Are You Practicing the Law of Love?

by darla on March 4, 2010

Yoga is not a religion

All religions teach love

New yogis (or those who are “yoga curious”) often wonder if Yoga is a religion. It is not. Regardless of your personal belief system, you can practice yoga. Yoga teachers need to understand this so that they can include people from all backgrounds and belief systems. If you attend a class where the teacher says something that makes you feel left out or goes against your religion, you may want to stay after and let them know so they can adjust their language for future classes. A mindful teacher will be open to your feedback.

As I continue my comparative religions study, the more I realize that all the world’s religions have more in common than they realize. Every religion teaches kindness; just as every religion teaches compassion and love.

Yoga helps us get in touch with our similarities and reminds us that we are all together on this one planet.

Thank you to The Leadership Blog for compiling these scriptural quotes from the world’s main religions.


Buddhism
Hurt not others with that which pains yourself. Udanavarga 5.18.

Christianity
Always treat others as you would like them to treat you; that is the Law and the Prophets. Bible, Matthew 7:12.

Confucianism
Do not unto others what you would not they should do unto you. Analects 15.23.

Hinduism
This is the sum of duty: Do nothing to others which if done to you, would cause you pain. Mahabharata 5.1517.

Islam
No one of you is a believer until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself. Traditions.

Jainism
In happiness and suffering, in joy and grief, we should regard all creatures as we regard our own self, and should therefore refrain from inflicting upon others such injury as would appear undesirable to us if inflicted upon ourselves. Yogashastra 2.20.

Judaism
What is hurtful to yourself do not to your fellow man. That is the whole of the Torah and the remainder is but commentary. Go learn it. Talmud.

Sikhism
As you deem yourself so deem others. Then you will become a partner in partner to heaven. Kabir.

Taoism
Regard your neighbor’s loss as your own loss. T’ai shang kan ying p’ien.


via Coaching Tip: The Leadership Blog: Are You Practicing the Law of Love?.


{ 1 comment }

Karma Yoga

by darla on February 25, 2010

Editor’s Note: This is a guest post by Lexi Yoga. Her yoga website can be found at www.lexiyoga.com.

Karma yoga dates back from the Hinduism philosophies based on reincarnation (samsara). This means that we were born with both positive and negative tendencies from our previous lives, which push forward into our present life. It is up to us to continue in a positive path to attain pure liberation (to achieve a zero balance, no karma remaining.)

The word karma means “to do,” action without any intention for reward. Living life with non-selfish intentions in order to help others is what good karma is all about. The theory is that past action brings consequences, and therefore affects a persons position and progress in their current life. The Western world believes that the main purpose of life is to live and enjoy personal pleasures, and that achieving happiness for oneself is the goal. Eastern philosophies believe that the ultimate purpose and goal in life is not for pleasure, but for knowledge, and that knowledge is fully reached through the “wheel of karma.”

The practice of karma yoga includes service to the world using your mind and body. Enormous wealth is not needed. Helping people with your time and positive energy. An example would be if you came across a homeless person, instead of just giving money, you would give them food, your jacket, if it’s a cold day, you’d carry them to the hospital if they were sick. God is more pleased with this type of service compared to those who just give monetary gifts. Helping someone from your heart and soul is the key to good karma.

A karma yogi should not have any expectations for his/her actions and no desire for fame, fortune, admiration and gratitude. Being absolutely free from jealousy, greed, anger, egoism, fear, meanness and selfishness is the way to become a good karma yogi.

The goal of karma yoga is to reach a spiritual state of bliss and avoid the fear of rebirth. By changing your lifestyle and not living for wealth and materialism, you can attain happiness and good karma.

“Some consider personalities such as the Buddha to have been karma yogis. Buddha is the ideal karma yogi… acting entirely without motive, and the history of humanity shows him to have been the greatest man ever born, beyond compare, the greatest combination of Head & Heart that ever existed.” — Swami Vivekananda

See 101 Karma Quotes.

Written by: Lexiyoga

LexiYoga

www.lexiyoga.com

{ 0 comments }

My Top Ten Ways to Find Your Magnificence During Tough Times | Gail Lynne Goodwin’s Blog

February 24, 2010

Inspire Me Today is a great blog chock full of pragmatic action and inspiration. Today Gail shares the Top 10 Ways to Find Magnificence During Tough Times. One of my favs is #7 – Go do something for someone else. The fastest way to get unstuck is to reach out and help someone else in [...]

Read the full article →

Indian Inmates Take Yoga Classes To Reduce Jail Time

January 21, 2010

As reported via the Huffington Post:
In Indian prisons, the lotus position can truly help set you free.
According to the BBC, inmates in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh are being freed early if they complete courses in yoga. The deal is as follows: for every 3 months a prisoner spends practicing yoga, he or she [...]

Read the full article →

Matthew Sanford links yoga’s self-awareness and healing

January 17, 2010

Matthew Sanford was paralyzed in an auto accident 30 years ago. Today, he teaches yoga and works to educate the health industry on the importance of the mind-body connection. Read his story and be amazed and inspired.
Matthew Sanford links yoga’s self-awareness and healing | freep.com | Detroit Free Press
www.matthewsanford.com

Read the full article →