With all the news about natural disasters happening everywhere, the world has enthusiastically reached into its pockets to help. News about goodwill, good deeds, and acts of kindness, should be regularly broadcasted, but maybe bad news is more profitable to broadcast.
However, let me stick to the point of this article. In
order for nature, and the universe, to flow in harmony, we should all regularly give to charities, whenever it is possible to help someone in need. This is practicing Yoga “off the mat.”
“Saving for a rainy day” is one thing, and hording money, is quite another matter. By all means, save some money, but always remember to give to those in need, without expecting something in return.
To put it simply, selfishness creates a dead end, or
stagnation, within the universal flow of all things. The universal law of cause and effect (karma) will always override.
Just as stagnation within your body is unhealthy, the same law applies to the universe and all things within in it, including money. Stagnation will cause an infection of the body, mind, or spirit. This is the exact opposite of Yoga practice, where we seek to unify body, mind, and spirit in harmony.
Remember Nishkamya Bhakti, and take the time to research the meaning of the word again. We should give
unconditionally without pursuing a reward. It is also good to give anonymously and not to tell anyone. Giving is also good for your inner being and your self worth.
Take notice of how lucky you are in this life. Be content with what you have by appreciating your family, friends, and achievements. Look at the improvements and rewards you have seen, since you started practicing Yoga.
I will leave you with a short story and something to think about. Last Christmas season, a man, who was dressed as Santa Claus, worked outside a local store with a legitimate charity’s sign and donations bucket. Many people, including me, gave to him.
Within a few days, local police had chased this man through the parking lot and arrested him. It had been discovered that this man was allegedly an imposter and did not represent a charity at all.
Is this man a criminal? I think not ? he was a beggar who practiced deception. In some countries and cultures, like mine, begging is not tolerated at all. This man resorted to deception in order to beg. He did not rob people of their money.
This is not an endorsement of deception or begging, but I want to make you aware of the fact that when you give to a beggar, that is charity too. Don’t worry about which charity to give to - just give something. There are good forces at work that will distribute your donations evenly.
Always remember that Yoga is for the improvement of physical, mental, and spiritual health. If you think Yoga is only about physical mastery, asanas, and a beautiful body, you have missed the “big picture.” Yoga offers so many benefits for mental and spiritual health, that they should never be ignored.
? Copyright 2005 ? Paul Jerard / Aura Publications
Paul Jerard is the director of Yoga teacher training at Aura in RI. He?s a master instructor of martial arts and Yoga. He teaches Yoga, martial arts, and fitness. He wrote: Is Running a Yoga Business Right for You? For Yoga students wanting to be a Yoga teacher.
http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org
Showing posts with label Acts Of Kindness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Acts Of Kindness. Show all posts
February 24, 2009
February 23, 2009
Universal Laws of Yoga - Part 2
Here are some habits to practice on your journey toward self-perfection. Always remember that you may make some mistakes along the way.
Cultivate love through acts of kindness toward family, friends, and associates. Smile at others and put your ?best foot forward.? This alone will open many doors in life and make your journey a pleasant one.
Take time for self analysis by observing your past, future, and present. Visualize what you can change and learn from what you cannot. Meditate, pray, and practice your breathing (Pranayama).
Selfless service for the common good is rewarding for the inner and outer self. You do not have to join a group to help others, but a group will have more ability to help than a single person. Either way, helping others will make you a better person.
Give to charity and share with others when ever it is possible. Giving to others, especially those in need is a universal law. When it is possible to help another person, we should all help.
Forgive others for their wrong doings and let go of the past. Do this for yourself and you will feel a great burden, lifted from you. Carrying a grudge and frowning all day, takes too much positive energy out of you, so leave bad feelings behind.
The following are some habits to avoid. Avoid practicing Yoga for material gain or to acquire psychic powers. Anything of value should be used to help those you can. There is nothing wrong with earning a living or bettering yourself, but you should always help anyone you can.
As a Yoga practitioner, you are an ambassador of Yoga. An ?air of superiority? should be avoided by all Yogis and Yoginis. This is seen as arrogance, and arrogance is only needed to bolster the ego. Therefore, be a diplomat, when speaking in terms of Yogic philosophy or vegetarianism.
Remember to practice Yoga as a lifestyle. Yoga is not just practiced in the ashram, in the mountains, on the beach, or behind the exclusive walls of a particular Yoga studio. Yoga can be practiced with acts of kindness, devotion to God, or in a physical practice at your own home.
Give your family, friends, and work your best efforts. Practicing Yoga is part of your life, but you should never abandon your obligations for Yoga. It is much healthier to live a full life and enjoy your family, friends, and work along the way.
We can take the right actions by practicing the following: Meditate daily and take action to focus your thinking, when your mind becomes restless. Remember that Yoga can be practiced anytime because of its mental, spiritual, and physical components.
? Copyright 2006 by Paul Jerard / Aura Publications
Paul Jerard is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center, in North Providence, RI. He has been a certified Master Yoga teacher since 1995. He is a master instructor of martial arts, with multiple Black Belts, four martial arts teaching credentials, and was recently inducted into the USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame. He teaches Yoga, martial arts, and fitness to children, adults, and seniors in the greater Providence area. Recently he wrote: Is Running a Yoga Business Right for You? For Yoga students, who may be considering a new career as a Yoga teacher. http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html
Cultivate love through acts of kindness toward family, friends, and associates. Smile at others and put your ?best foot forward.? This alone will open many doors in life and make your journey a pleasant one.
Take time for self analysis by observing your past, future, and present. Visualize what you can change and learn from what you cannot. Meditate, pray, and practice your breathing (Pranayama).
Selfless service for the common good is rewarding for the inner and outer self. You do not have to join a group to help others, but a group will have more ability to help than a single person. Either way, helping others will make you a better person.
Give to charity and share with others when ever it is possible. Giving to others, especially those in need is a universal law. When it is possible to help another person, we should all help.
Forgive others for their wrong doings and let go of the past. Do this for yourself and you will feel a great burden, lifted from you. Carrying a grudge and frowning all day, takes too much positive energy out of you, so leave bad feelings behind.
The following are some habits to avoid. Avoid practicing Yoga for material gain or to acquire psychic powers. Anything of value should be used to help those you can. There is nothing wrong with earning a living or bettering yourself, but you should always help anyone you can.
As a Yoga practitioner, you are an ambassador of Yoga. An ?air of superiority? should be avoided by all Yogis and Yoginis. This is seen as arrogance, and arrogance is only needed to bolster the ego. Therefore, be a diplomat, when speaking in terms of Yogic philosophy or vegetarianism.
Remember to practice Yoga as a lifestyle. Yoga is not just practiced in the ashram, in the mountains, on the beach, or behind the exclusive walls of a particular Yoga studio. Yoga can be practiced with acts of kindness, devotion to God, or in a physical practice at your own home.
Give your family, friends, and work your best efforts. Practicing Yoga is part of your life, but you should never abandon your obligations for Yoga. It is much healthier to live a full life and enjoy your family, friends, and work along the way.
We can take the right actions by practicing the following: Meditate daily and take action to focus your thinking, when your mind becomes restless. Remember that Yoga can be practiced anytime because of its mental, spiritual, and physical components.
? Copyright 2006 by Paul Jerard / Aura Publications
Paul Jerard is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center, in North Providence, RI. He has been a certified Master Yoga teacher since 1995. He is a master instructor of martial arts, with multiple Black Belts, four martial arts teaching credentials, and was recently inducted into the USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame. He teaches Yoga, martial arts, and fitness to children, adults, and seniors in the greater Providence area. Recently he wrote: Is Running a Yoga Business Right for You? For Yoga students, who may be considering a new career as a Yoga teacher. http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html
Giving to Charity
With all the news about natural disasters happening everywhere, the world has enthusiastically reached into its pockets to help. News about goodwill, good deeds, and acts of kindness, should be regularly broadcasted, but maybe bad news is more profitable to broadcast.
However, let me stick to the point of this article. In order for nature, and the universe, to flow in harmony, we should all regularly give to charities, whenever it is possible to help someone in need. This is practicing Yoga “off the mat.”
“Saving for a rainy day” is one thing, and hording money, is quite another matter. By all means, save some money, but always remember to give to those in need, without expecting something in return.
To put it simply, selfishness creates a dead end, or stagnation, within the universal flow of all things. The universal law of cause and effect (karma) will always override.
Just as stagnation within your body is unhealthy, the same law applies to the universe and all things within in it, including money. Stagnation will cause an infection of the body, mind, or spirit. This is the exact opposite of Yoga practice, where we seek to unify body, mind, and spirit in harmony.
Remember Nishkamya Bhakti, and take the time to research the meaning of the word again. We should give unconditionally without pursuing a reward. It is also good to give anonymously and not to tell anyone. Giving is also good for your inner being and your self worth.
Take notice of how lucky you are in this life. Be content with what you have by appreciating your family, friends, and achievements. Look at the improvements and rewards you have seen, since you started practicing Yoga.
I will leave you with a short story and something to think about. Last Christmas season, a man, who was dressed as Santa Claus, worked outside a local store with a legitimate charity’s sign and donations bucket. Many people, including me, gave to him.
Within a few days, local police had chased this man through the parking lot and arrested him. It had been discovered that this man was allegedly an imposter and did not represent a charity at all.
Is this man a criminal? I think not ? he was a beggar who practiced deception. In some countries and cultures, like mine, begging is not tolerated at all. This man resorted to deception in order to beg. He did not rob people of their money.
This is not an endorsement of deception or begging, but I want to make you aware of the fact that when you give to a beggar, that is charity too. Don’t worry about which charity to give to - just give something. There are good forces at work that will distribute your donations evenly.
Always remember that Yoga is for the improvement of physical, mental, and spiritual health. If you think Yoga is only about physical mastery, asanas, and a beautiful body, you have missed the “big picture.” Yoga offers so many benefits for mental and spiritual health, that they should never be ignored.
Paul Jerard is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center, in North Providence, RI. He has been a certified Master Yoga teacher since 1995. He is a master instructor of martial arts, with multiple Black Belts, four martial arts teaching credentials, and was recently inducted into the USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame. He teaches Yoga, martial arts, and fitness to children, adults, and seniors in the greater Providence area. Recently he wrote: Is Running a Yoga Business Right for You? For Yoga students, who may be considering a new career as a Yoga teacher. http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html
However, let me stick to the point of this article. In order for nature, and the universe, to flow in harmony, we should all regularly give to charities, whenever it is possible to help someone in need. This is practicing Yoga “off the mat.”
“Saving for a rainy day” is one thing, and hording money, is quite another matter. By all means, save some money, but always remember to give to those in need, without expecting something in return.
To put it simply, selfishness creates a dead end, or stagnation, within the universal flow of all things. The universal law of cause and effect (karma) will always override.
Just as stagnation within your body is unhealthy, the same law applies to the universe and all things within in it, including money. Stagnation will cause an infection of the body, mind, or spirit. This is the exact opposite of Yoga practice, where we seek to unify body, mind, and spirit in harmony.
Remember Nishkamya Bhakti, and take the time to research the meaning of the word again. We should give unconditionally without pursuing a reward. It is also good to give anonymously and not to tell anyone. Giving is also good for your inner being and your self worth.
Take notice of how lucky you are in this life. Be content with what you have by appreciating your family, friends, and achievements. Look at the improvements and rewards you have seen, since you started practicing Yoga.
I will leave you with a short story and something to think about. Last Christmas season, a man, who was dressed as Santa Claus, worked outside a local store with a legitimate charity’s sign and donations bucket. Many people, including me, gave to him.
Within a few days, local police had chased this man through the parking lot and arrested him. It had been discovered that this man was allegedly an imposter and did not represent a charity at all.
Is this man a criminal? I think not ? he was a beggar who practiced deception. In some countries and cultures, like mine, begging is not tolerated at all. This man resorted to deception in order to beg. He did not rob people of their money.
This is not an endorsement of deception or begging, but I want to make you aware of the fact that when you give to a beggar, that is charity too. Don’t worry about which charity to give to - just give something. There are good forces at work that will distribute your donations evenly.
Always remember that Yoga is for the improvement of physical, mental, and spiritual health. If you think Yoga is only about physical mastery, asanas, and a beautiful body, you have missed the “big picture.” Yoga offers so many benefits for mental and spiritual health, that they should never be ignored.
Paul Jerard is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center, in North Providence, RI. He has been a certified Master Yoga teacher since 1995. He is a master instructor of martial arts, with multiple Black Belts, four martial arts teaching credentials, and was recently inducted into the USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame. He teaches Yoga, martial arts, and fitness to children, adults, and seniors in the greater Providence area. Recently he wrote: Is Running a Yoga Business Right for You? For Yoga students, who may be considering a new career as a Yoga teacher. http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html
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