Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu
‘May all beings be peaceful, happy and free’
Dharma is an integral part of a living a truly yogic lifestyle, honoured by Hindus and Buddhists alike. Dharma is an ethical way of living, thinking, acting and relating to others and the world. It means ‘right way of living’; ‘living within cosmic law and order’ of nature, leading to a sense of balance, harmony and truth, satya, in our lives and the universe.
Just as gravity sustains the Earth, oxygen sustains the plants, the sun warms our world, a natural harmony. It is the dharma of the wind to blow, the seas to ebb and flow and the stars to shine. It’s our dharma to live in peace, to show reverence to our Earth, to express compassion to all beings and so sustain our world. In Hinduism, dharma is described as ‘that which holds’ the people of this world and whole creation.
Patanjali wrote the ‘Yoga Sutras’ over two thousand years ago. He describes dharma within the ‘Eight Limbs of Yoga’, his model of a yogic lifestyle. The five yamas are the first ‘limb’ of yoga, which are universal laws that the the individual should aim to live by in order to create peace in this world, within and beyond. The yamas are: ahimsa, meaning non-violence; satya, meaning truth; asteya, meaning non-stealing; brahmacharya, meaning spiritual development; aparigaha, meaning non-attachment. These are considered universal dharma, to live in harmony within the world, as one body, one creation.
Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu: May all beings live in peace, freedom and happiness and may their actions contribute to the peace, freedom and happiness of others.
Mata Amritanandamayi is known throughout the world as Amma, or Mother, for her selfless love and compassion toward all beings. Her entire life has been dedicated to alleviating the pain of the poor, and those suffering physically and emotionally. Throughout her life, Amma has embraced and comforted more than 34 million people. Amma inspires, uplifts, and transforms through her physical embrace, her spiritual wisdom and through her global charities. This is her dharma: “Where there is true love, anything is effortless.”
Amma says that her religion is love. She has never asked anyone to change their religion, but only to contemplate the essential principles of their own faith and to try to live accordingly.
How can we contribute to the peace, freedom and happiness of others in this world?
To find out more about dharma: http://www.hindupedia.com/en/Dharma
http://www.lamayeshe.com/index.php?sect=article&id=461
Love, radiate, shine through the practice of yoga.
Dharma Yoga
Open Space, Wivenhoe
Thursday 28th August at 8.15-9.30pm
Lotus Love Yoga’s expression of dharma this summer will be to share a special yoga event in support of a truly beautiful cause: Malawi Baby Massage. Gayle Berry, the founder of Blossom and Berry Baby Massage, travels widely in the U.K, teaching others how to truly nurture and deeply care for their babies, creating incredible life-long bonds. Gayle has now been doing some outstanding work in Malawi, the third poorest country in the world. Malawi has high unemployment rates, extreme levels of poverty and few hospitals, these poorly facilitated. Gayle has been teaching the local Malawian women the nurturing skill of baby massage, which they are able to use to create an income for their families and contribute to the health of Malawian mothers and babies in the early stages.
A truly beautiful cause.
We are going to run a very special Vinyasa Flow Yoga class, where we will practice with energy in our bodies, love in our heart and, compassion in our smiles. The class will be taught with devotion, bhakti, and any payment will be lovingly donated to Gayle’s Malawi Baby Massage project. Yoga means union, so let’s come together with compassion in our hearts, one body, flowing through the beautiful practice of yoga to contribute towards a better, brighter, more beautiful world. You can also donate online at www.blossomandberry.com
