The Essence of Yoga

There’s a world deep inside us

As a gentle kindly dream

Where Love is ever present

And beauty is always seen

It’s the spirit of Christmas

When remembered all the year

That brings joy, peace and laughter

Of life’s music to our ear

So Christmas is inside us

An expanding, growing dream

Of love forever present

And beauty everywhere seen

Echo of Christ within us

Outwardly seeking new birth

As human beings perfect

Creating a heaven on earth.

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All those inclined to believe in God as Love come to experience expansions of their heart’s growth and personal capacity to love, rather than allowing a contraction of feeling.

But as we know, love is a very real primal emotional force and feeling that  has to be cultivated and directed into the various avenues of personal life as we see is appropriate, as well as existing as a general state or attitude.

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The aspirant undertakes certain self disciplines when following the spiritual path of Yoga. These are essential for everyone who wishes to apply themselves to the art of living with spiritual values replacing the material ones that dominate at present.

Classical yogic disciplines have remained unchanged for centuries. Although they can be adopted and also adapted by people of any culture or religion, the fundamental principles do not alter. Many aspects are incorporated in the lives of people of every nation and culture.

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If we undertake personal self discipline for the purpose of allowing better and clearer reflection of our higher of nobler self it demands a degree of self analysis as a starting point. It will help us to comprehend the character of the ‘clay’ that we seek to mould and re-shape to our design.

So we need to acknowledge our present personality.

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Whether we seek for relief from pain and suffering, or for courage to melt our fears, or for enlightenment and understanding, or look towards a recipient for our aspiration and devotion, we turn to prayer.

Although it is generally formulated in religious observances and rituals, it is something that arises in us spontaneously from our hearts and most intensely when we feel the need for a power we cannot generate ourselves when seeking to relieve the pain of another.

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It is not that we need more knowledge about the mind as much as finding how to construct a life- saving bridge from our minds to the knowledge deep in our hearts.

Stranded on the shores of knowledge of the intellect alone, we eventually find ourselves lonely and devoid of real life satisfaction and experience regardless of our accumulation of information.

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What a wonderful thought that our soul is immortal and embarks upon a new chapter and learning curve with each successive human lifetime!

There are many who intuitively feel that subsequent human births will follow this one. Others cannot consider the idea of ‘having to return’ to endure all they have had to this life and totally reject the idea of recycled souls as unfortunately the opportunity for fresh and brighter experiences.

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There is no better proof of the soul stimulus that is given to us than to watch someone enjoying something of beauty.

When reading a beautiful message or story we eagerly digest the silent melody of the words.

When an audience is entranced by a superb performance of visual art such as ballet, it is obvious in the whole atmosphere that becomes hushed.

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Hatha Yoga System

Why the system was developed – that of Hatha Yoga to enable the body to last long enough to study of the deeper purposes and the higher spiritual Laws behind life and arrive at a  satisfactory degree of knowledge of the universe. To aspire in this way, we must first have health if we wish to enjoy many years of life enquiry.

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The yoga student or sadhaka is prepared to undertake a programme of self discipline in order to improve his character, achieve psychological cleansing of past difficulties, and follow the traditional methods of Yogic practice that will lead to spiritual experience and realization of the truths of life.

The natural law that determines each of us grows through self effort is recognized and adhered to and it is up to the aspiration and determination of each student that personal spiritual progress is made under the watchful eye of the Guru. This classical system is still followed by some but in western adaptation of the training process there are some considerable modifications.

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