The consequences of our actions......

Greetings Yogis and Yoginis,

This week in class we are considering the consequences of our actions.

A human being fashions his consequences as surely as he fashions his goods or his dwelling. Nothing that he says, thinks, or does is without consequences.

- Norman Cousins

The Hindu and Buddhist scriptures give us the same truth in what is called the law of karma, which is the psychological equivalent to the physical law that every action has a reaction equal and opposite to it. The Buddha says we can fly higher than the heavens or hide in the depths of the earth, but we will not be able to escape the consequences of our actions. Though we drive to another city or fly to another country, though we change our job or our name, our mistakes will pursue us wherever we go.

Paradoxically, the only way we can begin to escape from the consequences of our actions is to stop running from them and to face them with fortitude. In this sense, every difficult situation is a precious opportunity. When we find ourselves in some situation where we always make the same mistake, if we can manage not to make that mistake, the chain can be broken. Often, if we face it squarely, that situation will not come up again.

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

The homework is to learn how you can use your Yoga practices to prepare for breaking the chain of habitual behavior that is unhealthy for you and those around you.  Notice when you have an aversion to an asana and concentrate on overcoming that aversion by doing the best you can do and being grateful no matter what the outcome.  Consistently face your aversion with the joy of practicing and learn to appreciate the process.  Then apply this process to life situations off of the mat.  

 
Blessings,

paul cheek
Rushing Water Yoga
417 NE Birch St., Camas, WA 98607
360.834.5994

www.rushingwateryoga.com
info@rushingwateryoga.com

Serving Yoga to Camas, Washougal, and Vancouver Washington since 2003