| By :
Karuna DiLibero
Dinacharya is the practice of daily ritual. By creating a routine in our day and maintaining this routine, this results in greater harmony in our body and mind through stability and consistency. We begin to harmonize our inner clock in sync with the natural rhythms of life. We rise with the sun and fall asleep at a reasonable hour. It is the art of bringing the sacred into our daily lives. When I lived in India, I learned much about this practice. Everyday, I would awake to people ringing bells calling out to God as they began their day with prayer and meditation. Back at home, I try to wake up to the rising sun. I lay in bed with my eyes still closed and connect myself to God and the universe. I find this brings the macrocosm (the universal energy) into the microcosm (my body and being). This is my time to connect with everything that is. As I bring my feet to the earth, I continue my prayers facing the rising sun. I proceed to the bathroom to evacuate my bowls and bladder and wash my face. I brush my teeth and scrape my tongue. I drink warm water with lemon or herbal tea then I sit to meditate for 20 minutes. Then I walk to yoga practice where I am able to move my body consciously and connect with my breath, the essence of life. Upon returning from practice, I give myself abhyanga which is a practice of using oil to self massage that I let that penetrate my pores for at least 10 minutes before my shower. By this time, I am hungry and eat fruit or drink a smoothie for breakfast. Sometimes, I'll eat a bigger breakfast if I feel I need more energy. Then I proceed to work. I eat my lunch around noon or 1pm and return to my work. After work, I like to walk or ride my bike and do errands if needed. Throughout my day I try to allow myself enough time for all these practices so I don't feel rushed or stressed. I periodically think of God and take some time to just breathe. In the early evening, I prepare my light dinner and begin to unwind with another 20 minutes of meditation before I eat. After dinner, I devote myself to projects that I enjoy such as reading, getting crafty or being with friends. I try to relax and get ready for bed by 10pm which is hard for me because I like to stay up late! However, with practice my system converges with this routine and moves into it naturally. Depending on what your constitution is, there are specific practices one can do to appease your individual state of being. You can look up your dosha and get more information about it from your local Ayurvedic practitioner or from the internet! The three doshas are vata (wind), pitta (fire), and kapha (water). When I am able to live my life in this manner, I find it settles my mind and body. I feel grounded, calm and connected to myself and others. My daily routine prevents me from allowing my life to be dominated by work. I feel a sense of freedom, joy and harmony within myself. I definitely notice a difference in my energy and emotions when I am off my schedule. When this happens, I plot out my day with the schedule I would like to return to and find that I can steer myself back on course with effort, discipline and practice. Ritual is a practice that helps us realize our true nature as One.
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