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Meditation
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Material Success Through Yoga Principles
by Swami Kriyananda
The higher purpose of these lessons is to help you see that material success itself is only a stepping stone to perfection. From a yogic point of view, every kind of success is a good thing, for the qualities that bring material success bring also divine enlightenment.
Lesson Two Workbook Ideas by Bharat Cornell
Focused Energy: Key to Success
In eighteenth century Japan, mountain travel was often perilous. On the island of Honshu, passage through the Yamakuni River Gorge was especially so—every year travelers fell where the trail crossed its sheer walls. Hearing of the many lives lost there, a mendicant priest named Ryokai vowed he would carve a long tunnel through the solid rock cliff. With just a chisel and hammer, Ryokai began chipping away at the mountain.
At first travelers and local villagers laughed at Ryokai and said he was a fool. After several years of observing Ryokai’s unstinting labor, however, the villagers became inspired by his devoted efforts and began to help. But soon they became discouraged, thinking the project impossible.
Several more times workers came, stayed for a while, then left. Their coming and going didn’t matter to Ryokai. For him, now, only the rock wall existed—his eyes and mind saw only his chisel and the fall of his hammer. Years later, when the priest had dug half way through the mountain, thirty masons helped him finish. During this time, Ryokai was virtually unaware of their presence, so single-minded was he in pursuing the task God had given him.
Action Items:
Dynamic energy focused in one direction attracts success. The magnetism generated from concentrated effort also draws opportunities and help from the universe.
- Choose something you want to accomplish.
- Watch your energy as you work.
- Does it remain steadfast and concentrated? Or does it become easily diverted?
- If you become sidetracked, refocus your energy on your purpose.
- Continue refocusing your attention as needed.
- Observe how Life helps you when your energy is strong and positive.
- Remember, the only thing you have control over is the quality and focus of your energy. It is your most important asset!
Overcoming Karmic Blocks
In the above story, the priest’s motivation for building the tunnel was also for karmic reasons. As a young man, Ryokai had taken lives, and he knew now he had to save lives if his karma was to be expiated. After his crimes, Ryokai, filled with remorse, had almost surrendered to the authorities. But a saintly priest told him that he would surely be executed if he did. This priest suggested instead that Ryokai begin earnestly serving and saving the lives of others. Dying now wouldn’t help his victims, or himself. Only by denying himself and helping others could Ryokai become free of his karma.
Awareness of one’s faults should lead to direct, positive action. The way to mitigate one’s karma is not to outlast it, or feel guilty about it, but to consciously generate positive energy to offset it.
Action Items:
Although few of us have the karma of Ryokai’s, we all have karmic impediments that prevent us from achieving our goals. Blocks like fear, doubt, and lack of self-confidence siphon off a tremendous amount of energy. Removing subconscious blocks frees our energy for more worthwhile pursuits.
Ask yourself:
- Is there a part of me that paralyzes my efforts, that acts counter to what I want to do or accomplish?
- Meditate on what it is, and after its consequences become very clear, think of a way to redirect this blocked energy positively and expansively.
- Devote yourself energetically to this new direction.
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