MyLifeYoga

Happiness is our natural state. Happiness is the natural state of little children, to whom the kingdom belongs until they have been polluted and contaminated by the stupidity of society and culture.

To acquire happiness you don’t have to do anything, because happiness cannot be acquired. Does anybody know why? Because we have it already. How can you acquire what you already have?

Then why don’t you experience it? Because you’ve got to drop something. You’ve got to drop illusions. You don’t have to add anything in order to be happy; you’ve got to drop something. Life is easy, life is delightful. It’s only hard on your illusions, your ambitions, your greed, your cravings. Do you know where these things come from? From having identified with all kinds of labels!

Credits: Father Anthony De Mello in “Awareness: The perils and opportunities of Reality”

You may also like: What Is Enlightenment?

More than 800 thousand people have already funded more than $360 Million through Kiva.org to more than 800 thousand people in more than 60 countries. The repayment rate is close to 99%. You can get started with a loan as small as $25.

When a microfinance load is made it changes the trajectory of life for an entire family. Millions of lives have been transformed in third world countries through this means. Not only is the family of the loan recipient benefited, but since these loans usually generate employment they also impact the lives of many more indirectly.

Related:
More about Kiva.org
Jessica Jackley: Poverty, Money and Love. TED Talk
View rest of the frontline story here.
Yoga Gives Back Microfinance Stories
Jayshree Tripled Her Income Due To Microloan

Love is the substance of life. It is what drives our actions and provides meaning to them. But finding love and holding on to it is not easy. Why is this? Why do we find love so difficult when many philosophers, saints, and poets assure us that the universe itself is overflowing with love? The answer lies in one word: “ego”. Humans are ego-bearing creatures. And ego and love are polar opposites.

Love wants to embrace and unite, while ego wants to divide. Love wants to give, while ego wants to take. Love wants to forgive and forget, while ego wants to remember and retaliate. Love wants to dissolve boundaries, while ego wants to fiercely protect them.

A relationship between two egoless individuals is natural and is easily overflowing with love. While the relationship between two egos is fraught with difficulties. In this case love evaporates as each ego in the relationship tries to protect its turf. Every interaction when viewed through the lens of the ego is perceived as an attack on its turf. Every punch then has to be met with a counter-punch. When all our energy goes in doing battle and keeping score, there is no room for love.

Since Yoga is one of the best tools known to humans to counteract the ego it is natural to ask the question: Can Yoga help us find love? The answer is a resounding YES. But here are some things that you may want to consider: Continue reading →