“If you have done something meritorious, you experience pleasure and happiness; if wrong things, suffering. A happy or unhappy life is your own creation. Nobody else is responsible. If you remember this, you won’t find fault with anybody. You are your own best friend as well as your worst enemy.”
I'm puzzling over this one--statements like this reminded me of the time, years ago, when a coworker found out I'd been diagnosed with thyroid cancer and told me that "I should examine my life to figure out what I'd done to bring this on myself." If it was my fault something bad happened, and I could figure out what I did, what would I do with that information anyhow? And what if in hindsight, a "bad" event is the catalyst for something good to happen? After the cancer, I decided to change my life, lost 40 pounds, got back into exercise and (ultimately, after several years of worrying about the next "bad" thing that might happen) found yoga.
I don't mean to come across as confrontational (and if I did, sorry!)...I'm just not really sure what to do with the knowledge that I'm responsible for whatever mess I'm in...
The other answer is everything we are going through now is in accordance with our deeds from the past. Our actions in this lifetime determine what happens next time around, and so on.
Mind is main sources for all your feeling. Yoga is the best practice which keep your mind healthy that the reason most of the people who are following Yoga practice seen as healthy.
Here is a peripheral comment to all of this. There is a recent book out by Anita Moorjani titled: ‘Dying to be Me: My journey from cancer, to Near Death, to True Healing’. In essence, after a NDE, she relates the actual cause of the disease. In a nut shell, study the Yamas and Niyamas as Kali Om has suggested.
Perhaps Kali's last two comments are the go-to answer to all questions? If so I suppose all I'd need to do is memorize (and follow) the instructions. Of course that's easier said than done sometimes...
I'm puzzling over this one--statements like this reminded me of the time, years ago, when a coworker found out I'd been diagnosed with thyroid cancer and told me that "I should examine my life to figure out what I'd done to bring this on myself." If it was my fault something bad happened, and I could figure out what I did, what would I do with that information anyhow? And what if in hindsight, a "bad" event is the catalyst for something good to happen? After the cancer, I decided to change my life, lost 40 pounds, got back into exercise and (ultimately, after several years of worrying about the next "bad" thing that might happen) found yoga.
ReplyDeleteI don't mean to come across as confrontational (and if I did, sorry!)...I'm just not really sure what to do with the knowledge that I'm responsible for whatever mess I'm in...
ReplyDeleteMany yogis believe that disease starts in the mind.
ReplyDeleteOne must learn to control the mind. The Yoga Sutras teach us how to do this.
The other answer is everything we are going through now is in accordance with our deeds from the past. Our actions in this lifetime determine what happens next time around, and so on.
ReplyDeletePre-yoga the mind was a large untrained wild dog (no puppy here!). Getting better, but still loads of room for improvement. Thanks for the reply.
ReplyDeleteHmmm...more questions (hopefully you are not tired of them).
ReplyDeleteIf I get myself into a mess of my own making, how do I get out of it? Or is there no escape until the old karma is burned off?
If it's my fault I'm suffering, why should anyone have compassion for me?
Why are so many people afraid of someone else's suffering?
Follow Yama and Niyama. Do karma yoga. Control the mind.
ReplyDeleteServe, Love, Give, Purify, Meditate, Realize
Mind is main sources for all your feeling. Yoga is the best practice which keep your mind healthy that the reason most of the people who are following Yoga practice seen as healthy.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHere is a peripheral comment to all of this. There is a recent book out by Anita Moorjani titled: ‘Dying to be Me: My journey from cancer, to Near Death, to True Healing’. In essence, after a NDE, she relates the actual cause of the disease. In a nut shell, study the Yamas and Niyamas as Kali Om has suggested.
ReplyDeleteDon't just study. Practice!
ReplyDeletePerhaps Kali's last two comments are the go-to answer to all questions? If so I suppose all I'd need to do is memorize (and follow) the instructions. Of course that's easier said than done sometimes...
ReplyDeleteBut lots of things worth doing aren't easy.
ReplyDelete