Advent: A Practice of Watchfulness

We thank Kelly for her thoughts on the season of Advent, and invite you to take a few minutes to enjoy her seated watchfulness meditation, available at the end of this post. She reminds us that God is with us always. It is only our awareness of His presence that fluctuates.

Advent is a time of preparation, watchfulness, and wakefulness. It is a season that invites us to witness the story that God is telling in this world, and yoga gives us the skills  necessary to see the story clearly.

The word “advent” is derived from the Latin word “advenio” which literally translates as “to come to”. Throughout the history of the Western Church, Advent has been a time of fasting and prayer as people prepare themselves for the coming, or the “advent” of Christ.

During the season of Advent, Christians are invited to recall the past, awaken to the present, and anticipate the future, setting their gaze on the coming of Christ. Past. Present. Future.

The Christ of the past:

Advent reminds us to look back and celebrate the first coming of Christ, the light born in the darkness, as we celebrate the birth of Jesus.  

The Christ of the present:

Advent invites us to look in and around us in order to recognize the present coming of Christ. To watch for the ways that Jesus is coming to us now, through the Holy Spirit, to comfort, heal, teach, guide, and disciple us. 

The Christ of the future:

Advent points us to the end of time when Jesus will come again in glory. We look forward to the time when He will wipe every tear from every eye. We long for the time when there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain. 

The Advent season directs our gaze to the bigger story being told, and reminds us that our lives are mere subplots in this story. We are living in the “time between” what has already happened through the birth of Jesus Christ, and what is still yet to happen when Jesus comes again to defeat darkness for all eternity. We are living in the “already and the not yet,” but we do not wait alone, we have been given a helper, and Christ is with us through the Holy Spirit. 

If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him.  John 14:23

Yoga teaches us about the art of watchfulness and the power of observation.

The practice of yoga can be a very practical and effective tool to help Christians in watching for the ways that Christ comes to us in the present moment.

Through a yoga practice, we learn the art of watchfulness. We are invited to get still in order to awaken to the moment… yoking ourselves to a specific place and time. When we slow down the movements of our mind, we become aware of what is actually happening in the present. What do I feel? What do I hear? How is my spine aligned?  Can I feel the breath in my lungs? 

The definition of yoga according to The Yoga Sutras of Pantajali, is “the cessation of movements in the mind. Then, the seer dwells in his own true splendor. At other times, the seer identifies with the fluctuating consciousness.” (BKS Iyengar, Light on the Yoga Sutras, Sutras 1.2-1.4) According to this definition, the busy-ness of our mind can distract us from the underlying Presence that waits for us. Yoga teaches us how to still these movements of the mind and set aside distractions.

As we continue to draw our senses inward, we learn to watch, wait, and listen. We begin to cultivate eyes to see and ears to hear inwardly, and we awaken to what Patanjali calls our “true splendor”. 

 As a Christian, we might define our true splendor as our capacity to commune with God. Through our union with Christ, we enjoy restored communion with God and the very real presence of the Holy Spirit dwelling with and in us. Yoga teaches us to still the fluctuations of the mind that we might glimpse the promise fulfilled through Christ, Immanuel, God is with us. 

“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). Matthew 1:23

During Advent we pause to remember the story that happened long ago and is still happening now, God with us!

As followers of Jesus, we are called to be an “Advent people” watchful, alert, and awaiting the coming of Christ now, and in the future. Yoga teaches us the art of watchfulness, inviting us to get still, listen, watch, pay attention, observe, notice, and recognize the present coming of Christ in us and around us. 

This Advent, pause to remember the story that happened long ago and is still happening now. Whether found in Scriptures and songs, or displayed in sunsets and the faces of strangers that we meet, let us have eyes to see, Immanuel, God is with us here and now. Alleluia!

A PRACTICE OF WATCHFULNESS

We invite you to find a comfortable seat and take 6 minute to enjoy this meditation. This seated practice can be done anytime, and anywhere. A transcript of the practice follow.

TRANSCRIPT

Take a minute, find a comfortable seat away from distractions. Settle in. Notice where your body is making contact with your chair. Take an inventory. What is the story that your body is telling today. Where do you feel heavy? Where do you feel light? Where does your body feel constricted? Where does it feel free? Notice the breath physically moving fresh oxygen and nutrients in your body.

Now bring your awareness to the space of your mind? What do you see? What thoughts are you bringing with you today? Are there many? Or are there few? How do they make you feel? Imagine setting your thoughts down next to you for a time while we practice watchfulness. Remember that they will be there to pick up again when we are finished with our practice.

Return to your breath. Take a moment to observe. Watch as it moves in and out of your lungs. How does it feel? Can you sense the gentle rise and fall of your chest? Where do you feel sensations as you inhale and exhale? Listen for the rhythm of your breath. Breath breathed in. Breath breathed out. 

Remember the One who breathes this Breath of Life into you, both physically and spiritually. He is here now, waiting for you. Allow each breath to be a prayer, a conversation with God. Inhale and receive what it is you need in this moment. Maybe you need peace, strength, wisdom, or patience. Exhale, let go of anything that you are holding that you are not meant to carry. What burden could you give back to God?

Feel yourself being held here, safe, and secure. 

You are completely known. You are perfectly loved. 

Allow yourself to surrender in the presence of a Holy Love.

Stay here as long as you want communing with God, with the Christ that comes to us now, enjoying the presence of the Holy Spirit. 

When you are ready, slowly bring your awareness back to your body with small movements. Take a moment to make a conscious decision, which thoughts will you pick up and take with you? Which thoughts are best left behind?

As you move back into your day, remember that God’s presence in always with you. It is our awareness and watchfulness of His presence that fluctuates. Consider taking this breath prayer with you as you live out your yoga moving back into your homes, workplaces, and relationships. 

Breath Prayer for the Advent season:

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28: 18-20

Inhale: And behold, I am with you always,

Exhale: to the end of the age