Many years ago when I first began to practice Kriya Yoga, I thought it was all about meditation, and while meditation is an essential aspect of the spiritual life, so too is our overall lifestyle, which includes the need for a sufficient level of rest. Hard work is good for the soul, and being tired is not a sin. But we must avoid a the tiredness that leads to an interior state of constant fatigue. When we are chronically exhausted, it is nearly impossible to be attuned to our souls or to experience joy. The experience of fatigue is an indication that our ojas (pronounced oh-jahs) is being depleted. Ojas is the Ayurvedic concept for the energy we have to live our lives. When we have a sufficient level of ojas, we wake up easily in the morning. We might feel tired at bedtime but not exhausted, and we generally feel vibrant and alive. It is much easier to sense God’s presence and live our lives from a place of peace and inspired wisdom when our ojas is not depleted.
To avoid ojas depletion we must honor our need for rest. Rest includes getting enough sleep, but it is also much larger. Soulful rest means simplifying our lives, avoiding drama, and minimizing the stimulation that comes from social media, overexposure to the news, and stressful social interactions. It is quite okay, even necessary, to say no to these ojas-depleting situations. We support the positive flow of ojas in our system by eating nutritious foods, doing what brings us joy, and by listening to what God is saying to us in the depths of our souls. Restfulness is both a healing balm for what ails us and the context for a life rich in love.
Beloved Guru,
Teach me
To know what exhaustion is
For this mind and body,
And give me the direction
I need to avoid letting it happen.
