The Second Obstacle—Boredom and Apathy

The second obstacle is what the Buddhists and Yogis call "sunyata," meaning empty and void. This also means to have apathy and boredom. Boredom and apathy can appear in many ways, but these are a few common experiences: lack of interest in activities, inability to stay interested in anything for more than brief periods, inability to rest and relax, no feeling of excitement, and difficulty staying motivated. When we experience any or all of these, we feel unfulfilled and unable to connect to our surroundings. Boredom can appear in two ways: lethargic (feeling tired) or agitated (feeling irritated). Neither of these leads to happiness, fulfillment, or success. Boredom is an emotion or signal that lets you know you are doing something that doesn’t satisfy you. Boredom could tell you two things: that you are not fully present and engaged in your current task or that your task is not meaningful. Quite prevalent in our modern world is the constant stimulation and searching for the next big thing and new experiences. These often get replaced with dull ambivalence. We get tired of pursuing our goals as they fall into overstimulation or become routine. In yoga, "tamas" is mind energy that arises from ignorance and prevents a person from finding their soulful path. Tamasic qualities are laziness, anger, attachment, depression, dependency, self-doubt, guilt, boredom, irritation, addiction, apathy, confusion, grief, and ignorance. When we replace them with enthusiasm and joy, we find satisfaction, happiness, and success. This is why yoga makes it the first order of business to tame the mind of its "chitta" (fluctuations) and find peace; to tame the mind, one must be enthusiastic, focused, aware, and kind. END: The first two obstacles The first two obstacles to overcome to find soulful happiness and success are ill health and boredom. Neither of these will give you the vitality and enthusiasm for life. We are here to work our karma; part of that work is striving to overcome life's obstacles. It is impossible to work your karma if you are ill and apathetic about life. But if you are healthy, energetic, and enthusiastic about your life, you will always find that success and happiness are with you. Appreciate life, and you will live a satisfying and enriched life. That is why we are here: to find happiness and joy. EGO: Flip your palms up and extend out your index finger—the symbol of the ego. The ego wants satisfaction, but it is never satisfied. It always wants more. When you give the ego what it wants, it’s only satisfied for a fraction of the time before it starts to want more again. This causes us to get bored and apathetic. Pull your index finger in and place your thumb on top—the symbol of your soul. Take a breath and surrender to your soul. There is no right or wrong way to control your ego. Find what works for you. When you find what works, the key is consistency. When conflicts arise, take a moment to get quiet and listen to your inner voice. Be aware of what you are trying to achieve in your life. If it's joy, act accordingly. To overcome the obstacles of life, be healthy, and be enthusiastic Namaste~ may you walk the path of life with health, happiness, and peace Doctor Lynn For books, classes, consultations, and more http://www.doctorlynn.com

NINE OBSTACLES THAT IMPEDE OUR KARMIC WORK

Karma yoga teaches us that if we want to prosper, we must overcome the nine obstacles that impede our progress. Each obstacle must be examined and then counterbalanced or worked through by developing the nine characteristics or qualities that allow us to overcome it. Pay attention to the moment of ego awareness at the end of each obstacle. First, we need to identify the nine obstacles. The First Obstacle—Ill Health You probably didn’t get up this morning and think about how grateful you are for good health and the ability to navigate your life easily. That’s because we take good health for granted until we lose it. Yoga teaches us that the first thing we should do daily is maintain good health; everything else is meaningless without it. Pay attention to the three pillars of health daily: diet, exercise, and sleep. These are the foundations for keeping the body and the mind healthy. Attitude and gratitude for the wonderful things the body can do should be our focus so that we stay healthy and fit. Remember, the soul is here to do its earthly work and needs a healthy body and mind to do the job. END: Consciously do what you can to prevent illness rather than take your health for granted. Karma yoga is about being consciously aware of everything you think, say, and do and act in a way that creates the greatest good. Nothing in this world could be better than a healthy body and mind assisting the soul in completing its Earthly mission: being aware of and then overcoming life's obstacles from a peaceful, healthy perspective. EGO: flip your hands up and rest them on your knees. Extend out the index finger—the symbol of the ego. The ego fights for your survival. It strives to maintain its strength but often confuses strength for power. In its power struggle to excel it often takes on stress and anxiety, leading to ill health. The ego fights to maintain its importance. Do not seek to extinguish the ego. It is for your self-preservation and self-identity. Seek to temper it by drawing your index finger in and placing your thumb on top, which symbolizes your soul. Take a breath and surrender to your soul. Remember that from the soul’s perspective, we are here on Earth to overcome life's obstacles. To overcome life’s obstacles, practice karma and focus on the three pillars of health: diet, exercise, and sleep. Practicing karma yoga, you will make great progress in your life. You will learn how to overcome life's many challenges and obstacles through continual practice. Overcome ill health by making healthy choices. Namaste~ may you walk the path of life with health, happiness, and peace Doctor Lynn For consultations, books, classes, and more http://www.doctorlynn.com

KARMA – REVIEW 2024 – Read past blogs KARMA YOGA – 2025 – The Secret Pathway to LIBERATION

The Four Hands of Lakshmi Reincarnation: why are we here? D-GAP the four great passions Blocks that prevent us from working our karma The troublesome four – watch out for these END: Karma does not mean good or bad—it simply means cause and effect, so pay attention to what you think, say, and do because what you project into the world will eventually return to you. What goes around comes around, so be honest, generous, kind, and humble. EGO: Flip up your palms and extend out the index finger – the symbol of the ego. The ego acts out of harmful intentions like revenge, resentment, greed, or jealousy. Be careful because the ego can trap you into perpetuating negative karma and suffering. The ego is connected to the body, and according to the laws of karma, each body is a result of past karma. The body continues its connection to the ego as long as there is karma for you to work through. Pull your index finger in and place your thumb on top. Take a breath and surrender to your soul. “Good” karma is all about acting selflessly without expectations. This can only be done when you tap into your soul, for at the soul level, we are all one in this vast universe of energy, and what we do to one, we do to all, so be honest, generous, kind, and humble because you are what you think, say and do. HAPPY NEW YEAR – follow along in 2025 as we work deeper into the laws of Karma. Namaste~ may you walk the path of life with health, happiness, and peace. Doctor Lynn For consultations, classes, books, and more http://www.doctorlynn.com