Humor is the Tenth Treasure

Never lose your sense of humor! Laughter is one of the most healing sounds in the world. We have all heard the saying, “Laughter is the best medicine.” And science now affirms what yogic sages have long known. Humor is a treasure. Research shows that laughter strengthens the immune system, reduces stress, improves mood, and supports emotional resilience. People with a well-developed sense of self cope better with adversity, and many studies suggest they even live longer. Across all cultures and throughout the ages, humor is a fundamental part of being human. It connects us. It fosters intimacy. It softens sorrow. It helps us endure hardships. A healthy sense of humor deepens learning, encourages wisdom, and supports emotional well-being. It gives perspective when life feels heavy. In yoga philosophy, maya means illusion or boundaries – not that the world itself is unreal, but that our perceptions of it can be distorted. The experiences we have are real and purposeful; they are here to teach us about our true nature. Humor helps loosen the grip of illusion. When we laugh, we step back from rigid perceptions. We see more clearly. We remember that we are more than our temporary challenges. Our sense of humor is part of our true nature and integral to how we see the world. Never lose your sense of humor – it takes conscious effort not to lose it. Let’s get started. END: Life will present us with many challenges. Each of these will test our resilience. If you cannot laugh at yourself and at the craziness of life, you will lose two of the great pleasures of life: laughter and a sense of humor. Never lose it! It’s a great treasure. EGO: Flip your palms up and extend out the index finger – the symbol of the ego. When it comes to humor, keep your ego in check. True humor never mocks, ridicules, or wounds. It uplifts. It allows us to laugh with others, and not at them. It includes the sacred ability to laugh at ourselves – to lovingly accept our own quirks and imperfections. Pull your finger in and place your thumb on top. Take a breath and surrender to the soul. When we release defensiveness and self-importance, we find the humor woven throughout all of life. We discover that laughter is strength. It is resilience. It is perspective. To me, the most beautiful sound in the world is to hear the ones I love laughing. I know in those moments they are experiencing pleasure, one of the great aims in life. At its core, humor is not about jokes. It is about perspective. When we can hold life lightly with a sense of humor, we are not dismissing it — we are trusting it. Humor is wisdom with a smile. A sincere and intellectual appreciation for life will keep you laughing. The late Jimmy Buffett said, “If we couldn’t laugh, we would all go insane.” Humor is truly a great gift. Namaste ~ may you walk the path of life with health, happiness, and peace. Doctor Lynn

Tenacity is the Ninth Treasure

Through tenacity, we learn to consistently apply potential energy to our endeavors. Without it, nothing will be achieved. Tenacity is at the head of the list when it comes to the use of potential energy. Nothing can exist that doesn’t exist as potential energy. Potential energy, unlike kinetic energy, which is energy in motion, is stored energy that exists by virtue of its relative position to everything else in the universe. Just by your existence in relationship to everything else in the world, you have been given the treasure of potential energy. Tenacity is the engine that keeps our potential energy moving forward. Without the ability to endure hardships and suffering, nothing is achieved. Success is impossible without the willpower and determination to overcome hurdles and difficulties. Tenacity is the ability not to give up, even in the face of defeat. It is an intuitive understanding that defeat is only temporary. The ability to keep marching through all of life’s ups and downs is the mark of a tenacious person. In yoga, it is said that without the ability to endure great hardships, self-discipline cannot be attained, and character cannot be built. Without self-discipline, contentment and happiness are impossible. Without contentment and happiness, it is impossible to prosper. It is through tenacity that a person unleashes the potential energy to attain the unattainable. Let’s get started. END: The ability to keep marching through all of life’s ups and downs is the mark of a tenacious person. In yoga, it is said that without the ability to endure great hardships, self-discipline cannot be attained, and character cannot be built. Without self-discipline, contentment and happiness are impossible. Without contentment and happiness, it is impossible to prosper. It is through tenacity that a person unleashes the potential energy to attain the unattainable. EGO: Flip your palms up and extend the index finger – the ego. You have been given potential energy as a gifted treasure. It is very powerful, but useless without conscious thought and action to bring it to fruition. It requires tenacity to bring anything to life. The ego helps us to manage our environment, emotions, and relationships, but when it becomes indifferent, it is often viewed as a form of nothingness that negates desire. We lose the concern for the world around us and thus the motivation to make constructive change. When the ego becomes indifferent and ego-centric, it gives away tenacity and replaces it with complacency. Nothing gets done. Pull your finger in and place your thumb on top. Take a breath and surrender to your soul. Controlling the ego and detaching from external desires, Kamra yoga teaches us to harness our energy with great tenacity and focus towards the betterment of ourselves, others, and the world. By associating tenacity with spiritual principles such as seeking to bring happiness and peace to the world, we are reminded that not much in life is achieved without the power to endure, and that requires the great treasure of tenacity. Namaste~ may you walk the path of life with health, happiness, and peace. Doctor Lynn

Authority: A Treasure to be used wisely

Authority means to have the power or right to give orders, to make decisions, and to enforce rules of order. This is truly a treasure of great importance, for it has the power to create or destroy depending upon one’s moral and ethical underpinnings. Just remember that orders, decisions, and rules of conduct based on good, sound morals and ethics are the basis of a prosperous society. We all have some level of authority. Mostly, it is the authority we have over our own conduct, perception, and attitudes. Be careful that your conduct does not run counter to your moral and ethical principles. So, although we often think of authority as someone with great power, it is a treasure we all share. Authority means the power to make and implement rules of order. Whether it is the head of a household or the head of a nation, their rules must be followed. Leaders must lead, and people must follow proper modes of conduct if any group, small or large, is to prosper. The problems arise when authority and power are misused due to greed, deceit, anger, and pride. The four great passions will lead to destruction if not tethered by ethical and moral codes of conduct. Never forget that life has a perfect accounting system. Nothing goes unbalanced or unnoticed. The laws of karma state that for every effect there will be a cause. Life becomes what life does. END Authority carries great responsibility. Someone of great authority is often known as an expert and therefore holds great knowledge. This knowledge often grants power, prestige, and position. Authority also means to have the legal and formal rights to give orders and make decisions. How we use this authority determines whether a person, a family, a group, or a society prospers. EGO: Flip your palms up and extend the index finger – the ego. Ego authority centers on desire, will, and integrity, residing in a place of the inner truth. Yoga encourages us, when we come from the ego, to engage in self-reflection to discern our true desires from temporary impulses, ensuring that our decisions align with our authentic selves. Pull your index finger in a place and your thumb on top. Take a breath and surrender to your soul – your authentic self. We all have the treasure of authority. Every day, we make decisions and enforce rules of order. The moral duty of anyone in a place of power and authority is to make the world a better place by making those over whom they have power and authority healthy, happy, and safe. Their happiness and welfare then become the leader’s. When this happens, everyone prospers. Sincerity and appreciation for life are required to discover this treasure. Authority is truly a great treasure. Use it wisely, and you will prosper. Namaste~ may you walk the path of life with health, happiness, and peace. Doctor Lynn

Power is the Seventh Treasure

Power is referred to as the ability to influence the will or conduct of others. It is also the ability to direct your energy toward your goals and to control your conduct. Power resides within the individual. It is independent and informal, derived from charisma and status. Power allows a person to influence and set an example for millions of people. On a smaller scale, we have power over our children, employees, students, family members, friends, and ourselves. How we use power determines our prosperity. Misuse of power is known as manipulation. It may gain you the upper hand temporarily, but it will at some point bring rebellion, disgust, hatred, humiliation, and destruction. Think of all the powerful leaders who misused their power. Most were eventually met with great opposition, defeat, and death. Power at its best empowers you and others to make the world a better place. Power is a mighty force. Whether we believe it or not, we all have power. We have the power to persuade, to direct, to dominate, to master, and to teach. In all our relationships in the world, we have the power to do good deeds and act unselfishly, or to manipulate and control. If power is attained without the right moral and ethical underpinning, it can become a destructive force justified by selfish means. A parent guides a child with a strong sense of right and wrong, based on honesty and openness. This is power at its best. We help a friend by lending our support. We teach each other how to be good partners in a relationship. All of these involve teaching, guiding, directing, and even persuading and dominating. It’s all about the intent and how that intent is directed. That is the beauty of power. Like the expansion and contraction of our breath, life has a natural rhythm of exchange. When power is exchanged with compassion and love, our thoughts, words, and deeds align with our sense of right and wrong. Let’s work on our power today. END: Knowing that you can create your own reality is a very powerful thought. Add to this the power we all have to influence, sway, coach, and instruct, and we can see how important it is that power is used for good. If a friend asks your opinion about a life issue or needs a little support, are you able to guide them unselfishly? You have just been promoted and are now in charge of other people. Do you treat them fairly, or are you overcome with a sense of misguided power and seek to rule rather than lead? Do we use power to buy and control other people, or do we use it to help other people excel? These are moral and ethical questions that sit at the base of power EGO: Flip your palms up and extend the index finger – the ego. According to yoga, the world began as unmanifested pure consciousness. When the universe began to manifest, the ego was born, then the individual, and then the mind. From the mind arrived the gross physical world. As we think, so our world exists. This is the power of life. It is called free will. What we see outside ourselves is our manifestation of the physical world. But what we must always remember is that everything in life evolves and dissolves. When we lose the evolutionary process and live in fear of dissolution, power can corrupt. Pull your index finger in and place the thumb on top – take a breath and surrender to the soul. Knowing that you can create your own reality is a very powerful thought. Add to this the power we all have to influence, sway, coach, and instruct, and we can see how important it is that power is used for good. When power is grounded in love, compassion, and understanding, there is always a moral and ethical guidepost to help us make decisions. If you wish to prosper, do not give away your power and do not abuse it. As Sri Chinmoy reminded us, “The day the power of love overrules the love of power, the world will know peace.” Namaste~ may you walk the path of life with health, happiness, and peace, Doctor Lynn