The Mystery of Life ~ Karma Yoga

What is the mystery of life? What is our Earth life really about? It is the quest to understand life's origins, processes, purpose, and significance. Whether approached through science, philosophy, or faith, the mystery of life invites wonder, reflection, and a deeper engagement with existence itself. We are here on Earth, in physical form, with a body and a mind, to discover the purpose of existence. Yet life remains a mystery because most of humanity does not realize that every moment can be experienced as either heaven or hell. The difference lies in how we approach and understand life's dynamics. Karma yoga teaches that as we think, speak, and act, so we become. When we begin to understand why we are here and what life is truly about, three profound truths are revealed. 1. Our daily lives and our spiritual journey are the same. They are not separate paths. Life is about understanding, correcting, and refining our karmic energy. It is not defined by our bank account, our home, our career, or our youth. 2. We are not here to discover a secret formula that makes life easy. We are here to discover bliss—not as an unconscious state, but as a conscious awareness of our true nature. Think of a time when you were ill or in pain. Do you remember the first day you felt well again, when the pain subsided? That moment is pure bliss. In everyday life, we often take our health and comfort for granted until they are gone. 3. According to karma yoga, we reincarnate. Energy is never lost; it simply changes form. Therefore, we are immortal. Every moment of life leaves an impression on the body, the mind, and the soul. Each moment can be lived as either heaven or hell, and you choose the impressions you carry forward. What we create here on Earth is what we take with us when we depart. Live your life as if you were living it in eternity. All of this requires discipline, conscious effort, and consistent practice. It cannot be attained without balance, flexibility, strength, and moments of stillness. Let us begin. Conclusion Life can be experienced as either heaven or hell. How we perceive life and what we do with it shape our karma. It takes commitment and inner work to attain and sustain a state of bliss, especially in the face of adversity, illness, and pain. The important thing is to remain aware of your state of being and remember that you have the power to choose how you respond to life's circumstances. That is karma. Live each moment as if you were living it in eternity, and remember: the mystery of life is not something to solve, but something to experience and understand. Ego Turn your palms upward and extend your index fingers—the symbol of the ego. The ego is the part of you that seeks self-preservation. This is necessary, for we must persevere to grow and deepen our understanding of life. Yet the ego often forgets our purpose and moves beyond self-preservation into self-importance. Now gently curl your index fingers inward and place your thumbs over them. Take a breath. Surrender to the soul. Consciously surrender the ego to the understanding that we are here not to win or lose, but to learn. Life can be experienced as either heaven or hell, depending on how we approach it. Understand this, and you will discover the mystery of what life is all about. Namaste ~ may you walk the path of life with health, happiness, and peace. Doctor Lynn

Mastery

To master something requires developing one of the important characteristics of life – continual practice. You cannot master anything unless you are willing to practice, practice, practice, and just when you think you have it, practice some more. To be a master at something means to have knowledge and a great skill at knowing or doing something. But what does it mean to master your life? Karma teaches us that everything begins with awareness — specifically, understanding Maya, the illusion of life. Whenever we become attached to something, we become bound by it. True freedom comes from the ability to detach and let go, while remaining fully aware and engaged — without falling into indifference. When we master this balance, we become the masters of our own destiny. But won’t we lose all motivation for life if we simply detach from it? Not at all. Detachment does not mean we stop working or striving for success. It simply means we let go of personal attachment to outcomes. We take things as they come and as they go, without being emotionally enslaved by them. Detachment also means releasing the constant need to be right and the fear of being wrong. Is it possible to become completely desireless? As long as we have a mind, total desirelessness is nearly impossible — because desiring is the natural function of the mind. This seems like a contradiction, but the secret lies here: any desire that is free from selfish or personal motives will not bind you. When you desire to do something out of love — to share, to help others, to create, or to serve — without needing money, praise, or validation in return, you remain free. This kind of desire leads to true self-mastery and deep, soulful fulfillment. END: To master anything in life requires one of its most important characteristics — continual practice. You cannot truly master something unless you are willing to practice, practice, and practice. And just when you think you’ve finally got it… Practice some more. The greatest mastery of all is mastery over yourself. From this foundation, you gain the ability to share and help others live a fulfilled life. When we help others, we deepen our own mastery of compassion and understanding, and this is how we master our lives. EGO vs Soul Flip your palms up and extend your index finger — this is the symbol of the ego. The ego desires to be the master. It constantly attaches itself to things that bring personal satisfaction, validation, control, comparison, or competition with others. Now, gently pull your index finger back in, place your thumb on top, and take a deep breath. Surrender to your soul. The soul’s mission is to master its earthly journey by cultivating virtues such as truthfulness, generosity, kindness, and humility. These virtues teach us to detach from the fleeting desires of the world and focus on mastering ourselves. When we master ourselves, we naturally develop the ability to share and help others — free from any need for money, praise, or acceptance. This liberates us from the karmic wheel of repetition and leads to true freedom and soulful fulfillment. Whenever something enters your life, see it for what it truly is: a precious opportunity to learn, grow, and master your own path. Namaste~ may you walk the path of life with health, happiness, and peace. Doctor Lynn

Why do we practice yoga?

Often, when we practice yoga, we do so to stretch, relax, and work on our balance. Those are all good things, but yoga’s deeper practice is to use them to consciously control the mind. In yoga, the citta refers to the mind’s thoughts and emotions, which can become uncontrolled, like waves in the ocean, thrashing and crashing rather than remaining gentle ripples. Yoga is about quieting the inner world, not changing the outside world. Consciousness creates awareness, and we develop an impression of life through knowledge, imagination, and memory. From there, we project our thoughts onto the world. For one person, it may appear beautiful; for another, a complete disaster. That is why we bring the state of our minds to gentle ripples. There will always be wars, famine, brutality, and prejudice. These cause anxiety and fear, and anxiety and fear disturb our natural state of balance, quietude, and peace. Let’s get to work using flexibility, balance, and strength to see if we can bring a few moments of peace to our inner world. END If you found a moment of inner peace, you have practiced yoga. It is not the physical world that creates our reality but our inner world. How we see the world and what we project onto it is what we become. Karma teaches us that we are what we think, say, and do. But without the physical world, we could not have the experiences that allow us to see it for what it truly is—impressions that we project from the inside out. To find peace in the world, we must first find peace within. EGO: Flip our palms up and extend out the index finger – the symbol of the ego. Citta is the mind stuff. It is our center for thoughts, emotions, and processing. The mind operates on many levels. One of them is the ego, the “I.” This is the part of the mind that attaches itself to the outside world. The world is based upon your thoughts and your mental attitudes. It is from here that you see the world. But remember, what may make you happy today may be meaningless tomorrow. That is the nature of the ego—to want, and when these wants aren’t fulfilled, we thrash and crash like a wave in the ocean. Pull your finger in and place your thumb on top. Take a breath and surrender to the soul. Yoga is not about changing the outside world. It is about learning how to control the inner world, the citta. Yoga says, “As the mind goes, so goes the person.” Bondage and liberation are in your mind. If you feel bound by the world, you will be bound, but if you feel liberated, you will be liberated. And when you see the world from the mindset of gentle ripples, you are truly practicing yoga. Nothing is achieved without practice. This is why we practice yoga. Namaste ~ may you walk the path of life with health, happiness, and peace. Doctor Lynn http://www.doctorlynn.com

Yoga Today – Overcoming Obstacles

Illness, boredom, doubt, carelessness, laziness, false perceptions, failure to stay grounded, and mindful distraction are obstacles we all face. We cannot avoid feelings and emotions. They are a part of human life. One of the most difficult obstacles is feeling that we are slipping back from the progress we’ve made. This one is important to examine because we all feel, from time to time, like giving up or feeling defeated by setbacks. But we need to remember that the mind can’t function on the same level every moment. Sometimes it will be in high gear, and sometimes it needs to be idle. The practice of yoga reminds us that many obstacles or challenges will be put in our way. They are there to make us understand our capacity. For example, the tree challenges our ability to find balance. We can work to improve our balance or simply give up. Challenges teach us how to find our strength, flexibility, and balance. We need challenges and obstacles to help us; otherwise, we become lethargic and lazy. Things are constantly changing. That is the nature of life. Like a river, the water flows easily without obstruction, but add an obstacle, such as constructing a dam, and the strength of the water takes on the form of great electrical power. Same river; it now has an obstacle to overcome, allowing it to find the strength to generate great power. The river doesn’t stop – it’s not set back – it simply overcomes the obstacle. Yoga reminds us to stay grounded and balanced, as life will inevitably throw many obstacles our way. From a state of balance, flexibility, and strength, we are never thrown off by obstacles. Instead, we muster the strength to stand tall and steady, finding the inner fortitude to move past life’s obstacles without falling. It takes a strong base, an open heart, and a steady mind. Nothing is achieved without practice, so let’s practice. END: Things are constantly changing. That is the nature of life. Yoga reminds us to stay grounded and balanced, as life will inevitably throw many obstacles our way. From a state of balance, flexibility, and strength, we never get thrown off by the obstacles we face. Instead, we muster the strength to stand tall and steady, finding the inner fortitude to move past life’s obstacles without falling down. It takes a strong base, an open heart, and a steady mind. Be strong, open, and steady. EGO: Flip your palms up and extend out the index finger – symbol of the ego. When it comes to obstacles and challenges, the ego likes to win. Our personal strength is tested, and if we perceive we have failed, we feel deflated. But that is the “I’ that only sees the world in terms of success and failures. Pull the finger in a place, the thumb on top – the symbol of the soul. Take a breath and surrender to the soul. The soul is the “me” that observes life. From the soul’s perspective, there are no successes or failures. Obstacles and challenges are simply opportunities to grow and discover the true purpose of life – we are here to discover that, just like a river when faced with an obstacle, we don’t stop being the river; we adjust, overcome, and with this, we become stronger and more powerful. Namaste ~ may you walk the path of life with health, happiness, and peace. Doctor Lynn http://www.doctorlynn.com

Harmony = Vital Energy

According to karma yoga and physics, we are simply a bundle of energy, and everything in the universe is either vapor, water, or solid. And according to the laws of thermodynamics, energy is never lost, but simply changes form. Therefore, our reincarnation is simply a partial change in our energy from vapor to solid and liquid. If we take water, for example, in one form it is liquid; if we add heat (energize its molecules), it turns to vapor; and if we add cold (slow down its molecules), it turns to solid ice. Our energy field consists of all three: vapor signifies the soul, liquid the mind, and solid the body. What we see in the world is simply arranged energy, in which molecules slow down and something solid or material exists. Energy is the inherent power that drives everything. Without the power of energy, the world would not exist. But to have good health, we need more than just energy; we need vital energy, for it is essential to life. So, since vital energy is essential for the continuance of life, doesn’t it seem “vitally” important that we seek to understand our energy, as well as how to keep it in balance so that we truly live, grow, and evolve? Be aware of your energy field and how it moves throughout the class today. Observe the ethereal energy of your soul as it coincides with the fluidity of your mind and the solidity of your body. Does it collide or does it harmonize? Harmony brings vitality. Let’s see if we can find some harmony. END You are ethereal, fluid, and solid. How you connect and move the energy of your body, mind, and soul determines the level of your vital energy. To be vital means being strong, not just to sustain life but to live fully in balanced health, body, mind, and soul, finding the power within us to flow harmoniously with life. Yoga and naturopathy hold that the cause of all illness stems from an imbalance in the flow of energy within and around the body and mind. So, to stay vitally healthy, pay careful attention to how you use the energy of your body, your mind, and your soul. Does your energy collide, crash, and burn, or does it flow, integrate, and harmonize? Strive to be vital EGO: Flip your palms up and extend your index fingers. The symbol of the ego. According to yoga, the ego is the “I” or the fluid part of you that has desires and is either attracted to or repelled by things outside of yourself. Because it seeks importance, it often clashes with life, manifesting as envy, resentment, jealousy, and revenge. Pull your finger in and place the thumb on top – the symbol of the soul. Take a breath – surrender to the soul. The “me” is the quiet, soulful, ethereal part of you that observes life without desire or the need to be right or important and therefore moves harmoniously with life. Surrender the “I’ to the “me,” and you will discover within yourself the great inherent flowing movement of harmonic vital energy. Look for those moments where you simply flow and move harmoniously through life. This is vitality at its best. Namaste ~ may you walk the path of life with health, happiness, and peace. Doctor Lynn

SACRAFICE – Motherhood

Whether you are a mother or not, every one of us has or had a mother. Motherhood is often seen as the supreme sacrifice that brings with it great joy. Yoga reminds us that sacrifice performed without faith is of no value. This means having the faith to free the mind from any personal gain and just do the work for the sheer feeling of joy is the practice of sacrifice. If our minds are free from selfishness and we give without expecting a return, the world becomes a better place – an abode of peace and bliss. But this is not easy in a world full of greed. Everything in life sacrifices. It is the law of life. Everything in nature -trees, birds, animals – they all live for the sake of others. Why does a candle burn and melt away? To give light. Why does a stick of incense burn to ash? To give a fragrance. Why does a tree grow? To give fruit and flowers. Is there anything in the world that lives for its own sake? No. All sacrifice. We are here to give, give, and give, and in turn what is due us will come to us. You are here today, sacrificing an hour of your time, and, in turn, it will bring health to the body, quietness to the mind, and peace to the soul. What goes around comes around - That’s Karma. Let’s get started END: You might ask if I am here to give and make sacrifices, but how can I take care of myself? Just like the tree, if it doesn’t attend to the roots, it cannot give. So first, take care of your roots. You must live a healthy life by eating healthy food, exercising, and getting a good night's sleep so that you have the vitality to give to others. The practice of yoga is a sacrifice of your time; if you do it to bring health, happiness, and peace to your life, that sacrifice will bring you joy. If done to find peace, it will bring peace to your life, allowing you to extend that peaceful energy out into the world. Yoga reminds us to live our lives without attachment. Let things come and go as they will. As we celebrate Mother’s Day, take a moment to honor motherhood as a supreme sacrifice that gives for the betterment and continuation of life. Give from the heart without expectations, and you will discover what all the saints, prophets, and sages discovered – everything in life gives – sacrifice is the law of life. With it comes great joy. EGO. Flip your palms up and extend out the index finger – the ego. Because of egoism, there is attachment to things for the ego’s pleasure. But sometimes the things we are attached to do not come or are taken away, and this causes us to pull back and greedily hang on rather than let go and give. The greatest gift a mother can give to your children is the strength, flexibility, balance, and ability to stand independently. It means detaching and allowing them to grow and become their own person. In return, a mother will receive great joy. Pull your finger in and place your thumb on top. Take a breath and surrender to the soul. The soul reminds us that everything in life requires sacrifice. All of life gives, and in turn, what is due comes back. So this Mother’s Day, without expectations, give thanks for the sacrifice of motherhood; without it, life would not continue. Everything in this life gives. Sacrifice is the law of life. Happy Mother’s Day. Namaste ~ may you walk the path of life with health, happiness, and peace. Doctor Lynn

To Be Truly Humbled

• At its core, humility is the fundamental respect for all living beings and the acknowledgment that, in our essence, we are all divine beings with the inherent capacity for greatness. Recently, I found myself experiencing a totally humbling experience. It brought tears to my eyes, made me bow my head, and made me say to myself. “ I am truly humbled. When you experience this, you feel your own limitations in the face of something so much bigger or better. It's about recognizing "Wow, there's a whole world I still need to learn about," or "These people are on a whole other level!" Let me share the story that humbled me with you. Oksana Masters – world champion Paralympics – Four Gold Medals - Her story is truly humbling. Google her – the story is amazing and truly humbling. • END • Humility is the opposite of arrogance, pride, and conceit. Humble people are self-aware, honest about their limitations ( and we all have them), and open to learning from others. At its core, humility is the fundamental respect for all living beings and the acknowledgment that, in our essence, we are all divine beings with the inherent capacity for greatness. To practice humility, listen to others, look to the bright side of life, accept disappointment as a part of life, and ignore negativity. • Humility is not about diminishing oneself but about shifting the focus from oneself to others. This shift in perspective strengthens bonds with others and broadens awareness of the world, enriching one's well-being in body, mind, and soul. • • EGO: Flip your palms up and extend ut the index finger – the symbol of the soul. Humility in karma yoga is the counter-emotion to the great passion of pride. Pride misdirects, causing the ego to rise, and everything associated with the ego begins to increase. Arrogance, righteousness, and superiority control one's life and cause the ego to rise. • Pull your finger in a place and thumb on top of the symbol of the soul. Take a breath and surrender to your soul. With humility, the ego begins to subside. Kindness, generosity, acknowledgment, and admiration control one's life. The more profound the humility with which we conduct ourselves, the better for our health, body, mind, and soul • Humility softens the ego and acts as a powerful stress reducer. Humble individuals are more open to learning and problem-solving, leading to personal growth and a more profound sense of compassion and empathy. Their gratitude and fulfillment in life establish a profound inner peace. • Remember Oksana Masters – she is truly a cause to pause and be humble. • Namaste ~ may you walk the path of life with health, happiness, and peace. • Doctor Lynn