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Bhakti Yoga-Devotional Service to the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna

Bhakti Yoga-Devotional Service to the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna
Gopis performing Devotional Service to the Lordships Sri Sri Radha Krishna

Happiness Results in Health

Wisdom from Patanjali's Yoga Sutras

Sara Bock • April 18, 2011 • Comments (0)

Happiness Results in Health

According to the sutras, regardless of one's culture, religion, family traditions or race,universal principles exist that apply to all human beings.

Good health and happiness go hand in hand. When we are healthy, we have energy to do things that make us happy. On the flipside, psychological studies have shown that happy people live longer and healthier lives. The question is, how do we become happy? Propaganda may lead us to believe that acquiring material goods leads to happiness. We work hard to earn money to buy the latest trends. Yet something is missing. Frustration is still there. No matter how much we get, it is never enough.

The Yoga Sutras, compiled by Patanjali, teach us about the eight limbs of yoga, an alternative path tohappiness and health. The physical exercises practiced in yoga studios are one of the eight limbs. The other limbs focus on breath, morality, meditation, and other aspects of spiritual living. The first limb is called Yamas, or universal principles of morality. According to the sutras, regardless of one's culture, religion, family traditions or race, universal principles exist that apply to all human beings. Following these principles, not acquisition of material goods, is the key to happiness.

These principles of morality are:
1) Ahimsa (non-violence/compassion) – includes being nonviolent to other living beings in thought, words, and deeds. Following a vegetarian diet is one way to practice ahimsa. Ahimsa also refers to being non-violent to oneself.

2) Satya (truthfulness) – besides not speaking lies to others, satya includes being honest with ourselves.

3) Asteya (non-stealing) – in addition to not stealing others' property, asteya includes not stealing people's time with gossip/non-purposeful speech, and not taking from the earth more resources than needed. We can recognize everything as belonging to God, and use resources for universal good rather than "steal" them for selfish purposes.

4) Brahmacarya (sense control) – Just because we see a piece of chocolate cake, we do not have to eat it. Brahmacarya refers to utilizing intelligence rather than sensual inclinations in making choices. In regards to sex, it refers to celibacy in unmarried people, and monogamy and restriction within married couples.

5) Aparigraha (non-hoarding) – Aparigraha refers to keeping what we need, and not more, to maintain a healthy life. When we possess less, life becomes simpler, and we have more time and energy for spiritual cultivation.

Modern society teaches us that more sex, money, and possessions will bring us happiness. To accomplish these feats we sometimes lie, pretend to be who we are not, and commit violence against others to get our own way. Yet such a life does not lead to actual happiness. Let us acknowledge the wisdom offered by spiritual texts such as Patanjali's yoga sutras. Experiment with these principles of morality for just one week. Try to live a simple, honest, and pure life in accordance with these five yamas, and feel the results for yourself. Happiness and health come from within by the choices we make every day

 


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Give up all aggression toward others!

The greatest charity is to give up all aggression toward others.

- Krishna, Srimad Bhagavatam 11.19.36

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VrindavanExperience.com


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Mind&d influence of material modes of nature!

Mind is d chief of all our senses.It is also called as 6th sense.Modes
of goodness,passion,ignorance influence our mind thru d food v
eat,Sense objects come in contact,place v live(like city being too
passionate&villages being peaceful is in goodness),person v
associate,song/sound v hear/remember,time v are into:early
morning-goodness,day-passion,night-ignorance.By repeatedly
doing1action,d mind gets habituated/addicted2it.So wen mind is
Ctrld,action of our senses r ctrld effortlessly. There's very subtle
connection between the mind and senses.There r bad words/sounds that
provoke mind&senses&on the other hand,transcendental sound vibrations
that control d mind. Decision is always in our hands. So there's no
point in blaming God for our uncontrolled senses.

--
Yours
Dinesh
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Get rid of the cry of the soul!

Senses pull mind,mind pulls intelligence&wen intelligence is
compromised d soul gets deeply covered,maddened&trapped in2d material
existence.Dis struggle is experienced by every1of us life after
life&now v have human form2understand dis2get rid of d cry of d soul
since countless no of lives&get released!

--
Yours
Dinesh
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