Wednesday, April 04, 2007
The Purpose of Yoga - The Power of Knowing
Every Yoga teacher should make it a point to practice Jnana Yoga, on a daily basis, regardless of his or her style. The practice of Jnana Yoga is the continuing education of every Yoga teacher.
Jnana Yoga is union by knowledge. A Jnana Yoga practitioner may spend his or her life in the pursuit of knowledge, scripture, and truth, but what can any of us do if we do not hold the power to make changes within mighty governments and global corporate empires?
What can you do if you see the truth, but are unable to make governments, banks, corporate giants, or health care systems respond to it. In relation to this: A modest sage once told me, "Knowing is enough."
Knowing is enough - Is a saying that tells the poor and the middle-class to accept the truth, but we will not have the influence to make the "mighty" see the truth. A similar saying is, "Grin and bear it."
However, we no longer have to accept the unbearable with a grin. You and I can make changes in our governments and on this planet. They may be small changes, but you can make them on a regular basis.
For the very first time, people from anywhere in the world, can communicate through the use of the Internet. An American Yoga teacher and an Iranian Yoga teacher can have a conversation about Yoga, philosophy, how to play guitar, or anything else that people do.
If you realize that most people are generally good, then you also know that many different governments have foreign policies, which are wrong. Global warming is real, health care should be for everyone, and banking practices could be made to help the poor and middle-class.
There are many illusions, which the mighty would have you believe. So many politicians want peace in an election year, but why is history so full of wars? There must be profit in the manufacturing of weapons systems because the poor and the middle-class never seem to see the benefits of war.
Getting back to Yoga, the Internet, and what you can do. There are forums and blogs full of people from around the world. As Yoga students and Yoga teachers, we have a common bond with any Yoga practitioner from anywhere. Take the time to read the threads on the Yoga forums.
You will find that people, on the other side of the earth, have the same concerns about life, as you do. Then, introduce yourself and begin to inject your own opinions.
This is the reason for Yoga forums, or any forum, for that matter. A forum is a place for people to help other people in a small way, by sharing information about their dreams, passions, hobbies, or Yoga.
One of the reasons why wars occur is that common people from different cultures, do not know each other. If you know someone well enough, you may develop a friendship, and nobody wants to quarrel with a friend.
© Copyright 2007 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications
Labels: Attleboro Yoga, Jnana Yoga, yoga, Yoga in Attleboro, Yoga teacher, Yoga teacher continuing education