Dharma - explanation from the Chopra Center

Dharma is an ancient Sanskrit word with numerous layers of meaning. It commonly refers to the universal force that guides our life and carries us safely through the threats and challenges along the way. The closest equivalent to dharma in the West is the concept of grace, the protection and guidance of a loving God. Living in dharma means acting in concert with one’s divine purpose in life.

Following our dharma in the deepest sense means that we’re not really obeying the laws or regulations set down by society. Dharma isn’t about the external world but about aligning with the pure spiritual force within. When our intentions, thoughts, words, and actions support our life’s purpose, we are in dharma. And then we bring fulfillment to ourselves and everyone else affected by our actions.

In his book The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, Deepak Chopra describes three aspects of the law of dharma. The first is that we are all here to discover our higher self, to realize that our essential nature is spiritual. Inside each person is a divine being that yearns to come into full expression.

The second part of the law of dharma states that everyone has a unique talent, something they do better than anyone else on the planet We are here in this life to find out what our own special gift is. One clue that we’ve discovered our dharma is that we lose track of time and experience timeless awareness whenever we’re doing that particular thing. We enter a state of bliss.

Using our unique talent to serve humanity is the third aspect of the law of dharma. When we use our creative expression to meet the needs of other people, we experience true joy and ecstasy. We detach from the fear and struggle of the ego and surrender to the wisdom of our higher self. Living in dharma allows us to enjoy the boundless love of our spiritual essence.

Namasté - eplanation of term, taken from The Chopra Center online library

Namasté is both a spoken Indian expression and a symbolic gesture that people use when greeting each other or in parting. Pronounced “na-ma-stay,” the term derives from Sanskrit and literally means “I bow to you.” It’s more commonly translated as “the divine light in me honors the divine light in you” or “the God within me greets the God within you.” Namasté is the recognition that we are all equal and share a common divinity.

To perform the namasté gesture, place your palms together in a prayer position in front of your heart and slightly bow your head. You may also close your eyes if you wish. In the West, people usually speak the word namasté as they bow, but in India it’s understood that the gesture alone carries the same meaning. To indicate especially deep respect, you may put your hands together in front of your forehead (the site of the mystic third eye), gently bow your head, and bring hands down to your heart. There’s also a third form of namasté, in which the palms are raised completely above the head. This gesture shows the most reverence and is only used to venerate God and the holiest gurus.

Bringing the hands together is a highly symbolic gesture. According to tradition, the right hand represents the higher self or the divine within, while the left hand represents the lower, worldly self. By pressing the palms together, the person performing namasté unites these two aspects and attempts to connect with the individual before him or her. Bowing also expresses love and respect.

In the United States, many yoga instructors close their classes by performing namasté as a sign of appreciation and honor for their students, inviting them to connect with their own heart and truth. Westerners who have adopted the term and gesture generally endow it with a deeply sacred intention. In modern Southeast Asia, on the other hand, some individuals use namasté more informally to greet others in everyday life. Nonetheless, many people in India and elsewhere believe that the greeting is more than a simple “hello” or “hi” and use it to recognize that everyone shares a common divinity.

We have chosen the name Namasté for our newsletter because its meaning reflects the Chopra Center’s mission to honor the sacred nature of our readers and promote the union or integration of the mind, body, and spirit.

sacred contracts

Once again I am reminded that we learn what we need to learn at the right time. A number of years ago, I heard about Caroline Myss's book Sacred Contracts. At some stage I explored a bit of it on the internet.  I never got around to acquiring or reading the book till a year ago when I bought it, and only a month ago I started to read it. I can see why its taken me a while to get to this book. It is challenging me to let go of some good friends that have overstayed their welcome - the good friends being old fears and behaviours that no longer serve, outdated responses to the current reality. At the same time it is demanding of me to dig very deep and draw on my inner resources to grow in the direction I need to as I come to understand myself on a deeper and more intimate level. Lots of hard work.... I needed to be ready to do this. Grateful that I am doing it. 

A powerful book, and I am not yet half way. It is also reminding me that surrender is part of the journey sometimes and one needs to know when surrender is required. 

maze

living life is an endless navigation through a maze littered with surprise pitstops and interesting destinations - some pleasant and others, not so much.