Saturday, April 29, 2017

Obstacles to Overcome


 
 
To overcome the obstacles in life you need to Soul Walk. It is not a religious path, but it is a path of faith. It is about walking consciously with constant devotion towards making you a better person and the world a better place. It is about never forgetting the importance of health; body, mind and soul. It is an understanding that the path may take a few zigs and zags and a few divergences along the way.  Remember from here to there is never a straight line. But that is o-k - it makes life so much more interesting.

Our biggest obstacles along the way are our beliefs and attitudes.  Our beliefs are tied to our value system, which is ingrained into our consciousness by our upbringing and experiences. An attitude is the feeling we have regarding our beliefs. We defend our values through selective perception, or the ability to disregard anything that challenges our beliefs. Although it is important to have a value system it is necessary to be open to the values of others if you are to Soul Walk. One of our biggest challenges is to be nonjudgmental, tolerant and compassionate, as well as open toward others who may have opposing views.  Our attitudes and beliefs get tainted with deception, greed, anger and pride. These take us off the path of soul walking

Our second biggest obstacle is keeping the body and the mind healthy in a world of disease, pollution, corruption, low self-esteem and self-worth. We have measurements and definition for what is consider physical and mental health. IQ test, blood test and many more tests give us insights into our health. But they cannot measure with accuracy the existence or the health of the soul.  But if you take a moment to be quiet and listen to your soul, your soul will tell you how to proceed. The only test needed is your ability to truly listen to your inner self.

If we can’t measure the soul how do we know we have one?  In yoga the life force that vitalizes everything in the universe is called prana. It is actually the energy responsible for the movement of all consciousness in the world. What lies beneath your consciousness is a force (prana) that causes it to rise. This we call thinking. As you think so you become. Prana gives rise to the breath and this gives life to the body and the mind. When this happens your soul begins to walk its earthly life.

So be kind, content, generous, happy, loving and peaceful. And never forget to take care of your health; body, mind and soul.
Doctor Lynn
http://www.doctorlynn.com



Saturday, April 22, 2017

Life’s Biggest Question – Where am I going and what am I doing here?


 
 
 
 
At some point in everyone’s life the question of meaning will surface. With it comes questions about the design of things, what is the purpose and meaning of our lives, who am I and what happens when earth life ends? We all wrestle with these questions at various times in our lives, no matter what our station, preference, color, gender or creed.

Although these questions can arise when we are on top of the world, they are usually asked when we come face to face with the dark side of life, or what is known as a crisis. The Chinese have a symbol for crisis that means both danger and opportunity. That is because a crisis can also be an opportunity. Within the center of any crisis lay the seed of opportunity. Finding this seed is discovering the steps to Soul Walking.

Nothing in life comes without give and take, and sacrifice. All of life moves in a transition from birth to death. In between we give and we receive both pleasure and pain.  Life has a perfect accounting system where everything gets balanced. The drama and striving of life, with all its ups and downs, always brings us back to the status quo; where are you now?  The irony of life is that all our outward striving and drama always add up to zero. We take none of them with us when we depart this world. What we do take is our experiences and how we used them to define who we have become. This is the path. This is the journey. This is where you are going and why you are here.

It is suggested that you:

Be kind, honest, content, detached (but not indifferent). Be pure, generous, moderate and devoted. These are the guidepost for the journey known as soul walking.
Doctor Lynn

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Saturday, April 15, 2017

Suggestions for a Better World


 
 
 

 
 
The Yamas and Niyamas are simply suggestion or guidepost for living a better life.

Remember it is always possible to take the yamas and the niyams too strictly. Don’t worry about remembering them. You can always refer back. These are simply suggestion and as such are meant to be flexible. By following your soulful path you will come to realize that a set of instruction for life cannot be written. Each and every circumstance in life will be different. In the acceptance of your humanness and the precarious nature of life, your soul will be at ease and with this understanding clarity will come to you. This clarity is soul walking and will keep you on the spiritual path.  

The body is your vehicle. The mind is your GPS. Your soul is the driver. Without a well running body and a clear sense of navigation it is impossible to make the journey. Take care of your body and your mind. They are the instruments of the soul. All of life only exists because everything must coexist. Nothing exists in isolation. Pay careful attention to what you do with your body and what you let occupy your mind.

It is suggested that you:

Be kind, honest, content, detached (but not indifferent). Be pure, generous, moderate and devoted. These are the guidepost for soul walking.
Doctor Lynn
http://www.doctorlynn.com

Saturday, April 08, 2017

Centering on your Isvar – Finding Your Life Mission


 
 
 
 
 
In a pure yoga sense this means to devote your energy towards a higher power. This is about devotion not to an idol, but to your chosen endeavor. Your Isvar is that aspect of life that you devote yourself to with unreserved, unequivocal, absolute and total dedication.  This of course should be done in thought, word and deed.

What we devote ourselves to is what we become. By devoting ourselves to something larger than ourselves we have the opportunity to achieve a state of harmony with life. In the truest sense your Isvar is what you choose as the basis for your devotion. It begins with what inspires you. Yoga suggests we become inspired by that which gives us meaning. Anything that is done because it is meaningful in and of itself will bring you to your Isvar.

Our devotion does not need to be fixed nor should it be. Life is ever changing and the flexibility we apply will allow for growth and opportunity. This is a paradox in that we all desire to be free and untethered and yet the desire to merge with our Isvar constantly tugs at our consciousness. We all want to find and establish meaning in our lives.  Meaning requires devotion and devotion requires discipline Therefore we must devote ourselves so that we become what we seek.

What inspires us can lead us to devotion. This sense of devotion brings with it a more creative and peaceful life where we experience the divine moving within us and all around us.  It allows us to see the divine in ourselves and in all we encounter. This is the true nature of unconditional devotion and that is what leads us to our Isvar.

When seeking your Isvar choose wisely. Your Isvar is a reflection of you.  For it to bring you happiness you must be clear about your intentions. Stay open and flexible and allow the energy of life to move through you and all around you.

Let’s get started -

 

Once upon a time there were two medical students. One was interested in fame and money. The other wanted to heal and help people. The first student struggled everyday with his studies while the other student found joy because the studying in and of itself brought him satisfaction. For the student waiting for fame and money every day was painful.

When we experience the deep devotion and passion expressed through our Isvar, we are lifted to a place where our Isvar becomes a way of life expressed through our daily living.  It is the journey where our endless searching arrives at a place of union where our Isvar and our earthly journey become one. This is Soul Walking

Choose wisely with a gentle sense of unconditional love. Whatever you choose, seek your own inner light and follow it with devotion. In this you will find your Isvar.

Doctor Lynn


Saturday, April 01, 2017

Self-study is the fourth Niyama .


 
 
 
Self-study means to seek out knowledge that supports your health, gives you clarity, helps you to discover truthfulness and brings harmony to your life.  This should be done in thoughts, words and deeds.

With any type of study the cooperation of the body is needed. The health and welfare of your body is therefore very important. Correct posture, proper breathing and caring for your health allows you to study yourself and all the component parts of your body, mind and soul. By understanding what your body can do you can direct it to control your thoughts and your words.

Understanding yourself you begin to understand all of life. This consciousness is then used to expand outward towards others. Use yoga to study yourself. When in a pose are you comfortable or stiff? When the body is free of all toxins (pride) physically and mentally it is fluid. If it is stiff and tense it will break.

Once upon a time there was a mighty tree and a small weed sitting by the river bank. The tree looked down at the weed and said, “Hey you puny little weed, how you can stand next to me? I am tall and strong. Aren’t you embarrassed? People will see you next to me and laugh at you. Why don’t you move somewhere else?”

The weed replied, “Tree I did not come here purposely. I just happen to be here. Please pardon my appearance.”

The next day a heavy rain came inundating the jungle and causing a heavy flood. When a river floods it erodes the banks and pulls down anything in its way. With tremendous force the water tore the tree from its roots. But the humble weed bent down and flattened itself letting the water run over it. When the flood passed the weed rose up looking around it wondered what happened to the tree. In the distance it could hear the tree. “I’m being pulled down the river. I should have been humble, simple and flexible like you.”

We need to be strong like steel. But remember steel is also flexible. Crude iron is strong and hard, but it breaks. Just like the weed be humble and flexible in body, mind and soul.  Removing toxic energy keeps the body and the mind healthy. A healthy body – mind keeps the soul on the spiritual path.

Intellectually seek knowledge that supports your health. Remember your words indicate the nature of your being. Choose them wisely. Walk the path of self-knowledge grounded in compassion and understanding. This is soul walking.  Be knowledgeable.

Doctor  Lynn