What Am I Practicing?

Most of us think of practice as something we deliberately set aside time to do.

A musician practices an instrument. An athlete practices a particular movement. A student practices a new skill. And a meditator may begin each morning with Seated Silent AMI Meditation.

But what are we practicing during the rest of the day?

The truth is that we are always practicing something. Every thought we entertain, every word we speak, and every action we take leaves an impression on the mind. And every time we repeat that thought, word, or action, we strengthen its influence over us.

When we repeatedly react with impatience, we practice impatience. When we repeatedly worry about what might happen, we practice worry. When we continually criticize ourselves or others, we practice criticism.

But the same principle also works in our favor.

Every time we pause rather than react, we practice patience. Every time we listen carefully rather than immediately defending our position, we practice understanding. Every time we recognize fear but choose courage, we practice courage.

And every time we recognize the attraction of the preya—that which is merely pleasant or immediately gratifying—and sacrifice it in order to serve the shreya—that which will lead us toward our highest and greatest good—we practice freedom.

This is why Yoga Science recognizes two complementary forms of meditation.

Seated Silent AMI Meditation provides a formal setting in which we can hone essential skills. We learn to focus attention, witness the activity of the mind, cultivate detachment, and strengthen our ability to discriminate between thoughts that should be acted upon and those that should be sacrificed.

But when our seated meditation ends, our practice does not. It simply changes form.

Meditation-in-Action begins when we carry those same skills into the relationships and circumstances of everyday life.

A difficult conversation becomes practice. An unexpected disappointment becomes practice. Someone’s criticism becomes practice. Someone’s praise becomes practice. Being interrupted when we are busy becomes practice.

Fear, anger, desire, impatience, and uncertainty all become opportunities to practice.

Nothing needs to be added to our day. The curriculum is already arriving. The challenge is remembering to carry the Bridge of Yoga with us.

The word yoga means union. The Bridge of Yoga is the practical means of establishing union between the Inner Wisdom reflected by the Conscience and our outer thoughts, words, and deeds.

Every time we successfully carry Inner Wisdom across the Bridge of Yoga into outer action, we practice union.

When a relationship presents us with a choice, we can pause long enough to recognize the unerring counsel of our Inner Wisdom, and then use our willpower to translate that wisdom into appropriate outer action.

Sometimes we will serve the shreya. Sometimes we will serve the preya. But both choices are practice.

When we repeatedly serve the preya, we strengthen old habits and reinforce the personality’s familiar likes and dislikes.

When we sacrifice the preya and serve the shreya, we strengthen our ability to trust and act upon the wisdom that already knows what will lead us toward greater health, happiness, and freedom.

And slowly, slowly, what once required considerable effort begins to become more natural. This is how practice shapes character. It is also why every relationship counts.

There are no insignificant moments. Each relationship offers another opportunity––either to strengthen a habit that limits us, or to deepen our union with Inner Wisdom and the freedom that naturally follows.

Formal practice prepares the instrument.

Life is the laboratory.

Before this day is over, life will give you countless opportunities to practice. Most will not announce themselves as spiritual opportunities. They will simply arrive disguised as ordinary relationships, inconveniences, responsibilities, disappointments, temptations, and choices.