Greetings Sadhakas,
This week in class
we are considering Ahimsa.
The little
unremembered acts of kindness and love are the best of a good man's life.
-William
Wordsworth
Our lives affect
others, whether directly, through the environment, or by the force of our
example.
For instance, we
could say that smoking shows a lack of love. First, our capacity for love is
actually caught in the compulsion to smoke. But more than that, the example
tells even casual passersby, "Don't worry about what your doctor says.
Don't worry about the consequences. If it feels good, do it!"
Pele, the Brazilian
soccer star, was in a position to command a king's ransom for endorsing
commercial products. He never gave his endorsement to any cigarette, putting
the reason in simple words: "I love kids." That is a perfect choice
of words. He does love kids. He knows that in most of the world they will buy anything
with his name on it. Therefore, though he came from a poor family, no amount of
money can tempt him to do something that will mislead young people or injure
their health.
To love is to be
responsible like this in everything: the work we do, the things we buy, the
food we eat, the people we look up to, the movies we see, the words we use,
every choice we make from morning till night. That is the real measure of love;
it is a wonderfully demanding responsibility.
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
Serving Yoga to Camas, Washougal, and Vancouver Washington since 2003
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