One of the things I love the most about yoga is that it asks us to take nothing on faith. Yoga science realizes that only we can perform the experiments on our own lives, that only we can evaluate the results. It also recognizes a fundamental fact of epistemology (the study of how we know what we know); that we can truly know only by experience, not by words of others or by theories or the experiences of others.
Prior to performing this experiment, we must dissociate ourselves from our bias; discover who exactly is the Observer. We must learn to distinguish our real and authentic selves from our minds, our memories, emotions, thoughts, and perceptions. Once we have contacted this higher Self, this Divine Indweller, this Observer, we can begin the experiment. Then our lives can truly begin, exercising the one true freedom we have (the freedom to choose our responses to the world and our actions and reactions to it), setting out on the Higher Path of self-knowledge, self-acceptance, and self-transformation.
This is an experiment unequalled in science, and unparalleled in importance. For knowledge of the world outside us is moot until we have knowledge of ourselves. We cannot hope to help or heal others without first helping and healing ourselves. The inner universe is a microcosm of the larger universe outside us. Until we harmonize this universe and find peace within ourselves, we can never harmonize with or find peace with others. Thus, this experiment deserves all our attention, our energy, and our abilities. This is an experiment worthy of Einstein, daVinci, and all the greats of external science. It is an experiment worthy of Ghandi, Jesus, Buddha, and all the greats of internal science as well. It is an experiment worthy of YOU.
This experiment can change the way the world is; can add either another angry and bitter person, or one who is peaceful, calm, and helpful. Only you can decide which type of person you wish to be, and which type the world needs most now. Only you can know what your authentic truth is, and ensure your actions and thoughts are in alignment with this truth. Only you can manifest this Truth, and only you can be present and do the work required. Only you can walk your own path and learn your own lessons. Yet this function is not only valuable to the world, it is essential to it. For the world needs you, needs each and every one of us to be at our best, to give our all, to lend our hands in the transformation of self, society, and global consciousness.
The great thing about the experiment of Life is that every person has different lessons to learn, and every person derives different lessons from similar experiences and perceptions. The lessons you are on this planet to learn might be obvious to me, and those I am here to learn may seem blindingly obvious to you. Thus none can judge another, or even evaluate another's conclusions, as each is unique to the individual.
In this experiment, there are no foregone conclusions, and hopefully no expectations.Along the way, we learn lessons we never expected to learn, and perhaps fail to learn lessons we thought were critical (or learn something other than we thought we would). We are blessed to be able to learn, to interpret freely and choose accordingly, each according to their own internal wisdom, each according to the God of Their Understanding. We are truly the lucky ones.
This is our honor and our calling. Let us honor it as the sacred work it is.
AUM, Shanti, Shanti, Shantihi....
"So for a while we conducted experiments in an apartment by the river road..."
-Sonic Youth/Chemistry
"There are so many paths up the mountain..."
-Little River Band
Prior to performing this experiment, we must dissociate ourselves from our bias; discover who exactly is the Observer. We must learn to distinguish our real and authentic selves from our minds, our memories, emotions, thoughts, and perceptions. Once we have contacted this higher Self, this Divine Indweller, this Observer, we can begin the experiment. Then our lives can truly begin, exercising the one true freedom we have (the freedom to choose our responses to the world and our actions and reactions to it), setting out on the Higher Path of self-knowledge, self-acceptance, and self-transformation.
This is an experiment unequalled in science, and unparalleled in importance. For knowledge of the world outside us is moot until we have knowledge of ourselves. We cannot hope to help or heal others without first helping and healing ourselves. The inner universe is a microcosm of the larger universe outside us. Until we harmonize this universe and find peace within ourselves, we can never harmonize with or find peace with others. Thus, this experiment deserves all our attention, our energy, and our abilities. This is an experiment worthy of Einstein, daVinci, and all the greats of external science. It is an experiment worthy of Ghandi, Jesus, Buddha, and all the greats of internal science as well. It is an experiment worthy of YOU.
This experiment can change the way the world is; can add either another angry and bitter person, or one who is peaceful, calm, and helpful. Only you can decide which type of person you wish to be, and which type the world needs most now. Only you can know what your authentic truth is, and ensure your actions and thoughts are in alignment with this truth. Only you can manifest this Truth, and only you can be present and do the work required. Only you can walk your own path and learn your own lessons. Yet this function is not only valuable to the world, it is essential to it. For the world needs you, needs each and every one of us to be at our best, to give our all, to lend our hands in the transformation of self, society, and global consciousness.
The great thing about the experiment of Life is that every person has different lessons to learn, and every person derives different lessons from similar experiences and perceptions. The lessons you are on this planet to learn might be obvious to me, and those I am here to learn may seem blindingly obvious to you. Thus none can judge another, or even evaluate another's conclusions, as each is unique to the individual.
In this experiment, there are no foregone conclusions, and hopefully no expectations.Along the way, we learn lessons we never expected to learn, and perhaps fail to learn lessons we thought were critical (or learn something other than we thought we would). We are blessed to be able to learn, to interpret freely and choose accordingly, each according to their own internal wisdom, each according to the God of Their Understanding. We are truly the lucky ones.
This is our honor and our calling. Let us honor it as the sacred work it is.
AUM, Shanti, Shanti, Shantihi....
"So for a while we conducted experiments in an apartment by the river road..."
-Sonic Youth/Chemistry
"There are so many paths up the mountain..."
-Little River Band
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