Be Here Now
Welcome to September the month of the Autumnal Equinox, where we make the shift from late summer into early fall. The sacred junctures of the year, act as markers to prepare us to adapt our lifestyle to each season.
The idea is to re-align as the seasons change so that we can live in tune with the world around us. When we are in harmony and balance with nature, we feel healthy and happy in body, mind and spirit.
But often during these shifts, we feel unsteady, ungrounded, we may find it difficult to stay present in the moment, we find ourselves moving into the past or future, which creates unsteadiness.
Working with mudra, specifically Dharmadatu Mudra, is a simple practice to come back to the present moment, ground, and center.
Dharmadatu Mudra – Gesture of Tranquility
Dharmadatu refers to the state of a purified mind, free of conditioning. It is the essential nature of the mind that has been purified through the spiritual practice. Dharmadatu Mudra is also called the Cosmic Mudra and is commonly used in Zen Buddhist Meditation.
This mudra allows breath, awareness and energy to flow naturally along the entire front of the body, instilling a steady calm rhythm in the breath which serves as a natural point of focus on which the mind can rest. This Mudra cultivates an experience of ease and serenity which supports the process of observation and witnessing. With greater stillness, we naturally experience the inherent silence of our true being allowing us to settle into the present moment and a deep state of peace.
This mudra:
- Supports us in becoming the witness and observing thoughts and feelings during meditation and time of stillness.
- Reduces stress and calms the nervous system.
- Helps to integrate body, breath, senses and the mind.
- Keeps us focused and allows us to stay in the present moment.
To Practice:
- Rest the left hand onto the lap, with the palm facing upward.
- Rest the back of the right hand onto the palm of the left hand.
- Touch the tips of the thumbs gently together, forming an oval shape.
- Relax the shoulders down the back and down, with the elbows slightly away from the body and the spine aligned.
