mOmentOm yOga. . . steady, cOmfy, happy, yOga. . .

One of our yogis commented last week that I seem to read a lot. I do. And I read it for you. . .for everyone. I think we read too little. And out of the little that we read, we learn even less. And out of the less, we put into practice practically nothing! This thought keeps me reading. And more, it motivates me to practice what I preach: the keys to our own happiness and freedom is already in us. . . however we need to walk the the darn door and turn the key and walk through ourselves! We read and learn and practice what the wise ones have taught -- we can do nothing less than miracles in making the world a better place. We can become a positive force for change if we but put one ounce of learning from the great teachers into serious practice. I wonder how we can allow ourselves to do anything less.

Perhaps it is because we love intellectual stimulation for it's own sake. It is like a drug - we get high on ideas and feel momentarily free from the troubles of daily life. Sometimes reading something inspiring feels as good as solving our problems. "Yeh! That is a great idea! It could work! I can finally be happy! There is hope after all!" We feel that our intellect has been nicely and thoroughly massaged and we feel that we are above our problems and faults because it seems so clearly resolved in our thinking minds. We forget that there's a vast chasm between our thinking and doing. When the feeling of mental europhoria inevitably fades, we find ourselves right back where we were in the same mess because with our inaction, nothing has really changed. Then we plough through our bookstore or library shelves for the next book to get us the next high. We are, many of us, book junkies. I was like this. Until yoga happened for me - I learnt the importantce of creating a momentum for change through a personal commitment to practice - and I read Mahatma Gandhi's biography and I tried to live by his example.

As Mahatma Gandhi says: "The difference between what we do and what we are capable of doing would suffice to solve most of the world's problems".

I learned from this great man that life is not an idea, nor a series of random catastrophes that happen to us which we try to cope with, it is one great opportunity to accomplish individual fulfillment by developing our potentials thoroughly and be an asset to humanity. Through his practice of what he believes in his daily life, he has inspired millions and changed the destiny of many.

Here are some of the books I live by:
[Libraries and bookshops (try Kinokuniya) should have these books in stock: if these are not in stock, demand that they bring the titles in! People need to have access to them!]

Non-fiction:
Stillness Speaks. . . by Eckhart Tolle
The Wisdom of Insecurity. . . by Alan Watts(many other titles by this author is worth exploring)
The Book. . . by Alan Watts IF THERE'S ONLY ONE BOOK YOU CAN READ, MAKE IT THIS ONE!
There is Nothing Wrong with You. . . by Cheri Huber
Meditation. . . by Eknath Easwaran (many other titles by this author too)
God Makes the Rivers to Flow. . . edited by Eknath Easwaran
How to Practice: The Way to a Meaningful Life. . . by The Dalai Lama (many other titles)
many titles by Mahatma Gandhi who was a prolific writer
Beat Spirit. . . by Mel Ash
Bring out the Magic in your Mind. . . by Al Koran
Who Ordered this Truckload of Dung? (earlier published as "Opening the Door of Your Heart") by Ajahn Brahmavamso
many titles on the teachings of Ajahn Chah
many titles by Alain de Botton
A Year to Live: How to Live This Year as If It Were Your Last. . . by Stephen Levine
Cave in the Snow. . . by Vicki MacKenzie

Classics:
Upanishads (various published versions try the one edited with commentary provided by Eknath Easwaran)
Bhagavad Gita (various published versions, also try the Eknath Easwaran one)
Dhammapada (various published versions, also try the Eknath Easwaran one)

Fiction:
Veronika Decides to Die. . . by Paulo Coelho
The Baron in the Trees. . . by Italo Calvino
Silk. . . by Alessandro Baricco
The Egony and the Ecstacy. . . by Irving Stone
The Lord of the Rings. . . by J.R.R. Tolkien

Read some, learn much, practice more. . .

and so, I too, am writing a book about what I have learnt through my practice.

. . .

However many holy words you read,
However many you speak,
What good will they do you
If you do not act upon them?

Read as few words as you like
And speak fewer.
But act upon the law.


-- Dhammapada