The term "Dharma” is
found in many of the eastern religions, including Hinduism and Buddhism.
According to Hinduism, the various rights, laws, codes of conduct, familiar
duties, and ways of behaving ethically in the world are all part of the
energetic fabric that sustains and maintains the universe itself. The term
"Dharma" is also often applied to the teachings of Buddhism. To live
a dharmic life in this context refers to living life according to the Buddhist
teachings of compassionate, ethical behavior. In many indigenous tribes around
the world, the rituals, prayers and tribal responsibilities not only maintain
the integrity of the community-at-large, but also help to sustain and maintain
the functioning of the universe itself.
At this point, you may be
wondering what Dharma has to do with practicing Yoga? The concept of Dharma is
woven throughout many of the classical Hindu texts, including texts
specifically relating to Yoga practice, such as Patanjali's Yoga Sutras. The
reason for this is that the goal of a sustained and committed practice of Yoga
is intended to bring the Yoga practitioner into a state of oneness with the
divine energy that underlies all of existence. This oneness with the divine
energy is known as enlightenment. In order to be transformed through the practice
of Yoga and approach a lighter state of peace and happiness, if not
enlightenment itself, shedding old ways of being that maintain a sense of
disharmony with one's own internal truth is imperative.
When old ways of being in
the world that do not support an ethical or dharmic way of living are released,
a state of peace and happiness is much more accessible to a Yoga student or
teacher. If you are in the process of trying to determine what your Dharma is
in the world, identifying your own personal strengths, weaknesses and aptitudes
is critical to the process of building a dharmic life. In addition, if you are
considering a career change, in order to more closely align your own internal
truth with the way that you earn a living in the world, clarifying your
financial needs and goals is important.
This can be quite tricky,
of course - Especially if you have a family to support or have substantial
financial obligations. Many spiritual seekers find it difficult to truly align
their own internal sense of Dharma with their individual aptitudes and skills,
while fully meeting their financial obligations. Working as a Yoga teacher can
pose such a challenge. If you are considering studying to become a certified
Yoga teacher, honestly appraising your own personal skills, interests and
financial needs is an important first step to determining the feasibility of
offering your service to the world by teaching Yoga classes.
If you do find that your
heart and soul truly wants to serve the world by teaching Yoga to a variety of
students, you may need to begin to streamline your monthly living expenses, so
that you have the financial room to begin a new career. If you are unable to
pursue a new full-time career at this time, you may wish to study to be a Yoga
teacher through an online teacher-training program. In this way, you can master
the skills to become a certified Yoga teacher at your own pace and in the
comfort of your own home.
Of course, there are
literally thousands of ways to earn a dharmic living in the world. Ultimately,
the very way that you hold yourself and interact with other people is the
essence of moving in a dharmic way through the world. If you interact with
other people in a compassionate, loving and patient way throughout the day, you
are upholding the essential qualities of living a life of integrity, truth and
ethical behavior, even if you are not financially able to earn a full-time
living teaching Yoga at this time. The love, compassion and generosity that you
show to others are the very essence of honoring the Yogic principal of Dharma
on a daily basis.
Virginia Iversen, M.Ed, has
been practicing and studying the art of Yoga for over twenty years. She lives
in Woodstock, New York, where she works as a writer and an academic support
specialist. She is currently accepting Yoga and health-related writing
assignments and may be contacted at: enchantress108@gmail.com.
2 comments:
To live a dharmic life in this context refers to living life according to the Buddhist teachings of compassionate, ethical behavior. Thanks for sharing this valuable article.
Ultimately, the way that you hold yourself and interact with other people is the essence of moving in a dharmic way through the world. Thanks for sharing this nice thought.
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