The Mark Divine BLOG: Do You

Have a Personal Ethos Part 2

Do You Have a Personal Ethos? Part 2 The 5 Personal Disciplines
We discussed in the last post how the 5 ethical standards define how we interact with others (the We
sphere) and provide the starting point for developing a personal ethos of excellence. Now I would
like to turn to the 5 personal disciplines, which ground our personal and daily journey toward
mastery. These 5 disciplines are:
1. Developing control of the body and mind. We accomplish this with proper fueling and a daily
practice of functional fitness and pose work, or some other skillfully executed method of somatic
movement training.
2. Contentment of ones circumstances in life. We are where we are for a reason, so be okay
with it while working methodically to improve your own condition and the condition of the world . . .
one relationship at a time.
3. Taking control over your desires, the constant grasping at pleasure and striving to avoid pain.
Neither pleasure nor pain is good or bad on its own, but it is the craving or avoidance that makes it
so. Consider the avoidance of the pain associated with intense physical training. Choosing to avoid
this kind of temporary discomfort means that we wont develop our warrior body and mind. Or being
constantly drawn to the pleasure of sweets. Consistently folding to this weakness means that we
sacrifice control and we slowly kill ourselves with sugar.
4. Self-study and study of spiritual works. This is a deeply spiritual aspect of yoga. Its about what
we choose to focus our mind upon, whether our internal states of mind and emotion or a parable of
Jesus, we come to understand deeply. Our awareness of reality and knowledge of the nature of
things increases.
5. Surrender to a higher power. This is your concept of God, whether you have a religious
orientation or not. Let go of the mental grasping and contracting of the ego self and surrender to a
now presence where you can connect to this power. Offer your actions in service to this higher
power.
These personal disciplines are meant to tame the body, mind, and senses so we can advance
through deeper concentration and meditation. Similar to the 5 ethical stands, they arise in thought,
speech, and action leading to three elements needing to be examined and trained. For instance, do
you think you are content? Do you talk about contentment and do you act content? Upon deep
reflection, you may find that there are subtle differences in each of these, and this awareness leads
you to work toward their alignment.
Write down any insights that come to you as you consider your relationship to the ethical stands and
personal disciplines. Then review weekly and note what comes up in your silence practice. You will
be developing a powerful personal ethos through this process. Ultimately you want to always be able
to answer the following questions: Why am I doing this? Why is this happening to me? Am I aligned
with my ethos? When you can answer these questions confidently, you are living a life of excellence.
That is the Kokoro Yoga way.
Hooyah!
Mark Divine