(Shelley Beach, NSW, Australia)
In brief -
Sankalpa - a short positive statement, a resolve to change your life for the better, said in the present tense.
Sankalpa is a positive resolve, a determination that one makes to improve their life. The sankalpa is a private statement that is mentally repeated at the havan and other yogic practices like yoga nidra. The statement is sacred and kept to oneself in order to contain its energy.
A bit more from Swami Niranjan;
Many people say it is a positive affirmation, a positive thought, but sankalpa is a process of training the mind to develop the will and to develop clarity of thought. Through sankalpa we learn how to train the mind so that the will becomes alive.
The sankalpa takes time to formulate. It might take up to two years to word the sankalpa and to work out what you want in life.
A sankalpa is a short sentence, said in the present tense in a positive way. Some examples, "I honour my mind, body and soul." "I live a balanced life." "I am in control of my mind." "I love and accept myself, exactly as I am."
The following quote might help you to formulate your sankalpa.
"What kind of future do I envision for myself? What kind of self am I trying to develop? What do I want to accomplish in my life? The thing is to paint this vision of your life in your heart as specifically as possible. That 'painting' itself becomes the design of your future. The power of the heart enables us to actually create with our lives a wonderful masterpiece in accordance with that design" ~ Daisaku Ikeda.
