Polarity – Karma Yoga

According to yoga, there is a supreme consciousness or energy that supports and sustains the entire universe. The path of yoga is one of surrender to this energy with complete devotion. When this happens, it is said that we no longer have desires. And when we no longer have desires, we no longer need to act—we have learned our lessons, become complete, and no longer need to live out our karma. Imagine a circle. You can see the space within it and the space outside of it. The space within is finite, while the space beyond it is infinite. If you accept that there is finite space within the circle, you must also accept that there is infinite space outside of it. Yoga teaches that to understand anything, we must tap into the energy of polarity—the existence of opposites. To know light, we must know darkness. To know left, we must know right. We cannot fully understand one without the other. For example, as soon as you say you are a man, you acknowledge the existence of a woman. If you say left, there must be right. One gives meaning to the other. In the same way, to understand the finite space of our individual lives, we must also accept, embrace, and acknowledge the infinite—the supreme, all-knowing energy of the universe. To discover and connect with this infinite energy, we need to bring balance, flexibility, strength, and peace into our lives. Without this balance, we can become adrift in the finite space of unmet desires. That is why we practice yoga. Closing Reflection We live in a world of finite space, and yet beyond us lies the infinite, expansive energy of the universe. It takes trust to accept, embrace, and acknowledge that which we cannot grasp within the confines of our finite world. We are simultaneously both finite and infinite—individual beings connected to the universal energy that flows through all of life. We cannot have one without the other. The infinite is within you. It is you. And you are connected to the infinite energy of the universe—the energy that connects us all at the heart of our souls. It reminds us that we are both the finite circle of our individual lives and the infinite space that binds us to all of creation. Ego Flip your palms up and extend your index fingers—the symbol of the ego. The ego is the part of us that wants certainty and believes it has the power to control outcomes. It lives within the finite space of our lives, and when challenged by the unknown, it quickly retreats into a state of fear. There are three fundamental fears in life: the fear of failure, the fear of not being accepted and loved, and the fear of death. The ego fears all of these. Now, pull your fingers into a gentle fist, with the thumb resting on top. Take a breath and surrender to the soul. The soul is infinite. It is your essence, unbound by the limitations of the finite world. It takes trust to accept, embrace, and acknowledge that which we cannot grasp within the confines of our finite reality. Trust your soul. It is your universal guide. Namaste~ may you walk the path of life with health. Happiness and peace Doctor Lynn