Inspiring New Year's Message

from Dharma Mittra

Here's an excerpt from Sri Dharma Mittra's 2011 New Year's Discourse:


The students must learn that their compassion must extend beyond their pets -- it should reach all living beings. Some students immediately understand this and become vegetarians. After all, all living beings love life. They are like us -- they want to be happy and have a family. They fear violence and tremble before death. Students must come to understand that eating animals as food is a great sin and is "out of date." If compassion is fully developed, amazing psychic powers are acquired, such as the ability to know the why and how of everything....

Although I have practiced and taught Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Psychic Development and Meditation for many years, the main focus of my practice was and remains Karma Yoga (selfless service) and Svadyaya (study of scripture). Anyone can practice these two forms of Yoga, as they require no basic level of physical or mental aptitude, special equipment or intensive preparation, just a great thirst for knowledge of the Real Self and a heartfelt desire to help and love everyone. Karma yoga is selfless work offered without any strings attached and with no expectation of enjoying the fruits of one's labor. Acting in this way, one gradually loses all selfishness and notions such as: "I am the doer." Thus comes total surrender of the ego. (Egoism is the second cause of pain and suffering.) Why do selfless service? Because without it, there will be no "Union", "absorption" or Self-realization....

...One should start the New Year thinking on Him alone, concerned/absorbed constantly with Self-realization. Also, be ever kind and reverent to all living beings. Share spiritual knowledge with those that are fit to receive it. Start the New Year with love, and it may end up with love. Be ever engaged in constant practice and, surely, success will be the result! Om Shanti, Shanti, Shantih.