. Whatever you choose to do, focus on your intention and take a deep breath if life gets in the way. Whatever your success level is, notice your state of mind and how your action effects you. Focus on the direction you are moving towards, not your success. Even thinking about doing something you don’t usually do increases the chances that it will someday become reality. Be patient and loving with yourself. Even reading about saucha moves you towards a state of clarity.
Environment:
Keeping our environment clean helps unclutter the mind. Having clean surroundings is less stimulus to agitate, occupy, or distract our minds. It may be as simple as hanging up coats and clothes when coming home, keeping your desk clutter free, doing dishes regularly, putting bathroom supplies back in the drawer or cabinet, or making the bed. Depending on your starting level, you may need to choose just one area of your home to focus on. If those simple ideas are already baseline for you, step it up a notch and unclutter. Get rid of a few items that aren’t necessary in your life and simply take up space. Maybe you already keep your environment clean, so dust or deep clean one aspect of your surroundings. Move towards cleaner from wherever you start and stay present with why you are cleaning. Intention.
Body:
Keeping our internal body clean helps us function better both physically and mentally. As we move inwards, choose to let something go (at least temporarily) that adds trash and toxins to your body. It can be giving up anything that you know doesn’t benefit the body and mind or that you use in excess. It can be sugar, intoxicants, carbs, over exercising (yes this too can be toxic physically, emotionally, and mentally), It doesn’t have to be forever! Choose a time period and give yourself a break from it to simply observe how you feel and what effect it has on you. Give yourself a chance to create a new baseline.
Mind:
We keep our environment and body clean to help our mind quiet. A quiet peaceful mind is undisturbed by all the sensations around it. Much easier said than done! Choose a practice that moves you in the direction of a clear mind and commit to practicing it for a specific period of time. This may be three conscious quiet breaths, a meditation practice, journaling, forgiveness practices, or by replacing negative thoughts with positive ones (anger with love, judgment with compassion, worry with gratitude, etc.). Mental cleaning often is most effective at the beginning or end your day, or both. Whatever you do, focus on your intention to move towards cleanliness and not how effective you are. It is a continuous process and the practice of cleaning itself leads to clarity. Everything you do counts!
Sparkle with Clarity
