In our current era, we are witness to changes that occur at an alarming rate and even to the extent where many people find it difficult to cope. Much of this change is almost beyond human comprehension. The challenges we face are enormous. We see hunger, disease, over population, depletion of resources, global warming, changing weather patterns, drought, flooding, soil erosion, earth quakes and tsunamis. The world is confronted with social, political, economic and environmental challenges that are disharmonious to our existence.
Scientists are foremost among those who warn of life threatening human damage to the earth and its atmosphere. We see the evidence of these warnings in the frequent and massive earth quakes as continental plates shift; we have tsunamis, forest fires, drought, flooding, and pollution. The world’s food supply is becoming dangerously low. Our energy supply is dwindling. We are destroying rain forests which purify our atmosphere. These and many others are signs indicating that we will face severe challenges if we continue with our present way of life.
Yoga philosophyteaches that creation is one and that all things are created from the same energy and substance; that all should work in harmony with creation.
However, humanity endowed with free will finds it often difficult to submit to any authority which it perceives as being outside or beyond itself, and must inevitably face the consequences if it refuses to respect the laws of nature and of the universe.
We have alienated ourselves from nature and from God even though, much of humanity professes to have religious affiliations.
Our acts of ravaging the earth for the immediate satisfaction of our desires and the resultant covering of the earth with the polluted waste of our life-style shows the serious consequences we are facing.
Greed is rampant amongst people and nations. Families are breaking up and many lead unhealthy lifestyles.
If we are not determined to individually and collectively make some revolutionary changes to our ways of thinking and living, we may well cause the demise of our present civilization.
Humanity must become more aware of its interdependence and live in harmony with one another, with the environment and the laws governing nature and the cosmos.
We may ask ourselves, whether the patterns to which we are witness are of a of karmic nature in which case societies reap the effects of their actions and only a change of behaviour in accord with divine order will result in a brighter future.
However if unrighteousness, violence and evil prevails, and we disregard the balance and harmony of the created universe, we may well cause even more chaos and disintegration in our society and in the world.
For a society and nations to thrive, there needs to be a common bond of community, a sense of direction based on balance, harmony, freedom and respect for all life.
Buddha taught that selfish desire, greed, fear, lust, anger, and power over the weak are the roots of suffering; that we need to live with compassion for all life.
Yoga teaches that we suffer because of ignorance. We must realize who and what we are, and live in accordance with our true nature.
Christ brought the message of love and forgiveness. He expressed, that first we must seek the kingdom of heaven and its righteousness and all things will be given unto us.
This is no time for passively standing by hoping that some outside force will save us and the world, but a time for all to take responsible right action by living righteous and productive lives.
If we have the will, much can be done. We need to examine our lives in accordance with our professed ideals, on the physical, mental and spiritual levels. If we neglect any one of these areas, we are not living in wholeness. We need to remember, that we may not be able to change the world, but we can change the way we think, and behave in a responsible manner.
The following are suggestions of what we can do.
We need to reduce excessive consumption and waste.
We need to simplify our lives.
We can improve the quality of our physical being through exercise and healthy diet and thus reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes.
We also can improve joint stability through regular exercise.
We can increase and improve the range of movement and flexibility through hatha yoga.
We can maintain bone mass through lifting of light weights.
Exercise and proper nutrition helps to prevent osteoporosis and fractures.
We need to reduce the frequency of eating out in restaurants, of drinking excessive amounts of alcohol and eating fast food or junk foods.
Avoid staying up late, and not getting enough sleep.
From a psychological perspective, we need to keep our mind active.
We can improve mood swings; reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression through avoiding unhealthy foods and through relaxation exercises.
We enhance self esteem by realizing our true nature, and in accomplishing daily little victories that tell us: ‘We are ok’.
Elderly people can improve memory through computer based exercises.
We can reduce stress through living in the present and through meditation.
We need to minimize sitting too much in front of the TV
We also need to take care of our inner or spiritual well being by realizing, that we are first and foremost spiritual beings, having a mind and body.
Spiritual well-being is a state in which positive aspects of spirituality are experienced and incorporated into our daily lives. How the effects of spiritual practice impact us is greatly determined by how consistent we are in our practice.
Through participating in spiritual gatherings or guidance, we can become increasingly self empowered and begin to realize and appreciate that even though we have issues, stresses, and challenges, they can be overcome. Often all that is required is a different way of looking at circumstances that confront us. This realization provides a pathway to greater peace, freedom of self-expression, and positive self-esteem.
The following experiences are some of the indicators of spiritual well being.
Live in the consciousness of the present moment.
Be open to spiritual influences of intuition, inspiration and grace. This occurs when we are relaxed and peaceful.
Cultivate a feeling of contentment under all circumstances.
Through meditation, experience joy and inner peace.
Taking control of our lives and solving life’s challenges in a positive and confident manner.
Participate in purposeful physical and mental activities.
Taking an active part in life rather than standing still and watching life pass by.
Be established in intimate loving and lasting relationships.
Experiencing a feeling of purpose and meaning in life.
Respect all life and live according to the moral laws.
Reach out and help our neighbour in need.
Each person and spiritual aspirant should every night before retiring ask his intuition whether his spiritual or his worldly inclinations of temptations won the day’s battle between good and bad habits.
Between:
Temperance and greed,
Self control and lust,
Honest desire for necessities or for excess,
Forgiveness and anger,
Joy and grief, kindness and cruelty,
Selfishness and unselfishness,
Understanding and jealousy,
Bravery and cowardice,
Confidence and fear,
Faith and doubt,
Humility and pride,
Between desire to commune with God in meditation and the restless craving for worldly activities,
Spiritual and material desires,
Divine ecstasy and sensory perceptions,
It is good to remind ourselves, that we can always choose a positive outlook over a negative one. It is up to us.
By right thinking, living and responsible action, we can all contribute to the wellness of ourselves, our society and our planet.
May we all be a light to the world and live in harmony and peace.
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