When It Is Time To Hibernate
August 25th, 2009
When It Is Time To Hibernate
Published on August 25th, 2009 @ 07:25:51 pm , using 601 words, 2384 views
I took some time away from everything to refrain and reflect, which did a great deal of good to my mind and soul. I must admit that I feel better, stronger and healthier than I have in many months.
Some call it my hibernation process. Frankly, I cannot think of a better term to describe this phase. No, I don’t move in to my backyard and hide in a burrow of sorts till winter passes by. Neither was I running away to hide from it all.
I would not refer to it as a ’stopping by to smell the flowers’ syndrome but I did do that quite a bit too.
Why would one hibernate when everything is going in the right direction? To look around, think and rest. We are not built to work like machines. Anyone who claims to be doing that knows that he or she is not too far from a nervous breakdown.
Follow up:
Respect your mind and soul for they are as much a part of you as your physical self. It helps one to think better and taking a break always refreshes the mind. I focused on other aspects of my life. I spent more time with my son who has begun counting up to 10! I was amazed at his ability to grasp something which only took a day to learn.
These milestones will live in my memories for ever. There is always something to take away from every phase of life.
Your soul needs to be cared for and loved. A regular schedule may feed your other needs but its the breaks in between that leaves your mind and soul thriving, preparing you for the journey ahead.
A trip to Bahamas may not be the ideal option, especially when you have time and money to consider. My hibernation period only took me as far as the end of the city limits (which really does not cover more than 20 kms).
I know that this post may look like a deja vu’ and I would not agree more on this fact because UToL is all about reaching out to your inner self and nothing can achieve this better than a peaceful and rejuvenating hibernation process.
What you do when you hibernate does matter. If you feel restless or bored…you are on the wrong track. Its best to plan your hibernation. Everything needs to be planned out and it won’t hurt to create your own checklist either.
Write a list of all that you need to think about. Issues that have been bothering you and those that have been long neglected need to be processed through the mammoth gray machine up there while you spend some quality time alone. Sometimes, its best to think of some issues when the heat has decreased. Trust me, its such moments that recreate bonds and dreams.
If some situations have caused tremendous pain,sorrow or anger and you did not have the opportunity to express or heal as yet - its the best to do so when you hibernate. Silent evenings staring into the sky or strolls in a peaceful environment can turn out to make you feel so much better.
Hibernation phases don’t have to run into days and weeks. At times, just a few hours would do. A friend of mine prefers to hibernate during his lunch breaks and at the gym. You can do it anytime but you have to remember the purpose behind it.
If you don’t feel better after hibernating, you were not really into it, heart soul and mind. I suppose you got the point,right?
321 comments
Thanks for reminding ...
My personal view is that while occasional hibernation or 'breaks' are good,what we truly need is a daily upkeep of this inner 'getting in touch' with the soul, through daily Pranayama and Meditation.
Maya is too strong for just a yearly or half-yearly break of a few days to keep you wise enough - Maya is working every moment and working real hard, the soul-awareness must match it.
Interesting but tough ? Yes,it is. Impossible to do ? No. It's a journey, an inner march of consciousness.
Eventually, a stage comes when you meditate every moment, yet are active outside. Like the ocean that is in turmoil on the surface, but serene deep within. That stage is called 'Nirvikalp Samadhi'.
St.Paul said "I die everyday". Kabirdas aptly said 'Marat Marat Yeh Jag Mua, Marna Na Janya Koi, Aisi Marni Koi Na Mua, Aur Na Marna Hoi !".
Who dies, or what does your undying Self die (become transcendent) to ? This body-awareness, this land of delusion. What do you in stead become alive, or wake up,to ? The reality within.
The domain of delusive mind-body complex makes ceaseless demands on us. While we must play our changing roles, we need to stay anchored in the peace and joy within. That's Karma-Yoga.
This needs daily, sustained practice of intuitive awareness that 'I am a Soul - changeless Spirit - ever-new Joy, unconditional Love, changeless Peace, relentless yet quiet Wisdom' !
We are not what we do ; we are not our successes or failures ; we are not the changing roles we play on the Cosmic Stage. We are He, Shivoham...Shivoham.
So, says my Master Paramahansa Yogananda (author of "Autobiography of a Yogi"), we must learn to be "Calmly Active & Actively Calm". Active, busy, dutiful outside while being aware, peaceful, calm within....
Meditation does that. Pranayama helps it.
Peace,
Hans
Beautiful days to you.
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