8 Limbs of Yoga Week 5-Karma

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 This week we will discuss the Definition and Laws of Karma. The doctrine of karma is central to yoga. It is the law of causation; it the cause and effect of our physical, mental, and emotional actions. The purpose of karma is to awaken all sentient beings to a greater self-awareness and a realization of their creative potential. Remembering that we are the creative principle reminds us that only we create our circumstances and only we can dissolve or change them. Karma is the accumulated results of our past, present, and future actions. There are three types of karma:

 

1. Sanchitta-This is the accumulated past actions waiting to come to fruition.
2. Parabda-This is the present action, what you are doing right now and their results. The actions you are performing right now are a result of past actions that you are resolving.
3. Agami-These are the future actions that result from your present actions. You are constantly creating new karma.

 

Each action creates a seed called a samskara that are awaiting the right stimulus to manifest itself through karma. These samskaras are stored in the chakras. Karma is not good or bad it just is. Our interpretation of it creates a samskara that has the potential to create more karma. We are often bound in the cycle of action and the resulting attachment. The amount of a piece of karmas force is often determined by how long we have been holding an attachment. Through enlightenment, no karma can bind you. Often this freedom comes from discovery of the self and selfless action.

In yoga, it is said that no habit is a good habit because the term habit by its very nature means a lack of control and self-awareness. This may create a paradox in your mind if you consider practicing yoga, meditating, eating wisely and being compassionate a habit. In this case, we can continually create a positive karmic momentum by cultivating these habits.

Karma is activated by our response to life, by our actions and by our attitudes. Our bodies, minds, families, races, religions, culture, and solar systems all carry karmic patterns. If your primary sense of self is one of a timeless being who is functioning through a human body these things will not affect you as much.

Karma is softened by our attitudes, being aware of what is happening around us as well as within us, and by cultivating healthy physical and emotional patterns.

 

“Pain and suffering that have not yet occurred can and are to be avoided.” (Yoga Sutra Book II, Sutra XVI)

The simplest choices we make each day can have profound effects on us in the future. Pranayama, yoga practice, and meditation are all ways to soften karma. The best time to work on softening karma is before it manifests itself. This is done through conscious action, thoughts and words. There are three qualities of actions or gunas described below:

Tamas-Translated this means darkness and also relates to the quality of inertia. It is associated with the mental states of apathy, laziness and unawareness. Tamas is the state in which things exist prior to action and return to after action. There is a natural place in the world order for tamas, but if something becomes too tamastic it is fixes and rigid. The greater the duration of inertia the more difficult it is to move out of that space.

Rajas-The quality of action required to overcome inertia is rajas. Translated this means to be excited or affected. This is activity performed with passion. Most of the time desire is what motivates us, which is not a bad thing, but we need to control them and not become attached to the desires.

Sattva-There is no good English translation for this, it means beingness. It is compassionate activity derived from balance and mindfulness. These are actions done with purity in intent.

Recommended ReadingSpiritual Science of Kriya Yoga-Goswami KriyanandaLaws of Karma-Goswami KriyanandaJivamukti Yoga-Sharon Gannon & David LifeYoga Sutras of Patanjali-Swami Satchidananda

Bhagavad Gita-Translated by Goswami Kriyananda

Breathing Exercises

Alternate Nostril Breathing (Nadi Shodhana)-Balances energy and chakras, stilling affect of the mind

OM-Breath-Centering

Breath of Fire

Three Lock Breath-Controlling of pranic flow

Recommended ReadingThe Spiritual Science of Kriya Yoga-Goswami KriyanandaThe Breathing Book-Donna FarhiJivamukti Yoga-Sharon Gannon/David LifeLight on Yoga-B.K.S. IyengarAsana Sequence

1. Tadasana
2. Tadasana with cow & eagle hands
3. Standing Ardha Chandrasana-Half Moon
4. Yoga Mudra-Hands Clasped Behind Back
5. Vrkasana
6. Warrior II/Lateral Extensions/Trikonasana/Reversed
7. Prasarita Paddotanasana
8. Virasana
9. Bhujangasana-Cobra Pose
10. Dhanurasana-Bow
11. Setu Bandha-Bridge
12. Ustrasana-Camel
13. Downward Dog
14. Balasana-Childs
15. Sarvangasana-Shoulder Stand
16. Halasana-Plow
17. Salamba Sirshasana-Headstand
18. Legs up Wall
19. Savasana

Benefits of Inversions

1.                  Tones vital organs

2.                  Stimulates endocrine glands

3.                  Promotes metabolism

4.                  Relieves compression on spine

5.                  Reverses affects of gravity

6.                  Strengthens concentration and thinking processes

7.                  Improves sleep

Mantra 

Mantra is a sound vibration that exists in the astral universe. A mantric sound quiets the mind inducing a state of meditation. Mantra frees you from thinking but not from consciousness. Mantras can be a single syllable up to 32 syllables. The single syllable is the seed sound or bija. Classically speaking you should choose one mantra until illumination is met. I will introduce a few mantras and you can pick one that you resonate with for further practice.

 

1. Om Mantra-This is the primal sound of creation, wisdom and bliss. It is the vibratory sound of god.
2. Om Nama Shiva Ya-Shiva is the divinity principle that dissolves imbalances.It is usually chanted five times for one round, and five rounds are chanted.
3. Om Mane Padme Um-Buddhist chant meaning the jewel is in the lotus. Chanted 3,7,12, or 108 times.