Contentment – the pathway to peace

Contentment is something yoga suggests we try to observe. It means to remain content with what comes into and what goes out of your life. It should be observed intellectually, verbally, and physically. Psychologically, it means to be prepared to part with anything you don’t need. On a deeper level, it means you should not be perturbed if that which you feel you need is removed from my life. Rather, you should focus on the abundance of life as well as the laws of karma. Contentment is the root of happiness, happiness is the root of a quiet mind, a quiet mind is the root of gathering energy, and gathering energy is the root of prosperity. Verbal contentment means to give up idle chatter, biter words, shouts, and insults. It means to be quiet, listen, observe, and remember that which is taken from you is not taken from you but replaced with something you need more dearly. Physical contentment means not being violent toward anyone or anything. When contentment is absent, greed increases. On a deeper level, it means forgetting past injuries and insults (practicing forgiveness) to the degree that our body-mind strives to do no harm. Contentment requires a balanced life, a strong conviction to forgive, and the flexibility to accept change – these bring us peace, and when we are content and at peace, we are prosperous. Let’s get started. END: Be content with what comes into and what goes out of your life. That which is taken from you is not taken from you but rather converted or transmuted into that which you need more dearly. Understanding this wisdom of life’s way will bring you contentment. EGO: Flip your palms up and extend out the index finger of the symbol of the ego. When contentment is absent, a person who possesses one thing desires to possess a hundred things. A person who possesses a hundred things desires to possess a thousand. A person who possesses a thousand things desires a million. This is the nature of greed. Pull your finger in and place your thumb on top. The symbol of the soul. Take a breath and surrender to the soul. A mountain is great, the sky is greater, reality is the greatest of all. But greed surpasses all, for it holds the world in its grip. Therefore, the soul that renounces greed and acquires contentment has everything. Namaste~ may you walk the path of life with health, happiness, and peace. Doctor Lynn

The YAMAS – suggestion for living a soulful life

The first is nonviolence, the second is truthfulness, and the third is non-stealing. All should be practiced in thought, word, and deed. For most people, non-stealing means non-theft. In yoga, however, it means not to commit theft physically and not to cause or approve of anyone else doing so in thoughts, words, or actions. The three ways to observe non-stealing are intellectual, verbal, and physical. We also need to be careful not to steal from ourselves, which often stems from fear of not being “enough,” leading to overwork, missed rest, or emotional depletion. Observing intellectual non-stealing is most difficult, for it implies that we should not even think about wanting to take something that belongs to another. It does not mean we cannot see something another person has, admire it, and wish to acquire it, but anything we acquire must be done through our own efforts. According to yoga, what you have not earned has not yet been presented to you. Anything coming into your life, you have earned it, and it has the potential to bring you happiness. However, anything coming into your life that has not been earned will bring struggle, difficulty, and perhaps unhappiness. Verbal non- stealing implies that you should not steal what belongs to another on a verbal level, such as stealing one’s dignity. pride, happiness, moment of glory, or mental values. You should not injure a person's character in any way, shape, or form, Physical non-stealing – to take an object by deceit, force, skullduggery, or without permission is physical theft. If you want something, you must realize that it must be earned. This produces stability, balance, self-sufficiency, and a peaceful state of being. Let’s see if we can find this today. END: By the practice of non-violence. Truthfulness and non-stealing, we begin to gain the ability to cleanse, gather, and lift the lifeforce, and with this, our goal of soulful realization becomes clearer. Be peaceful, truthful, and willing to do the work to bring health, happiness, and peace to the body, mind, and soul. This extends far beyond literal theft—it includes stealing time, energy, creativity, truth, and emotional presence from others and from oneself EGO: Flip your palms up and extend out the index finger – the ego. Ego and stealing are linked because the ego often drives us to: • Compare ourselves to others, measuring worth through achievement rather than inner growth • Perform to gain approval, which can lead to overexertion and emotional “theft” from others • Protect or inflate the self by interrupting or “one-upping” others, which steals their sense of value • Pull your finger in place, the thumb on top - the symbol of the soul. Take a breath and surrender to the soul. • Yoga’s approach is to redirect attention inward—to the breath, the present moment, and the true self beneath the ego’s surface. By cultivating self-awareness, humility, and presence, we reduce the ego’s need to “steal” from others or ourselves. This aligns with the yogic ideal of non-harming) and (truth), where honesty and respect for others’ and our own boundaries are central to living a healthy, happy, and peaceful life. Namaste~ may you walk the path of life with health, happiness, and peace. Doctor Lynn

TRUTH – finding it in a chaotic world

The Yamas – things to practice – nonviolence and truthfulness, all to be practiced in body, mind, and soul. In today’s world, it is easy to get misled by what is true. The news, for example, is full of bias and opinions, making it hard to discern between what is truth and what is not. That is why yoga teaches us that truthfulness begins within each of us and is to be practiced on three levels. Truthfulness begins with the intellect. It prompts us to ask: What is the truth? If you can quiet your mind, you will be able to discover the answer to this question. What you choose determines the truth of who you are. For example, you have the choice to be kind or to be unkind. If you choose to be unkind, you become unkind; if you choose to be kind, you become kind. You have the power to choose the truth you wish to live through your thoughts, words, and deeds. Take some time to intellectually look deep within, be honest with yourself, find your truth, and then choose wisely. Next, we need to practice being truthful in our words. Sometimes a very difficult task! Yoga reminds us to speak the truth, but adds the caveat that it is good to speak the truth, but better to speak that which benefits others. Often, we are compelled to speak the truth without regard for how it might hurt others. Words that hurt create violence, so when speaking the truth, nonviolence (nonharm) should always be observed. Always seek to do the greatest good for the greatest number. In terms of verbal truthfulness, it is also important to try to keep your word. If you make a promise, attempt to keep it, but be aware that there may be times when you cannot. Just remember not to make false promises with no intention of keeping them. Here is a story: A yogi sat in the woods, meditating. A beautiful deer ran by. The yogi smiled at the grace and power of the animal. Shortly thereafter, a hunter came by and asked the yogi if he had seen the deer. If the yogi tells the truth, the hunter will kill the deer - violence. On the other hand, if he does not tell the hunter the truth, he will violate the practice of verbal truthfulness. What should he do? It is late in the season, and if he does not tell the truth, the hunter and his family will starve; if he tells the truth, the deer will be killed. What should he do? The third practice is Physical truthfulness: your outward acts and deeds reflect the truth you live. Consciously practicing physical truthfulness is akin to doing good deeds. This uplifts the soul and makes it easier to travel the soulful path of life. Just remember, as you think, say, and do, you become, and in this, you will become aware of the truth within. Let’s get started END Whatever situation you encounter in life, remember that the truth is practiced through your thoughts, words, and deeds. Sometimes it is hard to find truth in a competitive and chaotic world. Yoga reminds us that truth is found within. You become what you think, say, and do. Look to your intentions and how your truth relates to all of life, and then seek to do no harm; always choosing the greatest good for the greatest number. What is the truth? You are the truth; it lives within you. Choose wisely and live it. EGO Flip up your palm and extend out your index finger. Let’s take a moment and connect with the ego. Sometimes the ego can push us into saying things and reacting in ways that can hurt others. A moment of reflection will help you to realize that if you pull the ego back (Your index finger) and place your thumb on top (the symbol of your soul), take a breath, and surrender to the soul, your higher power will remind you that the truth is found within, so live truthfully in your thoughts, words, and deeds. Namaste ~ may you walk the path of life with health, happiness, and peace. Doctor Lynn

An Argument for Non-Violence - The Morales and Ethics of Karma

Yoga suggests there are things we should abstain from and things we should observe. We call these Yamas and Niyamas. They are not rules for living. They are suggestions for living a more peaceful existence. The Yamas and the Niyamas are much like the Ten Commandments. They are moral guideposts. The first Yama is to abstain from violence. It has been suggested that if we practiced just this one Yama, we probably would not need to focus on the other four Yamas. All Yamas and Niyams should be practiced in thoughts, words, and actions. If we could remove violent thoughts, abusive words, insulting statements, angry speech, bad advice, and any kind of physical abuse to either ourselves or someone or something else, we probably would not need to focus too heavily on abstaining from the four great passions of deceit, greed, anger, and pride. If violence were to disappear from the human equation, there would be no need for war. We would preserve the environment, and all humans would live together in peace. But this is a utopia that has never existed. So Yoga reminds us to start within ourselves by choosing our thoughts, words, and actions carefully. In this, we will begin to remove violence at its core. Because the potential to be violent exists within every one of us. The only way to remove it is to become aware and then actively seek not to harm. When living a balanced, open, strong, and peaceful life, it is easier to practice the Yama of nonviolence. Let’s work on finding some balance, flexibility, strength, and peace today. END: Sitting here in this peaceful moment, be aware of how wonderful peace feels within your body, mind, and soul. We cannot stop the violence in the world. But we can do our part to bring about peace by refraining from physical harm, avoiding hurtful words, and mastering our thoughts, moods, and attitudes. Just practice compassion and understanding. Remember, we are all connected to the universal spiritual energy of life. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. EGO: flip your palms up and extend out the index finger - the ego. Violence springs from separateness, comparison, and jealousy. Comparison gets us into trouble, but in truth, there is no comparison in the world. Each of us is unique on our own individual journey, and yet we need each other to complete our mission. So although we are separate, we are connected. Here is where we get into trouble because it is the ego that keeps us separated and feeds the four great passions. Pull your finger in and place your thumb on top, take a breath, and surrender to the soul. To transcend the ego is to connect with the universal energy of life. In this state of being, we can do no harm because to harm anyone or anything is to harm all of life. Extremism like terrorism pits life against life. In an attempt to harm and destroy, the perpetrators harm themselves, their families, and their culture. Non-violence is to be observed on all three levels: thought, words, and action. A wound caused by an arrow heals swiftly, but a wound caused by violent words heals slowly. Just remember that the spiritual energy that permeates your life permeates all of life. Practice nonviolence and live in peace. Namaste~ may you walk the path of life with health, happiness, and peace. http://www.doctorlynn.com