The word swadhyaya of course is made up of two words ‘swa’ meaning self and ‘adhyay’ meaning study, and simply put means the study of and for one’s own self. Swadhyaya is one of the niyams or rules of yoga; the rules that aim at helping each one of us become better persons; not just physically healthier, fitter bodies. The underpinnings of yoga are such that the physical merges with the spiritual and the individual works towards an all round development of the body and mind.
Swadhyaya – Polishing the Mirror
As one seeker puts it, self study is a little like polishing the mirror – not to look better but to see and to perceive oneself better and more clearly; more accurately. Sometimes looking into the mirror of the soul can be discomforting. We may not like to acknowledge our faults, shortcomings and motivations. We could have been using certain defense mechanisms to avoid seeing the truth about ourselves and our behaviours; which, if we are honest do sometimes reflect poorly on ourselves. It is only when you and I can hold up a mirror to our own true selves that a deeper self understanding can emerge. Only when we identify our faults can we work towards improving ourselves.
Swadhyaya will give you a better understanding into what you do and why you do it. If you are often left with a feeling of regret at having done something or having said something that you feel you shouldn’t have,
watch your thoughts, they become words;
watch your words, they become actions;
watch your actions, they become habits;
watch your habits, they become character;
watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.
As these wise words of this Chinese proverb imply, we should create that connection between feelings, thoughts, words and actions to alter the direction of life.
How to apply swadhyaya to life in practical terms
In the hurly burly of everyday life it is difficult to pause and examine our actions, the motivations behind them and whether or not both are in accordance with the principles of fairness and the common good. Sometimes we even forget to assess our lives in terms of what we want, where our lives are heading and whether we are effectively working towards the aspirations that we have for ourselves.
One way to start on the path to swadhyaya is to pay attention to what those closest to us think of us. Our family members, closest friends and even colleagues that we work closely with have seen the less than attractive aspects of our personalities. It may be a good idea to look at ourselves through their eyes and to examine our faults, shortcomings and less attractive traits. There could be some rude wakeup calls here; we may not like all that we see. Equally we may recognise our positive traits; the goodness within and the things that make each of us special and unique. It is only if we are able to acknowledge our faults and recognise our capacities that we can work towards improving ourselves.
The regular practice of yoga, dhyana and pranayam does of course create an environment more conducive to swadhyaya or self examination because these practices bring about a healthier body, a more centred, steady mind, and better focus in life. Reading widely is another way to widen one’s vision, increase the sum of one’s knowledge and to understand the inspiration behind great lives and thinkers. Studying the scriptures and reading the interpretations and the analyses of these by great thinkers can be very valuable. This in turn gives us the strength to acknowledge fault and the will to improve.
Achieve better control over mind and body. Join morning yoga classes in Bandra west to enjoy the benefits of Ashtanga, Iyengar and Hatha yoga practices. Call +91 99675 31905.