What does Easter, Passover or in general spring time mean for you? 

For many, in an increasingly materialistic and pleasure driven society it’s vacation time, certain foods, chocolate Easter eggs and maybe time with family. 

Easter involves the betrayal, death and resurrection of Christ and the knowledge that while this world might be a vale of tears if one embraces the word of God there will be eternal deliverance and salvation. In suffering and pain there is the possibility of redemption and in death there is rebirth. What is this word of God? Is it about ceremonies, large gatherings and prayers? Or maybe it is an internal work that we must do to clean our mind and body to allow us to experience true salvation? Is it about massive churches or is it about helping your fellow neighbor when she needs a hand? Jesus asked us to renew our commitment to being good and doing good. He reminds us of the impermanence of the body, and the ability to start again.

Passover is a time to celebrate the support of God in releasing the Jews from oppression but also the practice of cleansing and renewal.  A cleanse before entering the promised land. What is this promised land? Is it really just a specific place on earth, or is it a state of being, a freedom from the oppression of the mind? Is it about time off work for massive barbecue, or is it a time to free yourself from limiting thoughts, from fear, from separation – a time to deeply connect.

Prepare for your resurrection

Spring, and any of the celebrations related, are all a matter of cleansing and renewal. Though for many these are external practices, either of home cleansing or of religious ceremonies, the true work is that of internal cleansing. By cleaning the mind of old conditionings, we release lingering emotions, bad habits, and reassuring sufferings. 

Our world is what we create in our mind

It is what we allow to enter our mind and stay. There is a huge amount of sensory stimulation as well as circumstances that surround us. We are exposed to plenty of information and experiences. Some we like, some we like less. What do you do with all this? Do you just keep storing it all in?

Imagine that you are a computer

If you keep saving every file, every photo, every document, and never clean up your files you will never be able to find what you want and it will all become one big mess. Even if you do clean up, but never empty your trash bin, you will run out of space, and start working slower. Take control of your computer, before it takes control of you!

Clean up gives room for possibility, a renewal, a resurrection

You get another chance at life. By cleaning your body, you get to have more energy and longevity. By cleaning your mind, you are being resurrected, you start fresh, new. In other words, you release your conditioning and find reality for what it is. You see the world through enlightened eyes.

Internal clean-up is done with awareness. Cultivating awareness can be done throughout the day by paying attention to everything; what you say and what you do. How you eat and what you are looking at.
It can be done during yoga practice, how you breathe and where is your drsti (gaze). Can you feel your foot touching the rubber, or your hand lifting up? Stay present.

The ideal place to do your clean-up is in seated meditation

That’s where you really get to observe your mind. The more you practice, the more you can allow the mind to release. When you can let the mind be, and not attach to it, you get to be reborn. You are like a baby, open, curious, seeing everything with an awe. No more taking anything for granted. A fascination and delight with all the little things life has to offer.

You are welcome to indulge in some cookies or chocolate easter eggs. Gather with friends and family. But along this, please remember to do the deep work that matters.

Gift yourself a deep cleaning, an inner cleanse of the mind. Treat yourself to a longer session of being present, of deep observation of what you consider to be yourself. You will be amazed at what you discover. This is your resurrection!