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

Courage - What is its greatest challenge?

Courage is seen as an attribute of good character and is respected. We equate it to a mighty warrior or someone who goes to battle. Yet courage is not just about physical bravery. Courage also means the ability to speak out against injustice, to take risks in the face of adversity, to open yourself to life's vulnerabilities, and to believe in your convictions even when met with mockery and contempt. Nothing in life is ever accomplished without a dose of courage. That’s because courage is the engine of ingenuity. Attempt something new and above the mediocracy of everyday life, and you will be met with opposition, criticism, and ridicule. Rise above this, soldier onward, and you will discover the treasure of courage. It takes courage to forgive, to be humble, and to be respectful and compassionate in a world that equates courage with brute force and domination. It takes courage to speak your mind and be true to yourself when faced with conformity. It takes courage to love and be open to vulnerability. Courage, therefore, is the ability to remain strong within yourself even when the outside world is nebulous and moving. But the greatest challenge of courage is to overcome dis-couragement. Courage is the only antidote for failure and disappointment. To develop the capacity to endure suffering and hardships requires both faith and courage. END: It takes courage to forgive, to be humble, and to be respectful and compassionate in a world that equates courage with brute force and domination. It takes courage to speak your mind and be true to yourself when faced with conformity. It takes courage to love and be open to vulnerability. Nothing in life is accomplished without a dose of courage. It is truly a great gift when used to overcome failure and combat fear. EGO: Flip your palms up and extend out the index finger – the ego. Our fiercest enemy is the ego. It is a mighty force and not easy to control. That is because it takes courage to look within and find the strength to successfully manage the challenges of life. Pull your finger in and place your thumb on top, take a breath, and surrender to your soul. Courage requires nothing more than letting go of fear while holding on to unfathomable, unshakable faith and believing in yourself. Remove fear, and the warrior within you will stand courageous rather than as a hapless victim. Thus, the warrior with courage conquers all. Courage is not the absence of fear; it is the conquest of it. WILLIAM DANFORTH (1870-1955) Namaste~ may you walk the path of life with health, happiness, and peace. Doctor Lynn

How to find your 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. That means you have the potential to create, and your potential is only limited by how you position yourself in relation to everything else in the world. Self-acceptance is fundamental to discovering your potential. You are who you are, so you should make the best of it. Don’t compare yourself or your life to others. Instead, encourage yourself to attain your highest potential. Life is abundant with potential energy. Realize this, and you will never go without. Nothing can exist that doesn’t exist as potential energy. We could never travel to faraway lands if the potential to do so was not already there. We, as humans, have the potential to create on a very high level. Our brains allow us to master the complexities of life. An insect, on the other hand, is limited. But it does have wings and can fly. It’s biomechanically designed to do so. However, the creative potential of our brains has allowed us to build flying machines, and now we can fly. When used as a form of strength, balance, flexibility, and peace, potential energy is limitless. END: Potential energy is not simply positive thinking or mind over matter. However, potential energy is best served with a positive outlook. Potential exists everywhere, and it is up to us to turn it into kinetic energy or material form. If your energy is negative, you will attract negative, destructive energy. If you are positive, you will attract positive energy. For example, people are drawn to the positive energy of a smile. This is essential if you wish to prosper. No one ever prospers in a place of negative energy for very long. 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. Self-acceptance is fundamental to discovering your potential. You are who you are, so you should make the best of it. Don’t compare yourself or your life to others. Instead, encourage yourself to reach your highest potential. Pull your finger in and place your thumb on top. Take a breath and surrender to your soul. Just by this act of surrender, you are consciously drawing positive energy into your life. Consciousness needs a vehicle, such as the brain, to bring thoughts into material manifestation. But it needs nothing to exist. It is potentially waiting to materialize through its relationship to everything else in the universe. Use your potential to create a positive life, and you will prosper. Namaste~ may you walk the path of life with health, happiness, and peace. Doctor Lynn

Ethics and Morals – Do We Need Them?

There are three things humans need in order to both survive and thrive. The first is material goods, including shelter and food. The second is procreation, which ensures the continuation of the species, and the third is the rules of behavior, or ethical and moral codes of conduct. Ethics are morals in action. Morals are knowing the difference between right and wrong and choosing right. Ethics is morally acting in such a way as to bring the greatest good for the greatest many. It is important that we develop the ability to distinguish right from wrong. The underlying factor is to strive to do no harm. . Ethics underpins the choices we make. Morals lay the foundation for the ethics we establish. Without morals, we would have no ethics, and since it is well understood that different people often adhere to different ethical standards, this raises the question: Where do our morals come from? Where is there justice? In life, there is no justice; therefore, we have laws. The law of karma teaches us that we are what we think, speak, and do, so consciously pay attention to how you conduct your life. All humans desire survival, long life, knowledge, justice, fame, love, and salvation. As far as we know, all other living things only seek survival. Therefore, the survival and thriving of the human species depend on good morals and ethics. Make the wrong choice, and there will be consequences -that’s karma—life becomes what life does. You must decide what is right and what is wrong. No one can do this for you. How and what we choose reflects what we value. Choosing to act without morals and ethics leads the conscience astray. It takes balance, strength, flexibility, and peace to make the right ethical and /or moral choices. Let’s get started. END While contemporary culture encourages us to become rich regardless of the cost, yoga challenges us to view money as a divine force that we must manage responsibly. We are encouraged to earn a good living and even to become rich. However, the path must be honest and lawful. We must always seek to do no harm and do the greatest good for the greatest many. Karma reminds us that our first responsibility is to take care of ourselves, then our family and friends, and then the world at large; never forgetting to take time for soulful pursuit. Self-awareness and self-reflection are often necessary when deciding how best to fulfill our responsibilities. Some people think the desire to fulfill our inner life makes it difficult to make money. This is not true. When we do things with a clear conscience, prosperity is sure to come. Just remind yourself that money and wealth, when used with a clear conscience, have the power to do good far more than poverty. So, seek wealth and enjoy the pleasures of life based upon good morals and ethics. EGO: Flip your palm up and extend the index finger – the ego. In difficult times, people tend to lose their faith and resort to shortcuts and questionable practices. In this worldly life, they may seem to succeed with these tactics, but ultimately, they will leave deep scars on their consciousness and adversely influence the course of their future lives. Pull your finger in and place your thumb on top – take a breath and surrender to the soul. Character, good behavior, commitment to truth, and mental and physical purity are essential in this life, especially in trying times, if you wish to truly prosper. When profit and pleasure are guided by ethics and morals, they become instruments for humanitarian and soulful growth. It is good to make a profit and build wealth, but do so from a consciously guided perspective. Self-awareness and self-reflection are often necessary when deciding how best to fulfill our responsibilities. Remember this: humans desire long life, knowledge, justice, fame, love, and salvation. All other life forms, as far as we know, only seek to survive. The survival and thriving of human beings depend on good morals and ethics. This is a treasure of great importance. Act ethically from this moral base; do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Do no harm and always seek to do the greatest good for the greatest many. Namaste~ may you walk the path of life with health, happiness and peace Doctor Lynn

Love is the Third Treasure

Love comes in many shades and in many forms. Romantic love is one kind of love, but love of family, friends, interests, work, and life can also fill the heart and nourish the soul. Love is a spiritual experience that touches the soul. Love is a precious treasure that materializes through caring, compassion, and understanding. Love may come, and it may go more than once in your lifetime. No two loves will ever be the same. Romantic love may come with a burst of powerful energy, but it will fade and evolve over time. How love will change depends on whether true love is present. So do not think yourself unfortunate if you have loved and lost. Love comes, and love goes without reason or cause. It is whimsical and comes as it will. If it comes, enjoy it, and if it must depart, let it go. No amount of fretting and anguishing will bring it back. Stay unattached, but never indifferent to love. This requires the capacity to endure. For love to endure, it must stay open and be flexible to the endless possibilities and changes of life. It also requires inner strength, emotional balance, and the ability to find peace. Let’s get started: END: Love is one of life’s greatest experiences. Sincerity and intellectual appreciation for the nature of love are needed if we are to truly experience this treasure. Love also involves devotion. Bhakti yoga, the yoga of devotion, teaches us to devote ourselves to that which we love so that we might discover the true meaning of success. Love, when consciously cultivated, can harmonize and uplift our personal relationships so they serve the spiritual process of self-discovery. With this, we learn how to share joy, cheer, and bliss with all. EGO: Flip your palms up and extend out the index finger – the symbol of the ego. When love and devotion are mixed, we create the ultimate pleasurable human experience: the gift of giving and receiving joy. But remember, love as well as romance, also has a darker side. The troublesome four—envy, jealousy, resentment, and revenge—can turn love into hate and abuse. These are the ego's emotions. Love, like all emotions, is a state of mind capable of taking both creative and destructive paths. When love is mixed with jealousy, envy, revenge, and resentment, it becomes destructive. Pull your index finger in and place your thumb on top, take a breath, and surrender it to the soul. The soul reminds us to prioritize compassion, understanding, and forgiveness as our dominant thoughts, and to remove destructive ones. The mind thrives on what we feed it. Through self-awareness and willpower, we can control the mind, and whenever a negative thought enters, we can replace it. In love relationships, more than anything, we must constantly remind ourselves to change the way we look at things, and the way we look at things will change. Don’t get caught in the illusion of reality. But this takes work, and that is why we are here on Earth: to work our karma. Consciously work to create true and meaningful love, and you will discover one of the great treasures of life. Because: “‘Tis better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all.” -ALFRED TENNYSSON Namaste~ may you walk the path of life with health, happiness, and peace. Doctor Lynn

New Year 2026, finding the treasures of life

The Nidhi is the container that holds all of life’s treasures. Once we locate the container and learn how to open its lid, we will find that all the treasures are available to all of us, and once found, how we use them will bring us either poverty or prosperity. The Nidhis are somewhat shrouded in mystery, but remember, a secret is only a secret until it is revealed. Here is one philosophical interpretation of the Nidhis and how to find the Nidhis contained within: A person is drawn to pleasurable objects only when they seem to be real, permanent, and potentially satisfying. When we understand that all objects in life are not permanent and are always subject to change, our minds become calm, and we strive towards higher attainment. We begin to see things for what they really are – opportunities to discover our higher selves. As we move through the coming year, I hope to be a good teacher by showing you where to look, but not what to see. First Treasure - above all else, treasure Your Health. Health is the most valued treasure, for without it, everything else in life is meaningless. Your health is your true wealth and the most important thing in the world. Good health is the ultimate treasure of life, for it is with good health that we enjoy all that life has to offer. It is very difficult to enjoy life when you are sick and tired. Maintaining good health requires living a balanced life supported by strength and flexibility. That is why we practice yoga, because through the physical poses, we have an opportunity to discover the treasures of life – let’s get started. END: Money won’t buy you good health; however, prosperity may afford you good food, warm shelter, and good medical care, things that are necessary for good health. Therefore, it is good to live in a prosperous society. According to karma, your journey on Earth is not about the body and the mind; however, without the body and the mind, the soul cannot experience this Earthly life. The body is the vehicle, and the mind is the GPS of the soul. Therefore, it is our responsibility and duty to take care of our health. Eating healthy, exercising, relaxing, reflecting, laughing, and loving are all good for our health. Look to your health, and you will see this great treasure all around you. EGO: Flip your palms up and extend out the index finger – the ego. The ego tends to think it can defy all things in life until it gets humbled by illness. It is then that we realize we are vulnerable to the most devastating thing in life – ill health. Pull your finger in and place your thumb on top. Take a breath and surrender to the soul. When the body, mind, and soul are in perfect balance, we have optimal health. When we have perfect health, we have much more to give to the world. A healthy, balanced human has the vital power to disseminate joy, cheer, and bliss equally to all. So, value the treasure of health above all else by taking good care of yourself because, “When health is absent, wisdom cannot reveal itself, art cannot become manifest, strength cannot be exerted, wealth is useless, and reason is powerless.” HEROPHILIES, 300 B.C, spoke those powerful words. Namaste~ may you walk the path of life with health, happiness, and peace. Happy, healthy, and peaceful New Year. Doctor Lynn

HAPPY NEW YEAR – TIME's all we have.

When we celebrate the New Year, we find ourselves caught in time. We look back on the past year and forward to the upcoming year. We are, in fact, in those moments standing between the going and the coming of time. Some of us have regrets for the past, and many of us have hope for the future. In our modern-day world, we get lost in time. That’s because time becomes a commodity that we use, hoard, trade, and exploit. We waste time, keep time, give time, find time, lose time, make time, and so on. However, remember, time is the only resource we have. When it is gone, our time on earth will end. How you use your time says a lot about you and the life you lead. Ask yourself: what do I do with my time, and how can I make good use of it? I suggest that this year you take time each day to practice these five resolutions and make them habits: gratitude, generosity, kindness, joy, and peace. If you incorporate these into your goals and everyday life, you will find your time is well spent. You will be working your karma in positive ways. This will bring you prosperity. It only takes moments to practice each of these. This would be a good use of your time – and so would practicing our yoga class – so let’s get started. END: Time flies – time really, really flies; and here we are, another year about to end and a new year to begin. We can’t slow time, but we can use it to enhance the quality of life, and isn’t that what we all want: a life full of gratitude, generosity, kindness, joy, and peace? How you use your time says a lot about the life you lead. Live it fully, and remember what you do with your time, and the memory you leave is the only thing you take with you when you depart this world. Make your time count. EGO: flip up your palm and extend out your index finger – The ego feels it never has enough time to express itself. It fears its own demise and looks upon time as the enemy. It frantically runs after work and life experiences, always trying to beat time. But time cannot be beaten. We cannot stop or control it, because time does not stand still. Bring your index finger in and place your thumb on top. Take a breath and surrender to the soul. When we surrender our ego, the demands of life subside, and we experience being in the present moment. The soul reminds us that we are here on earth to build virtues and remove vices. That’s why we all make resolutions. We want to do better and live a better life. Letting go of the ego allows us to participate in life as a grateful, generous, kind, joyful, and peaceful soul. These would be good resolutions to make into habits and a good use of our time. Happy New Year May you walk the path of life with health, happiness, and peace Doctor Lynn For more books, classes, courses, and consultations, visit http://www.doctorlynn.com

The Meaning of Christmas

Although the meaning of Christmas is to give for the sake of giving, the commercialization of Christmas has somehow obscured the true meaning. The act of giving gifts at Christmas is deeply rooted in spiritual significance. It symbolizes generosity and kindness. The tradition is influenced by the biblical story of the Wise Men presenting gifts to honor Jesus' divine nature, and the legacy of Saint Nicholas, who exemplified secret acts of kindness and generosity. Christmas is not about how much money you spend or how big the gift is. It is about giving for the sake of giving from a place of generosity and kindness. We give gifts at Christmas to remind us that birth and death are two ends of the life spectrum. The gifts of love and caring we give in between are a mark of the value we place on life. END Here are some free gifts worth giving. These won’t cost you a cent, but they are priceless! To your enemy, give forgiveness; to an opponent, give tolerance. To a friend, give a helping hand; to those you love, give an open heart. For customers, provide good service, be charitable, and give your time. To every child, give a good example of what it means to give unselfishly, and to yourself, give respect. These are gifts that come from the heart. Think what would happen if we gave these gifts, not just at Christmas, but all year round? We would then experience the true meaning of Christmas: making the world a better place for all humankind. Give the gifts of kindness and caring. EGO: Flip your palms up and extend out the index finger – the ego. The ego habitually refers everything to itself, presuming to be the center of existence, and thus constantly piles up karmic garbage that threatens to squash it. Pull your finger in a place where your thumb is on top. Take a breath and surrender to the soul. The soul reminds us that we are here on earth to give. So, to your enemy, give forgiveness; to an opponent, give tolerance. To a friend, give a helping hand; to those you love, give an open heart. For customers, provide good service, be charitable, and give your time. To every child, provide a good example of what it means to give unselfishly, and to yourself, give respect. Merry Christmas Namaste~ - may you walk the path of life with health, happiness and peace. Doctor Lynn

Sacrifice – the true meaning of giving

When the mind is free of personal interest, we do our best work and feel joy in the act of doing. Our lives become meaningful. When our minds are free from selfishness, we give, and this brings peace and joy to the world. Everything in life gives. Sacrifice is the law of life. As we move into the Christmas season, to celebrate the birth of Christ, we are reminded that the cross on which Jesus was crucified is a symbol of sacrifice. Jesus gave his life for the sake of humanity. It is because of sacrifice that all prophets, sages, and saints are worshipped. But it is not only saints that sacrifice. Everything in nature -trees, birds, animals – they all live for the sake of others. Why does a candle burn and melt away? To give light. Why does a stick of incense burn to ash? To give a fragrance. Why does a tree grow? To give fruit and flowers. Is there anything in the world that lives for its own sake? No. All sacrifice. We are here to give, give, and give, and in turn what is due us will come to us. You are here today sacrificing an hour of your time, and in turn, it will bring you health in the body, quietness in the mind, and peace to the soul. What goes around comes around - That’s Karma. Let’s get started END You might ask if I am here to give and make sacrifices, how can I take care of myself? Just like the tree, if it doesn’t attend to the roots, it cannot give. So first, take care of your roots. You must live a healthy life by eating healthy food, exercising, and getting a good night's sleep so that you have the vitality to give to others. Even the practice of yoga, if done to find peace, will bring peace to your life, allowing you to extend that peaceful energy out into the world. Yoga reminds us to live our lives without attachment. Let things come and go as they will. As we move into the Christmas season, just remember that the cross is a symbol of sacrifice, reminding us that everything is a sacrifice for the betterment and continuation of life. Give from the heart without expectations, and you will discover what all the saints, prophets, and sages discovered – everything in life gives – sacrifice is the law of life. EGO. Flip your palms up and extend out the index finger – the ego. Because of egoism, there is attachment to things for the ego’s pleasure. But sometimes the things we are attached to do not come or are taken away, and this causes us to pull back and greedily hang on rather than let go and give. Pull your finger in and place your thumb on top. Take a breath and surrender to the soul. The soul reminds us that everything in life requires sacrifice. All of life gives, and in turn, what is due comes back. So this holiday season, give joy and spread peace on earth, and what will come back to you will be pure joy and peace. Namaste ~ may you walk the path of life with health, happiness, and peace. Doctor Lynn

Karma and Relationships – 'tis the season to socialize

Relationships are the glue that holds us together. What would the world be without partners, family, friends, and, of course, yoga students? We learn, we grow, and we thrive based upon our relationships. Karma reminds us that we chose to come to earth as human beings. We cannot escape this human form, these feelings, our personal characteristics, our history, and our karma. Let’s take a moment and ground ourselves. Connect with your sit bones and the mat. And take a deep breath. When it comes to our relationships, we must be grounded and balanced while staying open and nonjudgmental. Without relationships, we are simply a form floating about in space. It is our relationships with the earth and with other humans that allow us to work through our karma and thus complete our earthly mission. Karma Yoga teaches that to do this, we must build a sacred vessel. This vessel has three parts: openness, trustworthiness, and commitment; otherwise, our relationships cannot survive. Let’s work on building this sacred vessel. END: Our relationships teach us how to love, how to be a friend, a coworker, and a family member. Without them, life would be an empty space. We are here to work through our karma, and a part of working through our karma is to interact with others. How we interact determines how we live. For example, if we are angry, then all our experiences will be filled with anger. But if we take the time to build the sacred vessel of healthy relationships, openness, trust, and commitment, we will find that our lives become filled with experiences that teach us how to learn, grow, and love. Be the sacred vessel – be open, be trustworthy, and commit to the work it takes to have healthy and meaningful relationships. They are the glue that keeps us connected! EGO: Flip your hand up and extend out the index finger. Take a deep breath. The truth is, we are all a little self-centered and spend energy trying to control one another so that we can get what we want. It is the ego that wants to control. Pull your finger in and place your thumb on top. Take a deep breath and surrender to your soul. When we surrender the ego to the soul, we create the sacred vessel both within ourselves and within all our relationships. We build a sense of openness, trust, and commitment. We learn to let go of our attachments, biases, and prejudices and embrace our relationships as something sacred to be valued and loved above all else. For without them, life would be empty and meaningless. Namaste~ may you walk the path of life with health, happiness, and peace. Doctor Lynn

HAPPY GIVING THANKS DAY – the gift of gratitude

Life is a precious gift that we must not squander. Our Western upbringing often leads us to be critical rather than praising others. But in our modern-day world, we all get wounded and need healing. Gratitude has the transformative power to change our perspective. When we view life as a soulful opportunity for which we are grateful, the world ceases to be our enemy. We will still be affected by karma and must work on it every day, but we will also find a deeper connection with life through gratitude, which is healing for the body, mind, and soul. Gratitude is the key to acknowledging the goodness in our lives. It is a process that often leads us to realize that the source of this goodness is not just within us, but also outside — in other people, in nature, or in a higher power. Everything that enters our lives has a purpose and a meaning. Recognizing and appreciating this requires balance, strength, flexibility, and being at peace with what comes into and goes out of our lives. This balance and peace are essential in our journey of gratitude, helping us to stay calm and centered amidst life's ups and downs. It is not an easy task, but it is our karma - the work we must do. END: Give thanks for what comes into your life – for all of it is simply an opportunity to work your karma, and when you work your karma from a place of giving thanks, your life begins to work for you. Give thanks for even the simplest things; without air, water, earth, health, and relationships, everything else in the world would be meaningless. Happy Giving Thanks Day! EGO: Flip your palms up and extend out the index finger – the symbol of the ego. The holidays are here, gathering with family and friends, our egos will be put to the test. If you let the ego, it will pull you away from your peaceful center, and you will find yourself engaging in self-sabotaging events. Pull your finger in and place your thumb on top. Take a breath and surrender to the soul.. In those intense self-sabotaging moments, take a step back, take a deep breath, and connect to your soul. Look for the things you can give thanks for, and remember when conversation and events arise, if they are not meaningful or beautiful and do not bring health, happiness, and peace to you, let them go. HAPPY GIVING THANKS DAY! DOCTOR LYNN http://www.doctorlynn.com

Ethics and Morals are the Fourth Treasure

There are three things humans need to both survive and thrive. The first is material goods, including shelter and food. The second is procreation to ensure the continuation of the species. And the third is the rules of behavior, or ethical and moral codes of conduct. Ethics are morals in action. Morals are knowing the difference between right and wrong and choosing right. Ethics is morally acting in such a way as to bring the greatest good for the greatest number. We must develop the ability to distinguish between right and wrong. The underlying factor is not to harm. Ethics lay the foundation for the choices we make. Morals lay the foundation for the ethics we establish. Without morals, we would have no ethics, and since it is well understood that different people (cultures) often abide by different ethics, this begs the question: Where do our morals come from? Where is there justice? In this world, there is no such thing as justice – that is why we have laws, and that is the foundation of karma. Life becomes what life does. There will always be consequences for any actions. You must decide what is right and what is wrong. No one can do this for you. What we choose— and how we choose—reflects what we value. Karma suggests we value honesty, generosity, kindness, and humility over deceit, greed, anger, and pride. This takes conscious awareness of what it takes to live an ethical and moral life, and that requires being open and flexible, balanced and strong, and always striving towards the underlying factor – do not harm and be at peace within the world. END: Ethics are morals in action. Morals are knowing the difference between right and wrong and choosing right. Ethics is morally acting in such a way as to bring the greatest good for the greatest number. We must develop the ability to distinguish between right and wrong. The underlying principle is to do no harm and to be at peace in the world. EGO: Flip the palms up and extend out the index finger – the ego. In difficult times, people tend to lose their faith and resort to shortcuts and questionable practices. This is the ego directing one into what may seem like good tactics for success, but in the end, they will leave deep scars on their consciousness and influence the course of their future lives in adverse ways. Pull the finger in and place the thumb on top. Take a breath and surrender to the soul. The soul reminds us to act ethically from this moral base: do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Do no harm and consistently seek to do the greatest good for the greatest many. In this, you will act ethically based on the morals of the soul. May you walk the path of life with health, happiness, and peace. Doctor Lynn

LOVE IS THE SECOND TREASURE

Love comes in many shades and in many forms. Romantic love is one kind of love, but love of family, friends, interests, work, and life are aspects of love that will also fill the heart and nourish the soul. Just remember that love is not sex. It is a spiritual experience that touches the soul. Love is a precious treasure that materializes through caring, compassion, and understanding. Love may come and it may go more than once in your lifetime. No two loves will ever be the same. Romantic love may come with a burst of powerful energy, but it will evaporate and change with time. How love will change depends on whether true love is present. So do not think yourself unfortunate if you have loved and lost. Love comes and love goes without reason or cause. It is whimsical and comes as it will. If it comes, enjoy it, and if it must depart, let it go. No amount of fretting and anguishing will bring it back. Stay unattached, but never indifferent to love. This requires the capacity to endure. For love to survive, it must stay strong, balanced, and be flexible to the endless possibilities and changes of life. END: Love, like all emotions, is a state of mind capable of taking both creative and destructive paths. When love is mixed with jealousy, envy, revenge, and resentment, it becomes destructive. Therefore, we should encourage compassion, understanding, and forgiveness as dominant thoughts in our minds, and remove the destructive ones. The mind thrives on what we feed it. Through self-awareness and willpower, we can control the mind, and whenever a negative thought arises, we can find the power to change it. In love relationships, more than anything, we must constantly remind ourselves to change the way we look at things, and the way we look at things will change. Don’t get caught in the illusion of love. See it for what it is – a great treasure. EGO: Flip your palms up and extend out the index finger – love is a mighty force, but sometimes the ego uses jealousy to justify its actions. It is based on uncertainty and fear. The opposite of jealousy is trust. Pull the finger in and place the thumb on top. True love is about devotion. It means to devote ourselves to that which we love so that we might discover the true meaning of love. Love consciously cultivated can harmonize and uplift our personal relationships, enabling them to serve the soulful process of self-discovery. With this, we discover how to disseminate joy, cheer, and bliss to all. But this takes work, and that is why we are here on Earth: to work our karma. Consciously work to create authentic and meaningful love, and you will discover one of the great treasures of life. Here is a story of love and devotion: In Ireland, there is a church that, until several years ago, held the heart of Saint Lawrence, who fought to free Ireland from oppression. Upon his deathbed, he asked that his heart be taken, encased in a leather case, and placed in Christ Church in Dublin to show his deep devotion and love for his country. Sadly, thieves broke into the church, tore open the case, and stole the heart. All that is left is a broken case. Never steal or break another person’s heart. It always leaves an empty, painful void. Love is truly a gift. Honor it, cherish it, and protect it. “‘Tis better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all.” -ALFRED TENNYSSON Namaste~ may you walk the path of life with health, happiness, and peace. Doctor Lynn For more http://www.doctorlynn.com

The Treasures of Life – First One - Good Health

The Treasures of Life – First One - Good Health As we look into the treasures of life, I hope to be a good teacher by showing you where to look, but not what to see. Your body, mind, and soul are the most valuable treasures, for without them, everything else in life is meaningless. Your health is your true wealth and therefore the most important thing in the world. Good health is the ultimate treasure of life, for it is with good health that we enjoy all that life has to offer. It is tough to enjoy life when you are sick and tired. Money won’t buy you good health; however, prosperity may afford you good food, warm shelter, and good medical care, things that are necessary for good health. Therefore, it is good to live in a prosperous society. According to karma, your journey on Earth is not about the body and the mind; however, without the body and the mind, the soul cannot experience this Earthly life. The body is the vehicle, and the mind is the GPS of the soul. Therefore, it is our responsibility and duty to take care of our health. Eating healthy, exercising, relaxing, reflecting, laughing, and loving are all good for our health and support the growth of our souls. . When the body, the mind, and the soul are in perfect balance, we have perfect health. And when we have perfect health, we have so much more to give to the world. A healthy, balanced human has the vital power to disseminate joy, cheer, and bliss to all equally. So, value the treasure of health above all else by taking good care of yourself. END: Honor your health, body, mind, and soul, because, without good health, the challenges of life are complex. The body is the vehicle, and the mind is the GPS of the soul. Therefore, it is our responsibility and duty to take care of our health. Eating healthy, exercising, relaxing, reflecting, laughing, and loving are all good for our health and support the growth of our souls. EGO: Flip your palm up and extend out the index finger, the symbol of the ego. The ego is the part of us that sometimes takes our health for granted. It is here to protect us, and for that, it does a pretty good job, but we need to be careful that it does not forget that without our health, its power is useless. Pull your finger in and place your thumb on top—the symbol of the soul. Take a breath and surrender to the soul. Honor your health, body, mind, and soul by valuing this treasure above all else. A quote: “When health is absent, wisdom cannot reveal itself, art cannot become manifest, strength cannot be exerted, wealth is useless, and reason is powerless.” HEROPHILIES, 300 B.C. Namaste~ may you walk the path of life with health, happiness, and peace. Doctor Lynn For more http://www.doctorlynn.com

THE TREASURES OF LIFE

The Nidhi is a symbolic container that holds all the treasures of life. The main message is simple: everyone has access to these treasures if they learn to recognize and unlock them from within. By understanding and using these treasures wisely, we determine our own experience of poverty or prosperity. Though the Nidhi’s secrets are mysterious, once uncovered, they reveal their gifts to all. Here is a philosophical interpretation of Nidhi and the path to discovering its treasures: A person is drawn to pleasurable objects only when they seem to be real, permanent, and potentially satisfying. When we understand that all objects in life are not permanent and are always subject to change, our minds become calm, and we strive towards higher attainment. According to the ancient text of Padmini Vidya, nine obstacles prevent us from finding the Nidhi’s and nine characteristics or qualities required to discover them. Remove the obstacles and develop the characteristics, and you will discover how to use the treasures of life to prosper. The nine obstacles are ill health, boredom and apathy, doubting oneself, being scattered and careless, doubting one’s progress (comparing oneself to others), uncontrolled craving and desires, allowing your life to get heavy and burnt out, getting caught up in the maya or the illusion of life, and failing to practice, nothing can be achieved without continual practice. The nine characteristics: The nine characteristics to discover the Nidhi are: be calm, demonstrate self-discipline, withdraw and reflect, observe without judgment, appreciate life intellectually and sincerely, endure hardship, discern what is right, develop unwavering faith, and strive for self-perfection. Achieving this takes effort—this is karma and our purpose. Remember, the main message: cultivate these within to find your treasures. END: In summary, life’s treasures are accessible to all. The main message: look within yourself, remove the obstacles, and develop the necessary qualities. By doing so, you will discover the Nidhi—the container of life’s treasures—and unlock prosperity from within. EGO: Flip your palms up and extend out the index finger – the ego. The ego draws us to what we believe to be real, permanent, and potentially satisfying. However, when we realize that these things are not permanent and ever-changing, it causes the ego to cling out of fear of losing what we crave. This can lead us to become scattered and careless. Pull your finger in and place your thumb on top, take a breath, and surrender to the soul. The soul reminds us to stay calm and to have unfathomable faith in ourselves, for in life, everything is constantly changing, except that which you cultivate within. So strive to be the perfect human being, true to yourself, do no harm, and equally disseminate health, happiness, and peace to all – even your enemies and those who may have done you wrong. The law of karma states that the energy you put out is the energy that will come back to you. Wish health, happiness, and peace to all, and you will receive the greatest gifts of life – health, happiness, and peace. Namaste~ may you walk the path of life with health, happiness, and peace. Doctor Lynn For books, classes, and more http://www.doctorlynn.com

How to Prosper with a Purpose ~ here and now

Yoga encompasses various practices; Hatha yoga teaches us to care for our bodies and involves postures and breath control. Karma yoga instructs us on how to approach our work with a sense of purpose while correcting our actions—it is often called the yoga of selfless action. A less familiar branch, Padmini Vidya, teaches us how to become prosperous, enabling us to make our lives and the world a better place. Padmini Vidya is the science of the subtle forces, sometimes described as spiritual techniques, used to attract wealth and thus success. However, wealth is not merely about accumulating money and material goods. It is about the active and willful control of the energy of consciousness towards one’s benefit. This is the greatest source of wealth. In life, you benefit from being happy and healthy. To control the energy of willful consciousness requires the ability to flow with life. Gratitude for what you have rather than constant desire for what you don’t have is the first step. When you are grateful, you appreciate, and when you appreciate, you move with a sense of grace and refinement. Reach out to develop your highest potential and pay attention to how gracefully you move through the space you occupy. To move gracefully requires balance, strength, and flexibility, not just in your body but in your mind and your soul. Controlling your consciousness is more than pure positive thinking. This stream of energy can reshape your life in either positive or negative ways, depending upon how you use it. Wealth can bestow great power, while its misuse will surely bring suffering. The universe has a perfect accounting system. No deed, good or bad, goes unnoticed. Consciously pay attention to what you think, say, and do. Good deeds will bring true wealth to your life. But it requires work – let’s get started. END: Creating a wealthy life requires the ability to apply the following success formula towards your desired goal. You must have a vision or focus, and then the desire to bring it to life. You must be willing to work diligently, consistently, and persistently with a well-developed plan to achieve the desired results. The formula is: Vision + Desire + Plan + Consistency + Persistence = Success. All of this must be backed with a positive stream of prosperity consciousness if you are to prosper. But as well as determination, we also need punya, which means merits earned through our actions in this life and our past lives. When we see people who are wealthy and successful, the Buddhists and the Hindus would call this punya that was earned from a past life. In the Western world, we might refer to it as luck. Karma yoga refers to the “good” karma you have earned from past lives, as well as the merits you are accumulating in this life. Wealth is not necessarily measured in terms of money. It might appear as talent, integrity, love, virtue, value, beauty, status, worthiness, assets, honor, or goodness. Look for the things in your life that bring you joy, and you will discover the true meaning of a wealthy life. EGO: Flip your palms up and stick out your index finger – symbol of the ego. If we want to create good deeds, we must exhaust misdeeds, which means demerit or bad karma. To achieve this, we must transcend the ego consciousness, which keeps us separate and in a constant state of survival. Remember, karma attaches itself to our actions, our thoughts, and our speech. Therefore, we must be consciously aware of how our actions, thoughts, and words impact our lives. Pull your finger in and place your thumb on top of it. Take a breath and surrender to your soul. There are three basic methods of developing good deeds: giving without expecting a return, living a virtuous life, and spreading goodwill. These align with the ten ways to accumulate good merits. They are: Give, Observe virtue, Concentration and focus, Honoring others, Be of service, Dedication, Be happy for others' good fortune, Listen to and practice virtuous teaching, and Instruct others in being virtuous. Give without expectation and look for the things in your life that bring you joy, and you will discover the true meaning of a wealthy life. Namaste~ may you walk the path of life with health, happiness, and peace Doctor Lynn

How to Prosper with a Purpose ~ here and now

Before you can prosper, you must acquire punya and overcome papa. This means gaining merits through good deeds while eliminating improper and harmful behavior. Although often confusing, the practice of yoga is not about living the austere life of a renunciate. Yoga fully acknowledges the realities of living in a material world. It actually makes a distinction between those who support a household and those who renounce all worldly possessions. Padmini Vidya encourages us to incorporate the four essential goals of soulful growth, meaningful work, pleasure, and wealth into our lives to achieve a fulfilling and meaningful existence. Striving to find meaning in life is the most powerful force that drives humans to ask, 'Why am I here?' What does it mean? And where am I going? We sometimes refer to this as searching to discover our purpose. When you have a sense of purpose, your brain chemistry begins to change. These biochemical changes affect everything from your ability to meet challenges and establish well-being to controlling your perception of difficulty and pain. Purpose and meaning put us on the soulful path. END: What is life all about? What does it mean, and how can we find our purpose? We all want to know, and when we don’t know, neuroscientists tell us that this uncertainty creates a negative impact on the brain. When confronted with a situation that contradicts our values, things can become uncertain, and this uncertainty can lead to a perception of a threat. The threat, of course, creates stress. However, our brains are hardwired to avoid threat and/or move toward reward. That is why we are the happiest when we have a purpose and can find meaning in our lives. Knowing your purpose, therefore, creates a positive impact on the body, the mind, and the soul. But it is not enough to find your purpose; you must learn to soul walk by expanding your consciousness to its highest potential. We do this by understanding the true nature of life – we are here on earth to remove vices and develop virtues. Live a virtuous life and you will prosper. EGO: Flip your palms up and extend the index finger. We lead a virtuous life by taking certain actions and detaching ourselves from others. But to do this, we need to harness the energy of the ego. The ego is the “I” that sits above the “me”. It is necessary for self-preservation, but it often confuses us into believing that the ego’s point of view is the final view of reality. When we master the power of the ego and begin to harness and redirect its energy, we remove papa—meaning the obstacles or negative actions blocking our pathway—and enhance punja, which refers to the positive merits that lead us to a virtuous life. Pull your finger in and place your thumb on top of it. Take a breath and surrender to the soul. By enhancing our merits, our consciousness expands, and with this expansion of potential comes a greater ability to deal with the concerns of everyday life, which is necessary if we are to prosper. Namaste~ may you walk the path of life with health, happiness, and peace. Doctor Lynn