Saturday, April 27, 2019

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 be aware; are you comfortable or stiff? When the body is free of all toxins (vices) physically and mentally it is fluid. If it is stiff and tense it will break. Breathe and surrender.

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 humble 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 and 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 do need to be strong like steel. But remember steel is also flexible.  Don’t be like crude iron.  It is strong and hard, but lacks flexibility and so it breaks. Just like the weed be humble and flexible in body and mind, but strong in your soul. Know who you are and what you are capable of doing and then practice humility. Be proud of who you are, but remove pride. 

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.  Know yourself and - Be humble

Namaste ~ I celebrate the place where our souls meet

Doctor Lynn

 



Saturday, April 20, 2019

Austerity is the third niyama.


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Austerity simply means that on all levels; physically, verbally and intellectually we should develop the power to withstand hunger, thirst, heat, cold and other earthly discomforts so as to attain the unattainable. Without hardships and challenges we never develop self-discipline and self-discipline is needed to attain contentment and thus happiness.

When you over eat, over drink, over spend, or over worry do you ever feel content and happy?  Austerity means to keep your mind focused, your words meaningful and your deeds soulfully powerful. Over indulgence ultimately leads to pain.  What we need is balance.

Words are very important. They should be spoken with tranquility, be truthful, pleasant and beneficial. If something is true and unpleasant, make it pleasant. From your heart chakra practice compassionate and understanding. Then act with self-control and a sense of calmness.

The Gita a Sanskrit Hindu text points out three types of austerity; dull, passionate and calm.

Those who are inflexible will become dull. Those with the intent of acquiring something are passionate and those who are without desire for any result other than to be content and balanced are calm.  Don’t lose your passion. Just temper it with austerity which means to approach all of life from a calm and balanced point of view.   How do you remain calm when you don’t get what you want? Acceptance. No amount of anguishing is going to change it. Let it come and go with complete calmness – because life will give you exactly what you need to stay on the soulful path.  Things come and things go, but austerity once established will last forever.

 

Balance your work, play and soulful pursuits so as not to exhaust you. The body and the mind cling to desires. This exhausts our energy and depletes the soul.  When we practice austerity we cleanse the body and the mind of unneeded energy and this uplifts the soul. It is like gold; the more you fire it the purer it gets.  It’s like karma; the slow burning away of impurities to attain purity of the soul. So accept what comes into your life with a sense of calmness and you will understand the significance of austerity. What is gained through calmness will endure no matter what comes into, or goes out of your life. Be disciplined.

Namaste ~ I celebrate the place where our souls meet

Doctor Lynn

 



Saturday, April 13, 2019

#Yoga Today #Contentment is the second niyama.


 
 
 
 
 

 Contentment simply means to be content with what you have and not obsessively desire that which you have not earned. Never feel disappointed if less than you desire comes into your life. Likewise don’t feel overly elated by what does come into your life. Simply accept and be content with things as they are. This does not mean you should not reach out for more. Simply do so while being content with what you already have.

In your mind don’t be disturbed by things that do not come into your life. Do not complain about society or your fate. Understand the laws of abundance, as well as the laws of karma; life becomes what life does. Let go of any disappointment. In this way you make room for opportunity. Don’t question what happens; you’ll never know why certain things turn out to be. So let go, move on and be content.

Your most valuable asset is your abundant energy. Use it to improve your life, but never to the detriment of your happiness, health and peace of mind.

Contentment is to be practiced in thought, word and deed. Speak as if you are happy. Pay attention to your tone, intonations and the words that you use. Keep you thoughts positive and act as if all that you could ever want is with you now. Be happy, healthy and peaceful. Material things come and go, but contentment, once found can last forever.

The things of the material world are useless to the soul and yet they are an important part of your evolution. Just remember your most valuable asset is your abundant energy. Use it to improve your life, but never to the detriment of your happiness, health and peace of mind. Let’s get started….

 

Life has an elusive nature. It can sometimes be very difficult to understand. Everything in life is energy rearranging itself to suit a certain purpose.   Remember that everything in life constantly changes. What might be of value to you today might be meaningless tomorrow.

Avoid comparison and competition. Each of us is unique. That makes comparison, competition and envy useless. It is o-k to strive for more just do it from a place of contentment. Be happy with what you have earned and then do the work to earn more. What should you earn? Punja; it means merits or good deeds.  You acquire these by working your karma. Punja is the only thing of value you take with you when you leave this world. The soul who renounces discontentment for contentment acquires everything. Be content.

Namaste ~ I celebrate the place where our souls meet

Doctor Lynn



Saturday, April 06, 2019

#Yoga Today #Observe - The #Niyamas


 
 
 
 
 
The Niyamas are things that it is suggested we observe. Just like the things we abstain from (yamas) the niyamas should be practice in thought, word and deed.
 
 


Purity is the first niyama. It is different than celibacy which means to simplify your life. Purity means to cleanse. Purity of thought means to lift your consciousness above the level of power and survival and into the pureness of the heart chakra energy. Mental purity is acquired by practicing compassion, understanding and kindness, or whatever brings about peaceful and pure thoughts.

 Speak should be pure for words are very powerful. It is said that a wound from an arrow will heal, but the wound from words last forever. Words that are consoling, harmonizing, gentle, uplifting and straightforward are purity of speech. Mantras such as OM are often used to invoke a sense of purity.

 Just remember if you always speak the truth a time will come when all you say will come true and be pure. Established in purity our life becomes an open book. We have no need to fear anything.

When it comes to the body purity means cleanliness both inside and out. That means we should eat clean and pure foods, as well as keep the body groomed and our environment clean. One of the ways to cleanse the body is to practice asana or the yoga poses, as well as Anna yoga, the yoga of eating. Because you are what you eat!  This does not mean you need to eat any particular diet. Just feed the body pure and healthy foods. And don’t forget to breathe!(see Doctor Lynn website for more on the book Anna Yoga) Let’s get started with OM to invoke purity.

When our thoughts, words and actions are pure we are in harmony with life. Things come easily to us and life simply flows. If something negative should arise, replace it with something positive. If you should speak a harsh word replace it with a word of kindness. If you act in ways that harm yourself or the environment replace the action with a good deed. In this you will be pure. Follow the truth with a pure heart and you will discover that you have nothing to fear because the pure truth will always set you free. Be pure in body, mind and soul.

Namaste ~ I celebrate the place where our souls meet

Doctor Lynn