Monday, March 17, 2014

Ahimsa.....it has a Wider Positive Meaning, L O V E.


Greetings Sadhakas,

This week in class we will be exploring Ahimsa.

Amor saca amor.     (Love begets Love)              

                                      – Saint Teresa of Avila

The saints and mystics are the world's greatest authorities on love. When Saint Teresa says, "Love begets love," she is giving us the precious secret. One of the most beautiful things about love is that even today it cannot be purchased. It cannot be stolen; it cannot be ransomed; it cannot be cajoled; it cannot be seduced. Amor saca amor: only genuine love begets love.

All of us have been conditioned, even though we may not put it in such crass terms, to believe that if you love me six units, I should love you at most six units in return. I can feel secure in loving you six units because you have already committed yourself that far. But if you get annoyed with me and stomp out, slamming the door, I should pull back, at least temporarily, my six units of love.

Everyone can learn to love and urgently needs to learn to love. After all, even if you don't learn Esperanto, your life is not necessarily going to be dull and drab. But if you do not learn how to love, everywhere you go you are going to suffer.

Words to Live By: Inspiration for Every Day – Eknath Easwaran

The homework is to revisit the first Yama: Ahimsa. “The word ahimsa is made up of the particle ‘a’ meaning ‘not’ and the noun himsa meaning killing or violence.  It is more  than a negative command not to kill, for it has a wider positive meaning, love.  This loves embraces all creation…….BKS Iyengar. "Ahimsa is an intelligent, harmonious relationship.  Harmony is the essence of nonviolence." V. Thakar. "The yogi, grounded in the practice of ahimsa, acts from a place of love and respect for all beings, including himself. This begins a new cycle of love and respect instead of harm and pain." BKS Iyengar. See how you can make Ahimsa come alive in your lives.

Blessings,

paul cheek
Rushing Water Yoga
417 NE Birch St., Camas, WA 98607
360.834.5994
www.rushingwateryoga.com
info@rushingwateryoga.com

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