For several months I have been
thinking about writing a follow-up to the student discovery blog I wrote in
March 2014 about my Dharma lessons with Tracy. What I’m writing now is quite different than what it would
have been if it had been written even two or three weeks ago.
Loosely defined, Dharma is your
life’s path, how you live your life responsibly, knowing and respecting your
authentic self. Each person’s dharmic path is different. Dharma lessons bring awareness to
reducing suffering and remind us to live in the present.
My Dharma lessons have covered
the Yamas (moral restraints, such as non-violence and nonstealing) and the
Niyamas (self discipline, such as cleanliness and self-study). The principles of the Yamas and Niyamas
have been applied to experiences as wide ranging as fear, aging, injury,
obstacles and challenges faced and overcome, spirituality, the wonder of nature
and our role in it, death, life, and everything in-between.
Tracy leads the lessons with
wisdom, compassion, and patience, which doesn’t mean that she doesn’t also
challenge and make me look deeply at things I might rather ignore. And we don’t always agree. But the lessons, always instructive,
sometimes difficult and painful, sometimes incredibly illuminating and freeing,
have made a real difference in my life.
What I have come to realize
these last few weeks is that the Dharma lessons have changed me in ways I
hadn’t fully appreciated. I knew
that I was more open to people and experiences, and sometimes, at least, less
fearful. I knew that I could at
least sometimes pause before I responded so that I didn’t say or do something
that would hurt someone else, or me. I more often than before have a better sense of my
authentic self, and can more often make decisions based on my truths rather
than on what I think others might expect.
What I wasn’t as aware of was
how the Dharma lessons have influenced my actions and reactions to the events
of the world. The last few weeks
and months have been particularly difficult locally, nationally, and
internationally. News about
violence and hatred spews out from radios, TVs, newspapers, computers. It is overwhelming, and I feel intense
sorrow and despair.
Now, however, I am also more
aware of my ability and responsibility to shift my energy. The world is suffering and there are
grave ills to be addressed. From
my Yoga practice in general, and the Dharma lessons in particular, I can focus
on sending love into a hate-filled world. I can better look for ways each day to add light
rather than darkness, hope rather than fear, peace and healing rather than
hatred. It is not all that can be
done, but it is surely a better place to work from than where I would have been
without Yoga and the Dharma lessons.
‘Look for the good’ Tracy often says. ‘Be present, trust your
intuition, pause before you act.’ I often resist. But step by step, I grow.
As always, I’m eager to share if
anyone would like to know more about my Dharma lesson experience.
