Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Check out holistic segment on www.myfoxdfw.com Dr. Rama
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Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Questions and Answers With Dr. Rama---
Dr. Rama:
Do you have some thoughts on falling asleep?
Dr. R: Medications are very limited and often temporary. There is no total fix. People have to get in touch with their own body and mind and see what works for them. Medications are often not used on a long, long term basis. What is needed is to review one's behaviors and lifestyle and incorporate those into a sleep routine. Our world is too dependent on artificial treatment, although sleep meds do have their place particularly when one has major depression and other distinct problems
It is best to have a sleep study for very serious sleep disturbances and always check with your MD
Avoid late night snacks (unless you are instructed by your MD), TV, arguements and heated subjects---these stir up the mind and create restlessness. It is best to avoid heavy mental work as well.
Try to take a warm epsom salt bath and begin listening to the sounds of Nature and gentle music. Try to find sounds that are appropriate for the night--such as gentle cricket or frog sounds---this helps us get in touch with Nature and the body will respond.
Do some gentle stretching and deep breathing. Sit in a comfortable upright position and breathe deeply through your nose inhaling and exhaling with focus in a ratio of 10:20. or if one cannot do that even 5:10 for every inhalation and exhalation. Do at least five to 10 rounds but stop if you are dizzy.
Lie down, abdomen down, face down. Place the palms of the hands alongside the head with palms down. up underneath the shoulder blades. Inhale and gentle lift the upper half of the body, looking up and gazing toward the ceiling. This is known as the cobra pose.
Sit up and stretch the legs out in front you touching. Inhale, stretch both arms up and above one's head. Exhale and allow the arms to fall parallel gently to the legs, grabbing any portion of the legs or feet with the back nicely curved over. Hold this posture for some time, release exhale, stretching the hands above the head. Do this several times ---this is known as the head to knee pose
(more poses later)
Do some journal writing--Contemplate the day and what you would have like to see different.
Try doing some conscious prayers---to any Higher Power of one's understanding. This eases the mind and disengages us from over-analyzing everything because we turn over our problems to a power that is far greater than what we know
Keep lights off or very gentle and soft---Too much lighting or having the TV on will create more distraction
Practice a conscious mantra. Go to You Tube or check some of the mantras on my blog. Repetition of a Divine Sound will induce meditation and then sleep often follows.
Take a combination of chamomile, valerian, peppermint or spearmint tea, and tension tamer tea. Make it very concentrated and put in some milk. Add a little tumeric, black pepper and ginger powder as well as some clove powder ---this soothes the Vata or air principle according to Ayurveda Medicine (East Indian Medicine) and induces a gentle sleep
However, avoid Valerian if pregnant or you have liver problems.
Dr. Rama:
How do I get over my afternoon sugar craving?
Dr. R--This is a complicated area. Make sure you check with your physician to be evaluated officially for diabetes or conditions of low blood sugar. It is a problem for me because I do have a sweet tooth!! :) :)
One can begin to curb the craving by substituting high glycemic index foods for low glycemic foods and the body will adjust over time.
Get low glycemic candy that does not contain pure sucrose or fructose or corn syrup. Avoid afternoon caffeine with sugar but substitute pure vegetable, tomato or carrot juice. This will help to curb the sugar ups and downs. Do not add sugar to these. Eat warm cereal such as pure plain oats, buckwheat, millet which has less gluten and has much fiber and complex carbohydates and protein that will help one feel energized. Add some unsweetened soy milk or regular milk for added protein and satisfaction. Cereals are not only for breakfast.
Also, eat some steamed vegetables that are prepared in the morning and eaten the late afternoon. They will not curb your dinner appetite and will help adjust one's craving. Steamed spinach, squash, a little bit of potato, and brocolli are examples of these. The key is to eat a small amount that just makes one feel satisfied.
More Later
Dr. Rama
Do you have some thoughts on falling asleep?
Dr. R: Medications are very limited and often temporary. There is no total fix. People have to get in touch with their own body and mind and see what works for them. Medications are often not used on a long, long term basis. What is needed is to review one's behaviors and lifestyle and incorporate those into a sleep routine. Our world is too dependent on artificial treatment, although sleep meds do have their place particularly when one has major depression and other distinct problems
It is best to have a sleep study for very serious sleep disturbances and always check with your MD
Avoid late night snacks (unless you are instructed by your MD), TV, arguements and heated subjects---these stir up the mind and create restlessness. It is best to avoid heavy mental work as well.
Try to take a warm epsom salt bath and begin listening to the sounds of Nature and gentle music. Try to find sounds that are appropriate for the night--such as gentle cricket or frog sounds---this helps us get in touch with Nature and the body will respond.
Do some gentle stretching and deep breathing. Sit in a comfortable upright position and breathe deeply through your nose inhaling and exhaling with focus in a ratio of 10:20. or if one cannot do that even 5:10 for every inhalation and exhalation. Do at least five to 10 rounds but stop if you are dizzy.
Lie down, abdomen down, face down. Place the palms of the hands alongside the head with palms down. up underneath the shoulder blades. Inhale and gentle lift the upper half of the body, looking up and gazing toward the ceiling. This is known as the cobra pose.
Sit up and stretch the legs out in front you touching. Inhale, stretch both arms up and above one's head. Exhale and allow the arms to fall parallel gently to the legs, grabbing any portion of the legs or feet with the back nicely curved over. Hold this posture for some time, release exhale, stretching the hands above the head. Do this several times ---this is known as the head to knee pose
(more poses later)
Do some journal writing--Contemplate the day and what you would have like to see different.
Try doing some conscious prayers---to any Higher Power of one's understanding. This eases the mind and disengages us from over-analyzing everything because we turn over our problems to a power that is far greater than what we know
Keep lights off or very gentle and soft---Too much lighting or having the TV on will create more distraction
Practice a conscious mantra. Go to You Tube or check some of the mantras on my blog. Repetition of a Divine Sound will induce meditation and then sleep often follows.
Take a combination of chamomile, valerian, peppermint or spearmint tea, and tension tamer tea. Make it very concentrated and put in some milk. Add a little tumeric, black pepper and ginger powder as well as some clove powder ---this soothes the Vata or air principle according to Ayurveda Medicine (East Indian Medicine) and induces a gentle sleep
However, avoid Valerian if pregnant or you have liver problems.
Dr. Rama:
How do I get over my afternoon sugar craving?
Dr. R--This is a complicated area. Make sure you check with your physician to be evaluated officially for diabetes or conditions of low blood sugar. It is a problem for me because I do have a sweet tooth!! :) :)
One can begin to curb the craving by substituting high glycemic index foods for low glycemic foods and the body will adjust over time.
Get low glycemic candy that does not contain pure sucrose or fructose or corn syrup. Avoid afternoon caffeine with sugar but substitute pure vegetable, tomato or carrot juice. This will help to curb the sugar ups and downs. Do not add sugar to these. Eat warm cereal such as pure plain oats, buckwheat, millet which has less gluten and has much fiber and complex carbohydates and protein that will help one feel energized. Add some unsweetened soy milk or regular milk for added protein and satisfaction. Cereals are not only for breakfast.
Also, eat some steamed vegetables that are prepared in the morning and eaten the late afternoon. They will not curb your dinner appetite and will help adjust one's craving. Steamed spinach, squash, a little bit of potato, and brocolli are examples of these. The key is to eat a small amount that just makes one feel satisfied.
More Later
Dr. Rama
Friday, March 18, 2011
Recipe for Very Simple Fresh Fried Tofu and Tempeh--Dr. Rama
Okay, okay, for those who are in beef country---it may not sound good but if one bears with me and tries it --they will find it quite tasty
Tofu and Tempeh are derived from soy beans--one the most highly prized vegetarian food sources. They are green and taste good steamed, but when cooked and softened they form a clay like mixture. A little calcium carbonate and acidifies make the tofu coagulate and then it is pressed and made into blocks--so it looks like a block of white clay
Tempeh is the whole soybean that is fermented and pressed into blocks. It almost looks like a Kelloggs@ marshmallow square
Both are extremely high in protein and isoflavones which are protective of the bodies' tissues and minerals. There is some fat, but much less than saturated fat from meats
Ingredients:
One block of extra firm tofu--there is a new freshly sprouted tofu that is even more chewy and firm.
One block of fresh firm tempeh
Sesame oil for frying (the light variety)--not the heavy dark variety---
Spices:---
Easy this time, each one just sprinkle from the bottle
Paprika
Seasoned Salt
Cumin powder
Cayenne powder
Turmeric powder
Coriander powder
Cardamom Powder
Onion Powder
Garlic Powder
Allspice Powder
Mace Powder
Nutmeg Powder
Method
Slice your tofu width wise into nice squares that are 1/8 inch or so.
Slice your tempeh into the same pattern. It is a little trickier with tempeh but a sharp knife will help, with the knife tip pointed downward
Take two separate frying pans and pour enough oil to coat the bottom
Fry the tofu and tempeh separately, being careful to not break apart the pieces.
Patiently on medium heat to medium high heat, allow a nice golden brown crust to form on both sides. One will have to flip the tofu and tempeh with a thin spatula to get an even brown coat.
When the tofu is just browing, carefully sprinkle the powdered ingredients in succession. The turmeric and cayenne powder should be lightly sprinkled compared to the rest of the spices. Cover and add a little more oil on top and let them carefully sizzle
Place on a dish carefully one at a time--do not drain too much oil, because it contains the flavor and spices. And you can combine the tempeh and tofu at this point. Careful to not break the pieces apart.
Serve with white rice, and your favorite sauce!!
DR. Rama
Tofu and Tempeh are derived from soy beans--one the most highly prized vegetarian food sources. They are green and taste good steamed, but when cooked and softened they form a clay like mixture. A little calcium carbonate and acidifies make the tofu coagulate and then it is pressed and made into blocks--so it looks like a block of white clay
Tempeh is the whole soybean that is fermented and pressed into blocks. It almost looks like a Kelloggs@ marshmallow square
Both are extremely high in protein and isoflavones which are protective of the bodies' tissues and minerals. There is some fat, but much less than saturated fat from meats
Ingredients:
One block of extra firm tofu--there is a new freshly sprouted tofu that is even more chewy and firm.
One block of fresh firm tempeh
Sesame oil for frying (the light variety)--not the heavy dark variety---
Spices:---
Easy this time, each one just sprinkle from the bottle
Paprika
Seasoned Salt
Cumin powder
Cayenne powder
Turmeric powder
Coriander powder
Cardamom Powder
Onion Powder
Garlic Powder
Allspice Powder
Mace Powder
Nutmeg Powder
Method
Slice your tofu width wise into nice squares that are 1/8 inch or so.
Slice your tempeh into the same pattern. It is a little trickier with tempeh but a sharp knife will help, with the knife tip pointed downward
Take two separate frying pans and pour enough oil to coat the bottom
Fry the tofu and tempeh separately, being careful to not break apart the pieces.
Patiently on medium heat to medium high heat, allow a nice golden brown crust to form on both sides. One will have to flip the tofu and tempeh with a thin spatula to get an even brown coat.
When the tofu is just browing, carefully sprinkle the powdered ingredients in succession. The turmeric and cayenne powder should be lightly sprinkled compared to the rest of the spices. Cover and add a little more oil on top and let them carefully sizzle
Place on a dish carefully one at a time--do not drain too much oil, because it contains the flavor and spices. And you can combine the tempeh and tofu at this point. Careful to not break the pieces apart.
Serve with white rice, and your favorite sauce!!
DR. Rama
Sunday, February 6, 2011
New Blog Post Also --DR. Rama
see my new blog post also: www.drramamdessenceofspirit.com ---deeper insights into many facets of Spirit, Mind, Body, metaphysics and inspiring thoughts.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Part 6 Jnana Yoga: The Path of Rediscovering One's Inner Wisdom, Intuition, and Guidance
The path of Jnana Yoga is a deeply mysterious yet simple path. It is pronounced "Gyaana..". Jnana means wisdom. The purpose is to discover our own wisdom, find our own answers, discover and improve our own Self esteem and to heal from past injury and wounding. The path of Jnana Yoga is also known as the path of Self-inquiry.
In Jnana Yoga we take responsibility for our own actions. We think about our life and what has transpired up to the given moment. And it is practice to just be in the moment. In Jnana Yoga, connections are made to our childhood and how our patterns affect today and how these can be improved and transformed.
In Jnana Yoga, the constant question, "Who am I, Why Am I here? Why do I exist? What is my nature and the nature of the world in relationship to me constantly asked and contemplated, both in formal meditation and in the day to day.
By doing so, the mind is eventually calms down. It stops seeking answers outside of our own being and focuses inside. In this calmness, enlightenment finally dawns because we realize we do not depend on anything outside of us. We are in our own power.
A mental cleansing process occurs. We stop playing games with others' hearts, we stop hurting others' feelings. Our viciousness ceases and we spontaneously want only purity of mind, balance of mind. We stop seeking attention and then waiting to get a rise out of others to feed our own ego and selfishness. We do not depend on admiration and adoration of others because our mind expands and our Self esteem grows and does not need these to feel good about ourselves. Humility increases and we realize that others' are there to support and help us.
Ultimately mind merges with the Universal Self and we experience oneness. We experience peace through the calmness of the mind.
We become more and more intuitive. Our wisdom is uncovered. We know what to do and when we ought to do things in precise timing, ease and grace.
Journal writing, group discussion, group meditation, group therapy and individual therapy are all forms of Jnana Yoga. Our own Self-help reading is also a form. Anything that brings us back to our own knowing, the contemplation of who and what we are is a form of this practice.
Dr. Rama
Dallas
In Jnana Yoga we take responsibility for our own actions. We think about our life and what has transpired up to the given moment. And it is practice to just be in the moment. In Jnana Yoga, connections are made to our childhood and how our patterns affect today and how these can be improved and transformed.
In Jnana Yoga, the constant question, "Who am I, Why Am I here? Why do I exist? What is my nature and the nature of the world in relationship to me constantly asked and contemplated, both in formal meditation and in the day to day.
By doing so, the mind is eventually calms down. It stops seeking answers outside of our own being and focuses inside. In this calmness, enlightenment finally dawns because we realize we do not depend on anything outside of us. We are in our own power.
A mental cleansing process occurs. We stop playing games with others' hearts, we stop hurting others' feelings. Our viciousness ceases and we spontaneously want only purity of mind, balance of mind. We stop seeking attention and then waiting to get a rise out of others to feed our own ego and selfishness. We do not depend on admiration and adoration of others because our mind expands and our Self esteem grows and does not need these to feel good about ourselves. Humility increases and we realize that others' are there to support and help us.
Ultimately mind merges with the Universal Self and we experience oneness. We experience peace through the calmness of the mind.
We become more and more intuitive. Our wisdom is uncovered. We know what to do and when we ought to do things in precise timing, ease and grace.
Journal writing, group discussion, group meditation, group therapy and individual therapy are all forms of Jnana Yoga. Our own Self-help reading is also a form. Anything that brings us back to our own knowing, the contemplation of who and what we are is a form of this practice.
Dr. Rama
Dallas
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Part 5 Bhakti Yoga-Path Of Devotion--Ripening the Heart--Dr. Rama Dallas
So to continue with useful Yoga info hints and tips. I thought I would write about Bhakti Yoga the path of devotion. If you check out my other blog
http://www.drramamdheartinspirations.blogspot.com/ you will see I have been writing about purity of heart--this blog entry ties in with heart inspirations.
What is Bhakti? Bhakti is the deepest feeling of the Soul that percolates through the heart and out into this world. It is the underlying melody and rhythm of the heart that brings out the song of our truly pure emotions into dance and play in this world. It is the feeling of passion, enthusiasm, love, devotion, and longing of the heart. It is pure love for the Divine and for ourselves.
A baby has pure bhakti. Before the ego hardens, a baby is spontaneously happy and joyous. A baby is the purest reflection of God. They are so filled with love, spontaneity, connection, sparkle and laughter--is it not so?
The baby reflects our inner child that has no boundaries.
Yet as adults life gives us so many hurdles that can harden our heart. Our wounding, pain and sorrow our issues get in the way of our original innocence. The wounded inner child turns to many things that create a life that can be upside down and all around.
The practice of devotion like Karma Yoga cannot be written or expressed in words. It has to be experienced. Devotional practices open the heart and this is the form of Yoga.
So this is why chanting, singing and joyous prayers and music are performed: it is all to open the heart; this is the heart of Bhakti Yoga. All cultures have this and all paths know this mysterious power that opens the heart and burns away negative karma. The open heart spreads to others as the joy within spreads through ourselves. Yet, it does not have be chanting and singing. Anything that we find joyous--art, creativity, music can be considered as this all opens the heart as well.
As Karma Yoga is the Yoga of Love in Action, sacred duty and tasks, Bhakti Yoga is the Yoga of Love that emanates and percolates through stirring the heart inside through devotion. It is this devotion that is offered to others, without strings attached--without any agenda --purely to share joy and love. In Bhakti, you may or may not be performing tasks for others as in Karma Yoga. One's very presence uplifts others because the heart is so opened by the Soul that everyone is attracted like a magnet.
Only practice will help us understand the interplay between Karma Yoga and Bhakti Yoga as each is so interrelated.
Without real devotion in life we are all like dried prunes. Bhakti or awakened inner love is the ripening force of the heart, just like a fruit becomes juicy and tasty through the mysterious process of ripening.
We ripen when we are open. If we are not open and yet long to feel this love then we practice many devotional methods to get the heart recharged and refreshed. Through devotion we regain and remember the true innocence of a child at wonder and play--free and unbounded as if running through blue bonnet fields.
Dr. Rama
Dallas Texas
http://www.drramamdheartinspirations.blogspot.com/ you will see I have been writing about purity of heart--this blog entry ties in with heart inspirations.
What is Bhakti? Bhakti is the deepest feeling of the Soul that percolates through the heart and out into this world. It is the underlying melody and rhythm of the heart that brings out the song of our truly pure emotions into dance and play in this world. It is the feeling of passion, enthusiasm, love, devotion, and longing of the heart. It is pure love for the Divine and for ourselves.
A baby has pure bhakti. Before the ego hardens, a baby is spontaneously happy and joyous. A baby is the purest reflection of God. They are so filled with love, spontaneity, connection, sparkle and laughter--is it not so?
The baby reflects our inner child that has no boundaries.
Yet as adults life gives us so many hurdles that can harden our heart. Our wounding, pain and sorrow our issues get in the way of our original innocence. The wounded inner child turns to many things that create a life that can be upside down and all around.
The practice of devotion like Karma Yoga cannot be written or expressed in words. It has to be experienced. Devotional practices open the heart and this is the form of Yoga.
So this is why chanting, singing and joyous prayers and music are performed: it is all to open the heart; this is the heart of Bhakti Yoga. All cultures have this and all paths know this mysterious power that opens the heart and burns away negative karma. The open heart spreads to others as the joy within spreads through ourselves. Yet, it does not have be chanting and singing. Anything that we find joyous--art, creativity, music can be considered as this all opens the heart as well.
As Karma Yoga is the Yoga of Love in Action, sacred duty and tasks, Bhakti Yoga is the Yoga of Love that emanates and percolates through stirring the heart inside through devotion. It is this devotion that is offered to others, without strings attached--without any agenda --purely to share joy and love. In Bhakti, you may or may not be performing tasks for others as in Karma Yoga. One's very presence uplifts others because the heart is so opened by the Soul that everyone is attracted like a magnet.
Only practice will help us understand the interplay between Karma Yoga and Bhakti Yoga as each is so interrelated.
Without real devotion in life we are all like dried prunes. Bhakti or awakened inner love is the ripening force of the heart, just like a fruit becomes juicy and tasty through the mysterious process of ripening.
We ripen when we are open. If we are not open and yet long to feel this love then we practice many devotional methods to get the heart recharged and refreshed. Through devotion we regain and remember the true innocence of a child at wonder and play--free and unbounded as if running through blue bonnet fields.
Dr. Rama
Dallas Texas
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Useful Yoga Tips, Hints, and Thoughts Part 4--The Path of Karma Yoga--Dr. Rama
Karma Yoga involves selfless service to others with those around us and for the world at large. It is the path of offering our heart, mind and soul to some dutiful service that benefits others, while we release any selfish or self-centered motives behind our work via our ego. It is designed to purify our heart and mind so that we can experience greater and greater enlightenment and expanded, innovative thinking.
Karma Yoga exists upon all paths of Light. It is called love in action. Electricity can be static but made dynamic through transformers, generators, circuitry, wires, and so on. It is the same with Karma Yoga when love is put into action--it becomes manifest through our service. Another word for karma yoga in Sanskrit is called Seva.
We can sit and meditate for hours, stand on our head for days, or do breathing practices until the earth runs out of oxygen. We can also do nothing and continue to suffer and focus on our own problems--- but until we really begin to think and do for others, then we miss the entire point of our evolution upon this planet and that is to realize our Oneness through others by connecting to others in a way that is meaningful and inspiring to us.
We can never advance or expand without getting out of our own Self-absorption, selfishness, and self-centeredness of our ego. No matter what the source of our selfishness, even abuse and pain---until we start doing and thinking of others despite what we have gone through we will never completely heal. Selfless service actually heals the wounds of the heart in a very mysterious way. We somehow exchange our pain for the gain of helping others in their pain and other issues.
Karma Yoga is called karma yoga because we lessen and dissolve our karma--through service.
In karma yoga we perform a "karmic energy exchange---" Over so many lifetimes and of course this one, we have accumulated so many toxins, burdens, sorrows, negative actions and thoughts that have affected us and are buried inside us, especially our hearts. When we perform selfless actions for others, we begin to cancel out and nullify our own negative karma. We then feel more and more joy and we feel lighter and lighter if we practice this regularly.
Karma yoga can be anything from stopping to help an elderly lady, tithing or offering money for good causes, tying a shoe for a toddler or broader work of any kind that helps global humanity. The type, magnitude and scope of service does not matter, it is the feeling behind and the energy of heart that burns up the negative karma. Even meditating and praying for others, offering our good wishes to others is a form of service.
If we continue down a selfish path we become a burden to Mother Earth: always taking, taking taking. We do not care about others' feelings and how we are affecting others' lives. It is always all about us and our own drama and trauma. We are obcessed and concerned about our own money name and fame. We stop at nothing sometimes to get ahead no matter what the cost is: even if it means sacrificing our principles and our Self esteem. If we remain Self-absorbed we can play into the wrong hands and think that we are going to gain material wealth only to find that we have been exploited on any level we can think of and we end up exploiting others. We then begin to harm the planet and the innocent people upon it. It is then that Mother Earth and thus the Divine feminine "turns against us" through our own negativity our own choices and decisions to go negative rather than into Light and we begin to suffer and create disease within our mind and body. This is not judgment but rather the result of our own choices through cause and effect.
We perform actions that harm society rather than help because we have not learned to keep our ego in check. Our heart is closed, jaded, indifferent or numb so we either refuse to see what we are doing or we live in denial about what we are doing or not doing for this world that so much needs our love and light in whatever form possible.
Or we are so focused on what we want that we forget to see the forest from the trees--we get lost in the jungle of our dreams that sometimes become nothing but dead ends.
Karma yoga teaches us through experience. One cannot really talk about or write about karma yoga that much. It has to be experienced. So many blocks, issues, and difficulties and disagreements can come up while doing service. This internal dialogue is part of the ego trying to fight to stop us from expanding our hearts.
You see, the clean-up and clearing of our selfishness in a way means the death of the ego--- and it does try to die a hard death by remaining self-righteous, stubborn, resistant, and being a "know it all." It knows that if the heart wins then it will dissolve into love.
However, sooner or later our Soul has to express itself through the vast, vast infinite portal of love and not through the small donut hole of the ego.
The more selfless service we perform, the greater our clearing and the better and better we feel. It has to be experienced over time.
We can then step out of our fear, narrowness, pettiness, haughtiness and so on (all elements of the ego) to realize that the world does not revolve around us. We are not Apollo and Venus to be worshipped and adored. We are not the center of attention always. And remember even if we are Apollo there are trillions of bright suns all equally beautiful but different and countless planets so Venus does not stand alone, folks.
We realize that we grow and do not need to be the center of attention, admiration and worship to hold up our Self esteem. In this real humility is born. Not low Self esteem but the realization that our role in life is just as vital as anyone else. We are great because of all the right reasons, not from thinking we are great because of exaggerations or distortions based in our pain that we use as a defense and an excuse.
Our Self-esteem grows stronger and broader and our ego expands to understand that we are good people without such external, constant attention and praise.
We fill our emptiness with good works so that we realize and open up to just how much we can offer the world and what real talents are truly within us. This is truly what Self-esteem is about---realizing that we are good just by being who we are.
That is the beauty and mystery of karma yoga--one of the limbs of Yoga.
Dr. Rama
Karma Yoga exists upon all paths of Light. It is called love in action. Electricity can be static but made dynamic through transformers, generators, circuitry, wires, and so on. It is the same with Karma Yoga when love is put into action--it becomes manifest through our service. Another word for karma yoga in Sanskrit is called Seva.
We can sit and meditate for hours, stand on our head for days, or do breathing practices until the earth runs out of oxygen. We can also do nothing and continue to suffer and focus on our own problems--- but until we really begin to think and do for others, then we miss the entire point of our evolution upon this planet and that is to realize our Oneness through others by connecting to others in a way that is meaningful and inspiring to us.
We can never advance or expand without getting out of our own Self-absorption, selfishness, and self-centeredness of our ego. No matter what the source of our selfishness, even abuse and pain---until we start doing and thinking of others despite what we have gone through we will never completely heal. Selfless service actually heals the wounds of the heart in a very mysterious way. We somehow exchange our pain for the gain of helping others in their pain and other issues.
Karma Yoga is called karma yoga because we lessen and dissolve our karma--through service.
In karma yoga we perform a "karmic energy exchange---" Over so many lifetimes and of course this one, we have accumulated so many toxins, burdens, sorrows, negative actions and thoughts that have affected us and are buried inside us, especially our hearts. When we perform selfless actions for others, we begin to cancel out and nullify our own negative karma. We then feel more and more joy and we feel lighter and lighter if we practice this regularly.
Karma yoga can be anything from stopping to help an elderly lady, tithing or offering money for good causes, tying a shoe for a toddler or broader work of any kind that helps global humanity. The type, magnitude and scope of service does not matter, it is the feeling behind and the energy of heart that burns up the negative karma. Even meditating and praying for others, offering our good wishes to others is a form of service.
If we continue down a selfish path we become a burden to Mother Earth: always taking, taking taking. We do not care about others' feelings and how we are affecting others' lives. It is always all about us and our own drama and trauma. We are obcessed and concerned about our own money name and fame. We stop at nothing sometimes to get ahead no matter what the cost is: even if it means sacrificing our principles and our Self esteem. If we remain Self-absorbed we can play into the wrong hands and think that we are going to gain material wealth only to find that we have been exploited on any level we can think of and we end up exploiting others. We then begin to harm the planet and the innocent people upon it. It is then that Mother Earth and thus the Divine feminine "turns against us" through our own negativity our own choices and decisions to go negative rather than into Light and we begin to suffer and create disease within our mind and body. This is not judgment but rather the result of our own choices through cause and effect.
We perform actions that harm society rather than help because we have not learned to keep our ego in check. Our heart is closed, jaded, indifferent or numb so we either refuse to see what we are doing or we live in denial about what we are doing or not doing for this world that so much needs our love and light in whatever form possible.
Or we are so focused on what we want that we forget to see the forest from the trees--we get lost in the jungle of our dreams that sometimes become nothing but dead ends.
Karma yoga teaches us through experience. One cannot really talk about or write about karma yoga that much. It has to be experienced. So many blocks, issues, and difficulties and disagreements can come up while doing service. This internal dialogue is part of the ego trying to fight to stop us from expanding our hearts.
You see, the clean-up and clearing of our selfishness in a way means the death of the ego--- and it does try to die a hard death by remaining self-righteous, stubborn, resistant, and being a "know it all." It knows that if the heart wins then it will dissolve into love.
However, sooner or later our Soul has to express itself through the vast, vast infinite portal of love and not through the small donut hole of the ego.
The more selfless service we perform, the greater our clearing and the better and better we feel. It has to be experienced over time.
We can then step out of our fear, narrowness, pettiness, haughtiness and so on (all elements of the ego) to realize that the world does not revolve around us. We are not Apollo and Venus to be worshipped and adored. We are not the center of attention always. And remember even if we are Apollo there are trillions of bright suns all equally beautiful but different and countless planets so Venus does not stand alone, folks.
We realize that we grow and do not need to be the center of attention, admiration and worship to hold up our Self esteem. In this real humility is born. Not low Self esteem but the realization that our role in life is just as vital as anyone else. We are great because of all the right reasons, not from thinking we are great because of exaggerations or distortions based in our pain that we use as a defense and an excuse.
Our Self-esteem grows stronger and broader and our ego expands to understand that we are good people without such external, constant attention and praise.
We fill our emptiness with good works so that we realize and open up to just how much we can offer the world and what real talents are truly within us. This is truly what Self-esteem is about---realizing that we are good just by being who we are.
That is the beauty and mystery of karma yoga--one of the limbs of Yoga.
Dr. Rama
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