Healing

The World 2021 — What is your point of view?

Ah yes, the New Year – 2021 bringing some of us more time to reflect on having a ‘new’ outlook, then we imagined. It’s a time of year when some of us decide to set goals, or not?

Most winters, the months of January, February & March can provide excellent opportunities to cultivate stability & strength, for the health of our bodies & life.

In the system of yoga, we instruct our students to set a Sankalpa, for the practice. The Sanskrit word ‘Sankalp’ has been interpreted to mean “resolution” or “intention”. According to Swami Satyananda Saraswati, “sankalpa has the potential to release tremendous power by clearly defining & focusing on a chosen goal.” The aim of Sankalpa is to set a heartfelt desire or intention from our innermost sincere resource.

Goals defined are: “the result or achievement toward which effort is directed…”

Although we aim to set our personal goals & with some effort can often be achieved – then what do we do? In fact, too much effort does not create much balance at all!

Now, let’s reflect on the idea of seeking fulfillment instead, as a sense of renewal. The state of the of fulfilling: “is to witness the fulfillment of a dream: to achieve fulfillment of one’s hopes; realization; completion. This is more in line with the explanation of a Sankalpa.

Making change can be easier once you learn to tap into your inner resources. The journey to inner peace is inherently in you. All you need to know is you are already equipped with all the tools to reduce your stress … simply Let go & just Be. The results? Letting go helps to reduce anxiety & depression; creates a deeper sense of calm & relaxation. Being fulfilled increases positive emotions, toward a brighter outlook, per se. Fulfillment is said to stall aging, while increasing our creativity, and inspiring us to deepen our spiritual connection, of whom we truly are.

Renewal

The other side of the coin is to make no resolutions at all and to leave 2020 behind expressing empathy for yourself with deeper breaths several times a day & 5-20 minutes of silence, in recognition of all the efforts you’ve made last year.

The residue of this practice is healing to every system in your body. Remember, language is our medicine, so choose your self talk with care and consideration.

Gratitude is not just a polite ‘thank you’. Gratitude is the thread (sutra) in the tapestry of life, connecting us deeply in relationship with all beings. Simultaneously, it nourishes a spark of hope within the physical & spiritual body.

In addition, gratitude creates a sense of belonging, as vital food for the soul. Gratitude produces a sense of abundance, knowing you are sufficiently supplied for. Taking only what we need – “less is more” & imparting to others, as giver, sincerely & generously in our giving.

Gratitude is like a boomerang, a kind of renewable currency or an economic gift to the world that comes back to you (karma). Once we launch out, the generosity has a wonderful way of multiplying with each exchange, whether material, in thought or in action. The energy of this exchange becomes robust passing from hand to hand & heart to heart.

Our ‘GIFT’ to the world – as member, makes us accountable to each other, happy & fulfilled. Realizing your contribution is a gift changes your relationship to the karmic cosmos, in a mysterious manner.

As a result we are all responsible for our contributions, as our gratitude has a considerable impact in the world. Just the act of gratitude & understanding fulfillment will likely steer you toward taking better care of the ‘gift’. Rather than hording our assets, realize we are all stitched into the same tapestry of this world & its relationship to it.

There is power in ‘gift-thinking’ as well. During my day, I often forward love, healing and prosperity to all businesses & everyone I plan to encounter. Imagine if we acknowledged everything we consumes as the gift of Mother Earth? Wouldn’t we would take better care of what we are given. Mistreating any gift has both emotional & moralistic ripple / vibrations or weight to it.

We must lighten the load to keep us alive in our ‘economic relationships and not just those of goods & services. Our ‘systems of market economies’ are hardly good models of equilibrium. Anthropologists observed many past cultures, with different viewpoints on “how we provide for ourselves,” including gift economies.

Truth is, gift economies originate from the abundant gifts of the Earth, which are not owned and must be shared. Sharing generates goodwill and bonds to ensure an invitation to the feast when your neighbor is fortunate. The word reciprocate comes to mind….

Be Satisfied Until All Are United as One

These are critical times for the entire planet. The world, country & group situation is deemed very critical, demanding & fragile yes?

Facing up to the situation, there is no use being satisfied until there is real unity and understanding between all of you. I say, we should all be ‘Warriors of Small Things’ – authentic in everything we do in life. This warrior practice can help to see the extraordinary in the ordinary. This ties into the idea of the yogic philosophy called Bramacharya: moderation. With it we can grow in our discipline…. our self-study, and what it means to surrender as a peaceful warrior.

In The Quiet, M.A.Y.A. Meditation-Ayurveda-Yoga/QiGong-Ashrama

How You Talk to Yourself Matters

It is said, “our beliefs create a filter through which we see the world”. To become free of this, we must pay attention to what we say, believe and think! Instead of saying; “I can’t”, try saying; “I am having difficulty right now”. This way you create space between the present & your beliefs about the present. More often than we realize our attention is focused on what is wrong. We cling to difficulties and look for them. Why not celebrate what is right as a conduct of care and find satisfaction in just being, as you are?

Problem is problems will always surface – no one is immune. Blaming ourselves for our problems however, versus taking responsibility is quite different. Who do you blame for your problems? How does that affect my immunity?

I’ve often shared that learning from our experiences is what it’s all about. It’s not about getting it right! Our life really is about learning, all the time, and when we realize it we will (hopefully) reduce self-judgment, suffering and so that with the ‘learning’ we achieve more joy and happiness. So pay attention to your words and self-dialogue. Trust me, to filter thoughts takes effort – I’ve spent decades practicing at taming the mind.

Emotions Change Our Tissues

Emotional toxins are said to be the 3rd biggest factor to damaging our health, after food and environmental toxins. Evidence shows, the heart sends more signals to the brain than the brain sends to the heart. This is significant…on our brain function for emotional processing, and perceptive faculties as our attention span, memories, and problem solving abilities.

So why not engage in positive emotions and breath better?

Fact is emotions run through our whole body – every molecule, via our hormones & all neurotransmitters. They impact our brain and our brain changes our hormones. Everything we experience comes via our senses – eyes (seeing), ears (hearing), tongue (tasting), body (touching), nose (smelling), mind (thinking). The Sanskrit root word for ‘Man’ is Manas, meaning thinking stuff. J

Science has proven our guts have hormone receptors like our brain does; hence the gut is often called our “second brain”. Since digestive health influences our overall physical and our mental health, it stand to reason our conversation between our gut hormones, digestive bile acid and the brain all play an important role in our pranic energy life-force.

“Our beliefs become our biology”. Beliefs not only shape how we perceive life, it filters our emotions, engages our thoughts, our actions, how we reaction or response, and then formulates our physiology. Powerful yes? Did you know that most of our beliefs were formed when we were children? Taking charge of the loop of past beliefs, like a muffled loop of recording, must be re-examined – so we can remove what beliefs no longer serves us.

It is said our daily thoughts (6,000 to 7,000/day) set up an electromagnetic field around us with every cell attracting our vibratory parallel. The law of attraction states; “like attracts like.” This means people with low frequency (negativity) – people who are insecure and self-abandoning attract each other, while people with a high self-esteem frequency who love and value themselves also attract each other.

Emotions Emit Prana – Energy (Chi) & Matter

Energy vibrates and moves, when energy moves at slower vibrations, matter becomes denser, heavier. When energy is light – vibrant, it is fluid – flows to merge easier, we feel buoyant! Holding a particular vibrational energy pattern long enough impacts us. Emotions felt long enough often result in becoming “issues in our tissues”. Hence, the physical manifestation of dis-ease is often the (last) trumpet call of the Soul.

Thinking the same thing(s) over & over eventually become solidified or cements in our structure. Stuff like: “I’m not good enough” “no one understands me” “What a great day” “I am happy to be alive and well”. Our thoughts form neurological wiring so vivid, it eventually believes itself. As such, we need to clear the clutter with specific re-wiring exercises to help us. Practices like meditation, contemplation or journaling, render the shackled mind free.

Facts show our emotions and thoughts accompany a chemical reactions in our bodies. The emotional reactions are thus umpired by cell membranes, which have actual “brains” of each cell. Let us then learn to appreciate ourselves as a system to transmit renewable energy.

Views, Perceptions & Body

Beliefs, convictions and related emotions pave the way to progress or regress. And seeing this isn’t a one-way stream, we can use our biology to affect our beliefs. This is what I have learned through the ancient wisdom of Yoga these past 30 years. By devoting time to condition the body, with breath and movement, we can initiate gradual changes to transform body, mind & psyche.

The shadow side of beliefs “self-sabotage” is our enemy. Why not move toward evolving as a human being & become empowered, with less rigidity? The Buddha taught; “to attain liberation we must practice begin Wholesome” in our view of life. Wholesomeness is developed by loving-intention speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness and concentration. If the roots of the mind are always under the influence of one state or another (e.g.: generosity; greed; love; hatred; wisdom; delusion), what is influencing your right now?

Yogis, Avatars & Sages throughout history understood that by surrendering to emotions as they arise, releases the tides of suffering. The truth is; it is nobler to let go, hence allowing us to reclaim our energy, so we can journey back to our true nature.

Truth be told…we will no doubt experience change throughout our lifetime, no matter our good intention or actions. Be it pleasure or pain, gain or loss, praise or blame, fame or disfavour, the polarities are real. Classically, mind-hindrances (desires, clinging; cravings, aversion, anger, hatred, sleepiness, sloth, restlessness and doubt) prevent us from experiencing meditative peace. It is understood that we feel everything through one of three tones: pleasant, unpleasant, or neutral. Yet, suffering will be ever-present, whether it is suffering pain, suffering change or the suffering of conditionality – attachments. Ethically, refrain from clouding the mind with intoxicating thoughts, false, harsh or idle speech — the ancients have warned us.

Attend to your bodies – like a healing balm with proper exercise, move your Temple. Use methods like Chi Gong & Yoga to prepare the body, mind and emotions so you can take up our seats comfortably – in meditation. We often give up, if we become uncomfortable. Why? First recognize that you may not be quite ready and return to our asana exercises (flex the legs, shoulders, back, hands, tongue, eyes and head), so our seated posture can better support us.

Sending loving-kind thoughts to others & ourselves helps ease our suffering. This is known in as Metta! [Maitrī Sanskrit;Pali: mettā] It means; benevolence, loving-kindness, friendliness, goodwill, & active interest in others. … Chanting practices often integrate Metta as ‘compassion meditation’. The four Buddhist “best practices” called the Brahma-Viharas – are meditative virtues can can reflect on mindful to attain enlightenment. They are Loving Kindness; Compassion; Joy; and Equanimity (calm composure).

Others Remedies to Calm Emotions and Mind

Rest & digest (aka “tend and befriend”) is a form of activating of our autonomic nervous system to calm us down. It gets us out of our heads and into the awareness of our bodies. This engages our parasympathetic nervous system (PSNS). “The PSNS conserves energy as it slows the heart rate, increases intestinal & glandular (immunity boosting) activity, and induces relaxation to the sphincter muscles in the gastrointestinal tract.”

The ideal way to initiate the PSNS is to integrate meditative awareness practices, to activate the Vagus Nerve. Primarily, the vagus nerve is the longest nerve in the body which originates in the brain as cranial nerve ten, travels down the from the neck, then passes around the digestive system, liver, spleen, pancreas, heart and lungs. This nerve is a major player in the parasympathetic nervous system, which is the ‘rest and digest’ part (opposite to the sympathetic nervous system – ‘fight or flight’). We can greatly influence inflammation and the immune system by deliberately engaging in Yoga Nidra, Restorative Yoga and other divisions of yoga such as meditation.

The tone of the vagus nerve is key to activating the parasympathetic nervous system. Vagal tone is measured by tracking your heart rate alongside your breathing rate. The heart rate speeds up a little when you breathe in, and slows down a slightly when you breathe out. The bigger the difference between the inhalation heart rate and your exhalation heart rate, the higher your vagal tone. Higher vagal tone means that your body can relax faster after stress.

Head to heart, together we can draw on mindfulness practices such as the Brahma-Viharas or “sublime attitudes” – to teach us to cultivate enlightenment in our meditation. These virtues are actually reflections for: 1. Loving Kindness 2. Compassion 3. Joy 4. Equanimity. Brahmas are gods who live in the higher heavens, dwelling in an attitude of unlimited goodwill, unlimited compassion, unlimited empathetic joy, and unlimited equanimity.

All in all, we all want to suffer less and allow healing to reign. Changing our mind – attitudes takes consistent practice & time. (I’ve said it many times) If you want to develop a strong immune system and keep your emotions calm, try to develop any of the practice mentioned, for your own good and the good of everyone.

Socially Speaking

We are social beings who crave connection, yes? This is why having a ‘virtual’ conversation with a friend, a loved one, or sharing time together, eating a warm meal is so welcoming – it heals the soul. Being together, energizes, heals and relaxes us for the “rest and digest system”action.

Today social distancing and imposed physical distancing is creating a lot of issues for us on many levels. Having less access to each other has set up so much stress and paranoia.

The solution(s)? Take time for yourself. Be it 5-30 minutes daily, commit to care for yourself. Do ‘simple’ Yoga practices (asana) tore-activate our PSNS response and enhance immunity. Remember: practice without expectations or judgement! Every-time you practice, simply ‘practice’, never strive for perfection. Get into your body and out of the mind with gentle breathing and conscious movement.

Try one or more sets. Be realistic in your daily routine – keep all your systems energized:

Begin with simple standing – notice how you feel. Scan your body, eyes closed or in a half gaze. Feel grounded, from your heels to the crown of your skull.
Move gently by swaying side-to-side, back to front. Notice your energy (prana) field.
Allow yourself the freedom to listen to your body’s queues. Maybe it wants to forward bend (a little) or side bend. Try hip circles or twisting the torso – swaying like the wind.
If seated, invite gentle pelvic tilts or circles; Add arm or shoulder movements.
Try creative visualization and focus on what you want for 2 minutes – make it Positive!
If you have a mat – move to the floor. Lie on your back – rest in corpse pose. Or, from tabletop (hands and knees) try some Cat Curl sequences – make it feel good for you.
Listen to or engage in chanting mantras. Get some guidance – Think Metta!
Try equal breathing exercises – relax the belly. Seek help, if you are new to this.
Meditate – Concentrating on Wholesomeness – an action good for attaining liberation.

Now that you know the ‘how ‘s’ to get your head and heart to communicate – understand that in our experiences of the ebb & flow of life we must acknowledge and embrace all emotions. In doing so we will avoid tearing apart the immune system, allowing nasty dis-ease from setting in. Since ‘You are capable of anything’ – why not devote your thoughts to create the causes of your happiness and success and reap the benefits of well-being?

I realize that no matter how unlimited the scope of these positive emotions is, the effect may to run into limits. Regardless of how strong our goodwill or compassion may be, there are bound to be those whose past actions lack skill and cannot or will not change their ways. This is why you need to Cultivate Equanimity (composure) – as our reality check.

Phew, there is a lot we need to unlearn – re-learn. Try not to get upset (respond without reacting) when things don’t seem to go our way. Equanimity, by the way is not a blanket acceptance of things as they are, it is actually a tool to help you develop discernment. Discernment referring to which kinds of suffering you have to accept and which ones you don’t. There is always a choice. Try using equanimity as a means of letting go of what you want to change and focusing more on what can be changed in the present.