Live before you die, so that death is also a lively celebration.
B.K.S. IyengarRead
The breath must be enticed or cajoled, like catching a horse in a field, not by chasing after it, but by standing still with an apple in one’s hand.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Breath can be approached gently and patiently, rather than forcefully pursuing it.
This quote by B.K.S. Iyengar emphasizes the importance of a calm and patient approach to breath, likening it to the method of catching a horse. Instead of forcing something to happen, such as controlling our breath, we should cultivate stillness and gentleness, allowing the natural process to occur effortlessly, much like enticing a horse with an apple.
Themes
BreathPatienceMindfulnessStillnessGentleness
In practice
Example use cases
During a yoga class, the instructor might quote this to encourage students to be patient with their breath.
More from B.K.S. Iyengar
All quotes →Hard work and humility are essential for spiritual sadhana.
B.K.S. IyengarRead
Asana done from the brain makes one heavy and done from the heart makes one light.
B.K.S. IyengarRead
The body is your temple. Keep it pure and clean for the soul to reside in.
B.K.S. IyengarRead
Healthy plants and trees yield abundant flowers and fruits. Similarly, from a healthy person, smiles and happiness shine forth like the rays of the sun.
B.K.S. IyengarRead
Before peace between the nations, we have to find peace inside that small nation which is our own being.
B.K.S. IyengarRead
Similar quotes
It is better to be at odds with the whole world than, being one, to be at odds with myself.
SocratesRead
Politeness is the art of choosing among your thoughts.
Madame De StaelRead
I shall allow no man to belittle my soul by making me hate him.
Booker T. WashingtonRead
He knew what the Beats know and what the great tennis player knows, son: learn to do nothing, with your whole head and body, and everything will be done by what's around you.
David Foster WallaceRead
There's no such thing as a painless lesson. They just don't exist. Sacrifices are necessary. You can't gain anything without losing something first although if you can endure that pain and walk away from it, you'll find that you now have a heart strong enough to overcome any obstacle. Yeah, a heart made fullmetal.
Hiromu ArakawaRead
If it turns out that there are emotions and values that are more numerous and more vibrant than indifference and hatred, things are going to be okay. That depends on us.
Timothy D. SnyderRead