Way back as freshmen in college, after our evening workout and run, my friend said, “You know, beforehand you may not feel like working out and running, but afterwards you are never sorry you did it.”
His advice was well-taken, although I probably should have done a bit more of this in college.
Here the point is that a commitment to one’s well-being is perhaps the most sound investment a person can make. All too often though, in this grossly materialistic era, investment strictly refers to money.
Yet now more than ever when the economy is so murky – and good financial investments are hard to find ( if one has the money to invest in the first place!) – then this is as good a time as any to reconsider what we mean by investment.
Money after all is but a human invention / convention that has no natural value or universal meaning in and of itself. It is a medium for the exchange of goods & services – nothing more & nothing less.
As human beings, as aspirants, as travelers on the path, when we invest we should seek out ideals that are lasting across time and space. Two immediate ones which come to mind are happiness and peace.
What is it then that makes us happy? Here we are not talking about a temporary or fleeting high, but that more lasting feeling of joy or bliss (a’nandam). What brings real joy in life? And what provides us with a sense of inner peace and contentment?
When we discover avenues that lead us in this direction, is this then not the investment we should make? Should we not focus our energies, time and commitments in this direction.
As we collectively march into this New Year, let’s take time to consider what really makes us happy, as well as how we can make joy a more stable presence in our lives.
Feel free to share your thoughts and reflections – what will be the cornerstones of your journey into 2012 & beyond?
Here are two thoughts or tales to keep in mind as you move through your day…
Smiles per Hour
Speed is calculated as “Miles per hour”;
but life is calculated as “Smiles per hour”.
So live in such a way as to increase your smiles,
and get extra mileage in life.
Comment: Indeed the yogis speak of how the attainment of sukha (happiness) and a’nandam (bliss) are the key aims in life, not anything else. With that one achieves everything. Whereas all other so-called attainments (wealth, status, power etc) are mere side-shows in the hope of becoming happy and being ensconced in bliss. We should always be true to ourselves and follow our most innate desire: Achieving happiness and experiencing bliss.
What Have You Gained
Someone once asked Buddha, “What have you gained from your years of meditation and mental training?”
Buddha answered, “Nothing at all. However, I will tell you what I have lost through my years of meditation and mental training: Anger, depression, insecurity, burden of old age, and fear of death.”
Comment: Through meditation and focusing the mind on a high ideal, then naturally those less desirable qualities (fear, shyness, greed, anger etc) fall by the wayside. The goal is never to overcome fear or anger, yet by meditating on a sublime ideal then those degrading attributes automatically loosen their grip on the mind until they are gone from your personae entirely.
Each and every being is attracted toward a more subtle vibration. This brings feelings of joy, peace and contentment. This is a universal attraction for all – to find a more refined flow in life.
While no doubt we can get caught up in more crude endeavors and general busyness, it is when we return to and seek out the subtle that we feel better.
This applies to animals as well. They also want to find joy and peace in this world.
Of the 5 sense experiences – shabda (sound) – is the most subtle. That is why at the highest state of realization, the aspirant will only hear the eternal sound: Omn.
Here below is a sweet reminder how all have an appreciation for the more subtle expressions of life…
Question: What can work in thousands of directions, but do only two things?
Answer: The mind.
While we have all experienced how the mind can contemplate countless points and be pulled in seemingly innumerable directions, ultimately the mind can do only two things.
The mind can think and it can remember. Thus thinking and remembering are the only two functionalities of mind.
Even then, even though the mind is limited to 2 basic functions, it is not easy to perfect them. How often do we think in a misguided manner and or fail to remember something.
That is why the yogis claim that the refinement and perfection of mind is an ongoing endeavor. And the way to achieve this is through meditation or sadhana. Through repeated efforts to calm and steady the mind, it will think more clearly and remember more precisely. The more emphasis we place on refining the mind, the more beautifully it will function.
And ultimately that brings peace.
When we think in a benevolent manner and remember that which should be remembered (i.e. our human dharma), then naturally we will develop into joyous beings who are at peace with ourselves and the world around us.
Thanks to all who came out for the first-ever Sages & Sutras philosophy seminar today. You all did a wonderful job of raising excellent questions, offering insightful responses, and keeping pace with our dramatic explorations.
Some of the many, many topics we covered or touched on were: Codes of yoga, philosophy of mind, Buddha & Mahaviira Jain, dharma, yogic prinicples, Patanjali and really quite a bit more. And of course there were stories.
It was all done in dialogue fashion which meant we basically flowed from topic to topic, and back again, depending upon the interests, inquiries and inspirations of those present.
Here are but some of the reflections attendees had when asked, “The best part of the seminar was…”
* The open forum discussion made everyone feel at ease and able to share thoughts and ideas.
* Your passion for the topic – seems off calling this a “topic” – it is clearly your way of life. I also really liked [hearing] the view and knowledge of other participants.
* I liked that we started the discussion with the students’ impressions and questions.
* I loved this – I loved the one page idea – seeing all those lists together makes it feel less overwhelming as their connection is more obvious now.
* I would love another seminar focusing on progressing on the path…
* The flow of discussion as it related to the handout – I think there is an ongoing class that could come out of this workshop.
As yoga practitioners, we never focus on the negative; rather, we constantly channel and goad the mind toward positive endeavors. That is how we progress.
But that does not mean we ignore or fail to study poor life practices. We have to be aware about them. Such knowledge helps us in weak moments. When we find ourselves slipping in a less desirable direction, with our knowledge we can consciously redirect our efforts. Whereas if we are not keenly aware of these problems, we will be more apt to be entrapped by them.
Here then are six bad habits which should be given up, according to the yogis:
1) Nidra (Sleep): We should sleep long enough so that the body can be physically repaired but not so long that we awaken psychically dull and stagnant. This is a very delicate balance point but one which is easily attainable. Those who purify the mind by meditating will sleep more deeply and awaken refreshed and ready for life. In contrast, the more we sleep the more we will desire to sleep but that sleep beyond which is needed for physical restoration will not be beneficial for the mind.
2) Tandra (Dullness): The yogis define dullness in multiple ways: (a) Lack of inspiration and / or poor self-esteem; (b) Being physically present but mentally absent; ie doing something but thinking about something else; (c) When the mind can only remain focused on a subject for a very short time.
We can overcome dullness by adopting a positive attitude, keeping good company, and reminding ourselves of the good qualities we have and being ever-ready to share them with others.
3) Bhaya (Fear): Fear is one of the four basic instincts which we have in common with animals – the other three are sleep, hunger, and procreation. Fear saps us of our ability to act courageously and think clearly. As is the case with all these bad habits, the more we give in to fear the more conditioned we become to feeling fearful. The best way to overcome fear is to tie your small boat to a grand boat, i.e. to link up one’s unit consciousness with that greater universal consciousness. That connection automatically dissipates all kinds of fear.
4) Krodha (Anger): Anger freezes our entire potential. The nerve cells become so affected the physical body starts shaking and the mind becomes stunned. Nothing ever good results from the expression of anger. That is why the yogis say we must establish ourselves in akrodha or non-anger. That does not mean we become mute in the face of injustice, but rather through self-discipline we cultivate a sense of acceptance where our inner world is not shaken by outer troubles. When we maintain our inner strength in this way it is non-anger.
5) Alaysa (Lethargy): Lethargy exists on three primary levels: Physical, psychic and spiritual. To some or more degree we all suffer from lethargy on one or more levels. Once identified then we must take active and vigorous efforts to overcome such lethargy. As we do that, the grip of that lethargy on our personality will wane and we will become physically active, mentally sharp and spiritually awakened.
6) Procrastination: We should never delay or put off good works or essential duties. When this habit becomes overpowering we are always a step behind, or more than that. The yogis say: “Don’t delay – when a good idea comes in the mind then act on it immediately because one does not know what the future holds.” When we become established in this rhythm then many great things will be done in a very short period.
By overcoming these six bad habits – step by step – our life will take on a whole new charm and valor and there will be nothing on this earth that can halt our success.
We can say that life progresses according to the choices we make. Positive choices lead to desirable outcomes; less positive choices bring a less desirable outcome.
We make choices with our mind and that faculty of mind that allows to make better choices is known as viveka, or discrimination or conscience.
The more our minds are developed, the more refined sense of viveka, the better our choices. A pretty simple formula though not so easy to always do, as we all know. There are so many allurements, emotional entanglements and temptations which seriously cloud our decision-making processes.
That is why taking quiet time, stepping back, and / or talking to a close friend, spouse or confidant can give us great clarity on a particular situation.
On the individual plane, with yoga and meditation – through study and contemplation – our conscience becomes more awakened. This is a key to a successful life, according to the yogi. Positive, constructive decision-making and goading ourselves towards more refined life choices is one of the most powerful ways we can positively impact our lives.
When I graduated college in ‘89, so many seemed to jump directly into the financial sector, i.e. Wall St. And while that may have worked out fine for them, it was definitely not for me. Not knowing what to do, I simply delayed the matter and gave myself some breathing room by going north. That space was needed and it was not long before I embarked on the path of yoga (1991) which has greatly impacted my every life choice since.
While the account represents a more global life shift, we make so many micro decisions as well: What to eat, how to spend free time, ways of cultivating friendship and so much more.
Tell us about a choice you made with your sense of viveka and how that has positively impacted your life…
Yoga of course is many things to many people. Generally, in the psycho-spiritual field, the yogis say the highest, and perhaps most challenging, practice is surrender. That ever-elusive moment of letting go of one’s I-feeling or petty ego.
Many yogis consider this to be the crowning glory of all yoga: The exchange of the minutia for the vast.
Surrender of course can happen on many levels. It can be taking a deep breath in a heated moment; it can be letting go of anger; it can be just simply relaxing; it can be detaching oneself from expectations or results; it can be feeling so overwhelmed with life or a given task that one literally feels like there is nothing more that I personally can do; it can be a moment in meditation where you literally lose yourself in a deeper state of consciousness.
Whatever your perception, our yoga practice helps us surrender. By gaining greater clarity of our own being, we can better identify and recognize feelings, emotions, and the workings of our inner world. And that is really where surrender starts.
While it is a life-long endeavor for most of us, we all gain glimpses of surrender along the way. Share with us (a) your favorite techniques for surrendering, (b) a time when you experienced surrender in your own life, or (c) what you hope to experience in the future (or is that against surrender theory!).
Once there was a great guru. At one darshan (being in the presence of the yogi master) the guru called upon one disciple and said: “Show me your mind”.
The room was full of people from all around the globe.
The simple disciple felt nervous, shy and a bit intimidated. So he kept quiet. Besides, he pondered, “What on earth am I going to say?”
The guru changed his inquiry, “Do you have a mind?”
The disciple replied, “Yes.”
“OK, then show it to me.”
The disciple merely shook his head.
The guru inquired: “Do you have a mind?”
This time the disciple replied, “No.”
There was mild & sympathetic laughter all around. All were watching with great interest.
“Really, you do not have a mind?”
“I do.”
“Okay, so once again we have established that you have a mind – then show it to me.”
The disciple remained quiet.
The guru said, “This brother is correct. He has a mind but he cannot show it to me. He can feel his own mind but he is incapable of showing it to anyone else.”
Then the guru came to his main point.
“Same is the case with spirituality and inner realization and the consciousness that pervades every pore of this universe. You yourself can feel it but you cannot show it to anyone else. Each and every person has to discover it for his or herself. There is no other way.”
May we all take a moment each day to feel that inner connection. The distractions of life often divert us from this inner truth. And no material transaction can give us the peace that lies within. It cannot be shown to us from without. Just we all have to take it upon ourselves to experience it first-hand. That is what our yoga practice is all about. To sit still, contemplate, open up the doors and windows of the mind, and tap into the inner peace inherent to all.
Dharma is the natural characteristic or inherent value of something. The dharma of fire is to burn and the dharma of a bird is to fly.
The yogis say that human dharma is based on expansion (vistara), flow of mind (rasa), and service (seva). Vistara means expanding our psychic boundaries to include one and all; rasa means keeping steadiness of mind; and seva means caring for and serving others.
Another way of describing human dharma lies in the 10 characteristics of dharma:
Certainly, each of the above points is a discussion unto itself. However, we all have a general understanding of what these points are. To keep this short, suffice to say here that the more we adhere to these tenets, the greater we are following our manava dharma, or human dharma.
Here in our ongoing series we are investigating another limb of yama and niyama.
With the onset of spring, this next point is quite relevant.
Shaoca (also written saucha) means purity or cleanliness in all realms of life: physical, mental, emotional, environmental and spiritual. It is the first step of niyama sadhana.
This is a big point of yogic life and indeed in our human life – keeping purity of one’s environment, body and mind. The yogis say that physical shaoca is comparatively easy in comparison to psychic shaoca. Even then both realms are vast.
For the yogis, physical shaoca is not limited to one’s clothing and dress but means cleanliness of one’s whole body – everything from diet, digestion, fasting, and so much more. The skin needs to be scrubbed to get rid of the old dead cells, finger nails need cutting and care, hands need to be washed regularly, and there are so many points. Share with us some of the ways you practice physical shaoca.
Mental purity – a vast topic. How to keep the mind positive, buoyant, and resplendent, free from anger, vanity, jealousy and so many other unbecoming qualities. The yogis say the way to get rid of any negative quality is to consciously adopt the opposite principle. For instance, if one is a greedy miser, then they should consciously practice generosity and in due course that quality will develop within them, in which case their miserliness will naturally drift away.
Meditation and other contemplative pursuits are excellent avenues for cleaning the mind. Share with us how in your life you overcome unwanted thoughts and keep the mind clean.
The below poem comes to us by way of Kathy P and what a great poem it really is. In yoga serving others and helping others succeed is paramount. Greatness in yoga is defined as making others great – there is no such thing as being great by oneself.
The Bridge Builder, by Will Allen Dromgoole
An old man, going a lone highway,
Came, at the evening, cold and gray,
To a chasm, vast, and deep, and wide,
Through which was flowing a sullen tide.
The old man crossed in the twilight dim;
The sullen stream had no fears for him;
But he turned, when safe on the other side,
And built a bridge to span the tide.
“Old man,” said a fellow pilgrim, near,
“You are wasting strength with building here;
Your journey will end with the ending day;
You never again must pass this way;
You have crossed the chasm, deep and wide—
Why build you a bridge at the eventide?”
The builder lifted his old gray head:
“Good friend, in the path I have come,” he said,
“There followeth after me today,
A youth, whose feet must pass this way.
This chasm, that has been naught to me,
To that fair-haired youth may a pitfall be.
He, too, must cross in the twilight dim;
Good friend, I am building the bridge for him.”
Will Allen Dromgoole (1860-1934) was a female poet, novelist, essayist, and journalist. She was named Poet Laureate by the Poetry Society of the South in 1930.
Namaskar. Today is Diipavali or Diwali, also known as the festival of lights. Wishing everyone sweet thoughts and much happiness on this great occasion. Read our post from last year about the meaning of Diipavali / Diwali.
The Bhagavad Giita and the greater era of the Mahabharata period offer wonderful stories for humanity. These parables are timeless.
In this particular story, the Great Krishna (Krsna) arrives at Vidura’s house unannounced. Listen to see what transpires.
The teaching from this story is as true today as it was back then: 3,500 years ago.
More stories from this ancient time will be recorded in future podcasts. If you have a favorite, please let us know and we will try and accomodate your request.
This quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson was recently posted to the YJ community and I thought I would share it with everyone here.
A successful life
“To laugh often and much; To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; To earn the approbation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; To appreciate beauty; To find the best in others; To give of one’s self; To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; To have played and laughed with enthusiasm and sung with exultation; To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived – This is to have succeeded.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 – 1882)
Here is another interesting statement by Mr. Emerson…
DID YOU KNOW?
Emerson himself was a well-known student of the early teachings of the yogis, having studied the Vedas and Bhagavad Gita.
Way back as freshmen in college, after our evening workout and run, my friend said, “You know, beforehand you may not feel like working out and running, but afterwards you are never sorry you did it.”
What Have You Gained
Question: What can work in thousands of directions, but do only two things?
Thanks to all who came out for the first-ever Sages & Sutras philosophy seminar today. You all did a wonderful job of raising excellent questions, offering insightful responses, and keeping pace with our dramatic explorations.
As yoga practitioners, we never focus on the negative; rather, we constantly channel and goad the mind toward positive endeavors. That is how we progress.
We can say that life progresses according to the choices we make. Positive choices lead to desirable outcomes; less positive choices bring a less desirable outcome.
Yoga of course is many things to many people. Generally, in the psycho-spiritual field, the yogis say the highest, and perhaps most challenging, practice is surrender. That ever-elusive moment of letting go of one’s I-feeling or petty ego.
Once there was a great guru. At one darshan (being in the presence of the yogi master) the guru called upon one disciple and said: “Show me your mind”.
Dharma is the natural characteristic or inherent value of something. The dharma of fire is to burn and the dharma of a bird is to fly.
Here in our ongoing series we are investigating another limb of yama and niyama.
The Bhagavad Giita and the greater era of the Mahabharata period offer wonderful stories for humanity. These parables are timeless.
In this podcast, we explore how the law of karma works, as well as how you can improve your karma.
