23
Aug
2020
Tap Into the Heart of Compassion
“The reason we practice yoga is to tap into the heart of compassion.”
Asana is a tool that leads you deeper into the inner world. Asana is not the goal, but a very useful bridge that helps you step onto the path of yoga.
Your practice is not about building barriers, but breaking them down. Amidst the challenges of daily life it can feel intimidating to think about opening your heart, but that is exactly yoga calls you to do. Life is hard, and living as a human being is sometimes very overwhelming, especially in these times. We can end up feeling caught up in the negativity, stuck in a vicious cycle and unable to find the way out. So many people feel unworthy of directing love, compassion and kindness to themselves or others.
But, the truth is very simple. You ARE worthy. We are all worthy, but not by the acts that we have done. We are worthy of love, compassion and kindness simply by the Grace that’s already in our hearts and souls.
If you think that you are not worthy of love because you sometimes wake up in a yucky mood, get angry, or do things that are less than ideal, think again. You’re human. And humanity is flawed, imperfect and stumbling. Love cannot exist without the balance of its opposite. Your shadow side makes you whole, and embracing your shadow self is a major part of your practice. Just because you sometimes feel very negative emotions does not disqualify you from sharing love, compassion and kindness with yourself or others.
In fact, when you feel mad, hurt, or anxious, the practice teaches you that in those moments you have the biggest potential to grow your capacity for compassion, love and kindness. When everything is rosy and going your way, it’s easy to be nice to everyone. But when you learn to maintain an open heart amidst difficulty, struggle and challenge, you know the practice is truly working for you.
Out of the billions of people on the planet, you are special. And what makes you special is intimately tied with your awakening and your process of liberation. When you awaken, the gifts within you rise up. You reveal your greatness. You are a seeker, on a truth quest to the heart of life. You have the great blessing of yoga to help you on the path.
Yoga is an eternally flowing stream. Yoga is bigger than you or me or any one person. Show up on your mat to join the deep flow of limitless consciousness, a vast expansive beating heart that fills the world with love.
And I want you to know that I love you, just as I love myself, that my capacity for love knows only the limits I allow, and that the more I love myself, the more I love you too. We are one and the same. I am love. You are love. We are the love of the world.
Tune in to my podcast to join a metta practice and put these ideas to work.
