Karma and Relationships – 'tis the season to socialize

Relationships are the glue that holds us together. What would the world be without partners, family, friends, and, of course, yoga students? We learn, we grow, and we thrive based upon our relationships. Karma reminds us that we chose to come to earth as human beings. We cannot escape this human form, these feelings, our personal characteristics, our history, and our karma. Let’s take a moment and ground ourselves. Connect with your sit bones and the mat. And take a deep breath. When it comes to our relationships, we must be grounded and balanced while staying open and nonjudgmental. Without relationships, we are simply a form floating about in space. It is our relationships with the earth and with other humans that allow us to work through our karma and thus complete our earthly mission. Karma Yoga teaches that to do this, we must build a sacred vessel. This vessel has three parts: openness, trustworthiness, and commitment; otherwise, our relationships cannot survive. Let’s work on building this sacred vessel. END: Our relationships teach us how to love, how to be a friend, a coworker, and a family member. Without them, life would be an empty space. We are here to work through our karma, and a part of working through our karma is to interact with others. How we interact determines how we live. For example, if we are angry, then all our experiences will be filled with anger. But if we take the time to build the sacred vessel of healthy relationships, openness, trust, and commitment, we will find that our lives become filled with experiences that teach us how to learn, grow, and love. Be the sacred vessel – be open, be trustworthy, and commit to the work it takes to have healthy and meaningful relationships. They are the glue that keeps us connected! EGO: Flip your hand up and extend out the index finger. Take a deep breath. The truth is, we are all a little self-centered and spend energy trying to control one another so that we can get what we want. It is the ego that wants to control. Pull your finger in and place your thumb on top. Take a deep breath and surrender to your soul. When we surrender the ego to the soul, we create the sacred vessel both within ourselves and within all our relationships. We build a sense of openness, trust, and commitment. We learn to let go of our attachments, biases, and prejudices and embrace our relationships as something sacred to be valued and loved above all else. For without them, life would be empty and meaningless. Namaste~ may you walk the path of life with health, happiness, and peace. Doctor Lynn

HAPPY GIVING THANKS DAY – the gift of gratitude

Life is a precious gift that we must not squander. Our Western upbringing often leads us to be critical rather than praising others. But in our modern-day world, we all get wounded and need healing. Gratitude has the transformative power to change our perspective. When we view life as a soulful opportunity for which we are grateful, the world ceases to be our enemy. We will still be affected by karma and must work on it every day, but we will also find a deeper connection with life through gratitude, which is healing for the body, mind, and soul. Gratitude is the key to acknowledging the goodness in our lives. It is a process that often leads us to realize that the source of this goodness is not just within us, but also outside — in other people, in nature, or in a higher power. Everything that enters our lives has a purpose and a meaning. Recognizing and appreciating this requires balance, strength, flexibility, and being at peace with what comes into and goes out of our lives. This balance and peace are essential in our journey of gratitude, helping us to stay calm and centered amidst life's ups and downs. It is not an easy task, but it is our karma - the work we must do. END: Give thanks for what comes into your life – for all of it is simply an opportunity to work your karma, and when you work your karma from a place of giving thanks, your life begins to work for you. Give thanks for even the simplest things; without air, water, earth, health, and relationships, everything else in the world would be meaningless. Happy Giving Thanks Day! EGO: Flip your palms up and extend out the index finger – the symbol of the ego. The holidays are here, gathering with family and friends, our egos will be put to the test. If you let the ego, it will pull you away from your peaceful center, and you will find yourself engaging in self-sabotaging events. Pull your finger in and place your thumb on top. Take a breath and surrender to the soul.. In those intense self-sabotaging moments, take a step back, take a deep breath, and connect to your soul. Look for the things you can give thanks for, and remember when conversation and events arise, if they are not meaningful or beautiful and do not bring health, happiness, and peace to you, let them go. HAPPY GIVING THANKS DAY! DOCTOR LYNN http://www.doctorlynn.com

Ethics and Morals are the Fourth Treasure

There are three things humans need to both survive and thrive. The first is material goods, including shelter and food. The second is procreation to ensure the continuation of the species. And the third is the rules of behavior, or ethical and moral codes of conduct. Ethics are morals in action. Morals are knowing the difference between right and wrong and choosing right. Ethics is morally acting in such a way as to bring the greatest good for the greatest number. We must develop the ability to distinguish between right and wrong. The underlying factor is not to harm. Ethics lay the foundation for the choices we make. Morals lay the foundation for the ethics we establish. Without morals, we would have no ethics, and since it is well understood that different people (cultures) often abide by different ethics, this begs the question: Where do our morals come from? Where is there justice? In this world, there is no such thing as justice – that is why we have laws, and that is the foundation of karma. Life becomes what life does. There will always be consequences for any actions. You must decide what is right and what is wrong. No one can do this for you. What we choose— and how we choose—reflects what we value. Karma suggests we value honesty, generosity, kindness, and humility over deceit, greed, anger, and pride. This takes conscious awareness of what it takes to live an ethical and moral life, and that requires being open and flexible, balanced and strong, and always striving towards the underlying factor – do not harm and be at peace within the world. END: Ethics are morals in action. Morals are knowing the difference between right and wrong and choosing right. Ethics is morally acting in such a way as to bring the greatest good for the greatest number. We must develop the ability to distinguish between right and wrong. The underlying principle is to do no harm and to be at peace in the world. EGO: Flip the palms up and extend out the index finger – the ego. In difficult times, people tend to lose their faith and resort to shortcuts and questionable practices. This is the ego directing one into what may seem like good tactics for success, but in the end, they will leave deep scars on their consciousness and influence the course of their future lives in adverse ways. Pull the finger in and place the thumb on top. Take a breath and surrender to the soul. The soul reminds us to act ethically from this moral base: do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Do no harm and consistently seek to do the greatest good for the greatest many. In this, you will act ethically based on the morals of the soul. May you walk the path of life with health, happiness, and peace. Doctor Lynn

LOVE IS THE SECOND TREASURE

Love comes in many shades and in many forms. Romantic love is one kind of love, but love of family, friends, interests, work, and life are aspects of love that will also fill the heart and nourish the soul. Just remember that love is not sex. It is a spiritual experience that touches the soul. Love is a precious treasure that materializes through caring, compassion, and understanding. Love may come and it may go more than once in your lifetime. No two loves will ever be the same. Romantic love may come with a burst of powerful energy, but it will evaporate and change with time. How love will change depends on whether true love is present. So do not think yourself unfortunate if you have loved and lost. Love comes and love goes without reason or cause. It is whimsical and comes as it will. If it comes, enjoy it, and if it must depart, let it go. No amount of fretting and anguishing will bring it back. Stay unattached, but never indifferent to love. This requires the capacity to endure. For love to survive, it must stay strong, balanced, and be flexible to the endless possibilities and changes of life. END: Love, like all emotions, is a state of mind capable of taking both creative and destructive paths. When love is mixed with jealousy, envy, revenge, and resentment, it becomes destructive. Therefore, we should encourage compassion, understanding, and forgiveness as dominant thoughts in our minds, and remove the destructive ones. The mind thrives on what we feed it. Through self-awareness and willpower, we can control the mind, and whenever a negative thought arises, we can find the power to change it. In love relationships, more than anything, we must constantly remind ourselves to change the way we look at things, and the way we look at things will change. Don’t get caught in the illusion of love. See it for what it is – a great treasure. EGO: Flip your palms up and extend out the index finger – love is a mighty force, but sometimes the ego uses jealousy to justify its actions. It is based on uncertainty and fear. The opposite of jealousy is trust. Pull the finger in and place the thumb on top. True love is about devotion. It means to devote ourselves to that which we love so that we might discover the true meaning of love. Love consciously cultivated can harmonize and uplift our personal relationships, enabling them to serve the soulful process of self-discovery. With this, we discover how to disseminate joy, cheer, and bliss to all. But this takes work, and that is why we are here on Earth: to work our karma. Consciously work to create authentic and meaningful love, and you will discover one of the great treasures of life. Here is a story of love and devotion: In Ireland, there is a church that, until several years ago, held the heart of Saint Lawrence, who fought to free Ireland from oppression. Upon his deathbed, he asked that his heart be taken, encased in a leather case, and placed in Christ Church in Dublin to show his deep devotion and love for his country. Sadly, thieves broke into the church, tore open the case, and stole the heart. All that is left is a broken case. Never steal or break another person’s heart. It always leaves an empty, painful void. Love is truly a gift. Honor it, cherish it, and protect it. “‘Tis better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all.” -ALFRED TENNYSSON Namaste~ may you walk the path of life with health, happiness, and peace. Doctor Lynn For more http://www.doctorlynn.com

The Treasures of Life – First One - Good Health

The Treasures of Life – First One - Good Health As we look into the treasures of life, I hope to be a good teacher by showing you where to look, but not what to see. Your body, mind, and soul are the most valuable treasures, for without them, everything else in life is meaningless. Your health is your true wealth and therefore the most important thing in the world. Good health is the ultimate treasure of life, for it is with good health that we enjoy all that life has to offer. It is tough to enjoy life when you are sick and tired. Money won’t buy you good health; however, prosperity may afford you good food, warm shelter, and good medical care, things that are necessary for good health. Therefore, it is good to live in a prosperous society. According to karma, your journey on Earth is not about the body and the mind; however, without the body and the mind, the soul cannot experience this Earthly life. The body is the vehicle, and the mind is the GPS of the soul. Therefore, it is our responsibility and duty to take care of our health. Eating healthy, exercising, relaxing, reflecting, laughing, and loving are all good for our health and support the growth of our souls. . When the body, the mind, and the soul are in perfect balance, we have perfect health. And when we have perfect health, we have so much more to give to the world. A healthy, balanced human has the vital power to disseminate joy, cheer, and bliss to all equally. So, value the treasure of health above all else by taking good care of yourself. END: Honor your health, body, mind, and soul, because, without good health, the challenges of life are complex. The body is the vehicle, and the mind is the GPS of the soul. Therefore, it is our responsibility and duty to take care of our health. Eating healthy, exercising, relaxing, reflecting, laughing, and loving are all good for our health and support the growth of our souls. EGO: Flip your palm up and extend out the index finger, the symbol of the ego. The ego is the part of us that sometimes takes our health for granted. It is here to protect us, and for that, it does a pretty good job, but we need to be careful that it does not forget that without our health, its power is useless. Pull your finger in and place your thumb on top—the symbol of the soul. Take a breath and surrender to the soul. Honor your health, body, mind, and soul by valuing this treasure above all else. A quote: “When health is absent, wisdom cannot reveal itself, art cannot become manifest, strength cannot be exerted, wealth is useless, and reason is powerless.” HEROPHILIES, 300 B.C. Namaste~ may you walk the path of life with health, happiness, and peace. Doctor Lynn For more http://www.doctorlynn.com

THE TREASURES OF LIFE

The Nidhi is a symbolic container that holds all the treasures of life. The main message is simple: everyone has access to these treasures if they learn to recognize and unlock them from within. By understanding and using these treasures wisely, we determine our own experience of poverty or prosperity. Though the Nidhi’s secrets are mysterious, once uncovered, they reveal their gifts to all. Here is a philosophical interpretation of Nidhi and the path to discovering its treasures: A person is drawn to pleasurable objects only when they seem to be real, permanent, and potentially satisfying. When we understand that all objects in life are not permanent and are always subject to change, our minds become calm, and we strive towards higher attainment. According to the ancient text of Padmini Vidya, nine obstacles prevent us from finding the Nidhi’s and nine characteristics or qualities required to discover them. Remove the obstacles and develop the characteristics, and you will discover how to use the treasures of life to prosper. The nine obstacles are ill health, boredom and apathy, doubting oneself, being scattered and careless, doubting one’s progress (comparing oneself to others), uncontrolled craving and desires, allowing your life to get heavy and burnt out, getting caught up in the maya or the illusion of life, and failing to practice, nothing can be achieved without continual practice. The nine characteristics: The nine characteristics to discover the Nidhi are: be calm, demonstrate self-discipline, withdraw and reflect, observe without judgment, appreciate life intellectually and sincerely, endure hardship, discern what is right, develop unwavering faith, and strive for self-perfection. Achieving this takes effort—this is karma and our purpose. Remember, the main message: cultivate these within to find your treasures. END: In summary, life’s treasures are accessible to all. The main message: look within yourself, remove the obstacles, and develop the necessary qualities. By doing so, you will discover the Nidhi—the container of life’s treasures—and unlock prosperity from within. EGO: Flip your palms up and extend out the index finger – the ego. The ego draws us to what we believe to be real, permanent, and potentially satisfying. However, when we realize that these things are not permanent and ever-changing, it causes the ego to cling out of fear of losing what we crave. This can lead us to become scattered and careless. Pull your finger in and place your thumb on top, take a breath, and surrender to the soul. The soul reminds us to stay calm and to have unfathomable faith in ourselves, for in life, everything is constantly changing, except that which you cultivate within. So strive to be the perfect human being, true to yourself, do no harm, and equally disseminate health, happiness, and peace to all – even your enemies and those who may have done you wrong. The law of karma states that the energy you put out is the energy that will come back to you. Wish health, happiness, and peace to all, and you will receive the greatest gifts of life – health, happiness, and peace. Namaste~ may you walk the path of life with health, happiness, and peace. Doctor Lynn For books, classes, and more http://www.doctorlynn.com

How to Prosper with a Purpose ~ here and now

Yoga encompasses various practices; Hatha yoga teaches us to care for our bodies and involves postures and breath control. Karma yoga instructs us on how to approach our work with a sense of purpose while correcting our actions—it is often called the yoga of selfless action. A less familiar branch, Padmini Vidya, teaches us how to become prosperous, enabling us to make our lives and the world a better place. Padmini Vidya is the science of the subtle forces, sometimes described as spiritual techniques, used to attract wealth and thus success. However, wealth is not merely about accumulating money and material goods. It is about the active and willful control of the energy of consciousness towards one’s benefit. This is the greatest source of wealth. In life, you benefit from being happy and healthy. To control the energy of willful consciousness requires the ability to flow with life. Gratitude for what you have rather than constant desire for what you don’t have is the first step. When you are grateful, you appreciate, and when you appreciate, you move with a sense of grace and refinement. Reach out to develop your highest potential and pay attention to how gracefully you move through the space you occupy. To move gracefully requires balance, strength, and flexibility, not just in your body but in your mind and your soul. Controlling your consciousness is more than pure positive thinking. This stream of energy can reshape your life in either positive or negative ways, depending upon how you use it. Wealth can bestow great power, while its misuse will surely bring suffering. The universe has a perfect accounting system. No deed, good or bad, goes unnoticed. Consciously pay attention to what you think, say, and do. Good deeds will bring true wealth to your life. But it requires work – let’s get started. END: Creating a wealthy life requires the ability to apply the following success formula towards your desired goal. You must have a vision or focus, and then the desire to bring it to life. You must be willing to work diligently, consistently, and persistently with a well-developed plan to achieve the desired results. The formula is: Vision + Desire + Plan + Consistency + Persistence = Success. All of this must be backed with a positive stream of prosperity consciousness if you are to prosper. But as well as determination, we also need punya, which means merits earned through our actions in this life and our past lives. When we see people who are wealthy and successful, the Buddhists and the Hindus would call this punya that was earned from a past life. In the Western world, we might refer to it as luck. Karma yoga refers to the “good” karma you have earned from past lives, as well as the merits you are accumulating in this life. Wealth is not necessarily measured in terms of money. It might appear as talent, integrity, love, virtue, value, beauty, status, worthiness, assets, honor, or goodness. Look for the things in your life that bring you joy, and you will discover the true meaning of a wealthy life. EGO: Flip your palms up and stick out your index finger – symbol of the ego. If we want to create good deeds, we must exhaust misdeeds, which means demerit or bad karma. To achieve this, we must transcend the ego consciousness, which keeps us separate and in a constant state of survival. Remember, karma attaches itself to our actions, our thoughts, and our speech. Therefore, we must be consciously aware of how our actions, thoughts, and words impact our lives. Pull your finger in and place your thumb on top of it. Take a breath and surrender to your soul. There are three basic methods of developing good deeds: giving without expecting a return, living a virtuous life, and spreading goodwill. These align with the ten ways to accumulate good merits. They are: Give, Observe virtue, Concentration and focus, Honoring others, Be of service, Dedication, Be happy for others' good fortune, Listen to and practice virtuous teaching, and Instruct others in being virtuous. Give without expectation and look for the things in your life that bring you joy, and you will discover the true meaning of a wealthy life. Namaste~ may you walk the path of life with health, happiness, and peace Doctor Lynn