The Soulful Path Karma Yoga: Staying on the Path

According to Karma Yoga, when we come into this world, we come as a soul taking on a body and a mind for the soul’s evolution. We choose the life that best leads us along our soulful path toward our own enlightenment. But the path is not easy. It takes work—and that is karma. Along the way, we will face many challenges. One of them is learning to practice truthfulness rather than dishonesty. Yet even truthfulness can be confusing. We are taught to tell the truth, while at the same time, we are taught to do no harm. Here is a simple story to illustrate. Once, a yogi was meditating in the woods. A beautiful deer ran past him and disappeared into the dense trees. The yogi was awestruck by its beauty. A few minutes later, a hunter came by and asked the yogi if he had seen the deer and which way it had gone. Now the yogi faced a dilemma. If he told the hunter the truth, the deer would likely be killed. If he lied, however, he would be acting dishonestly—and the hunter and his family might depend upon his success for their food. What should he do? When we are caught between two choices, we must consider which action will create the greatest good and the least harm. Sometimes, truthfulness requires more than simply speaking what is factually true. It requires wisdom, compassion, and awareness of the consequences of our actions. When faced with difficult decisions, choose the path that does the greatest good. It takes strength, balance, flexibility, and peace. Let’s get started. The Ego Flip the palms up and extend the index fingers outward—the index finger symbolizes the ego. The ego can sometimes distort the truth for its own gain. What we believe to be true can also be shaped by our perceptions, desires, and fears. Karma Yoga reminds us to be mindful of what we think, say, and do. Now, pull the index finger in and place the thumb over it. Take a breath, and take a moment to surrender the ego to the soul. The soulful path leads to our own enlightenment. Be truthful with yourself and with others, and always seek to do the greatest good. Stay on the path. Namaste—may you walk the path of life with health, happiness, and peace. Doctor Lynn